– Question and Answer with Steve Stanganelli, CFP, CRPC, AEP, Founder of Clear View Wealth Advisors
– News: Article Round-Up
– Data: Market Sizing Update
– ABLE Act Column
– Events: 529 Conference 2017: Save the Date

529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: The goal of the 529 Dash is to address the specific needs and concerns of advisers, accountants and estate planners who sell and service families and institutions in the college financial planning process by providing industry relevant news, product training and best practices. Building upon the product training and trends will be our editorial insight, market data and research. Also, the 529 Dash will provide opportunities for you to learn from and network with your peers based on real life case studies and forums such as the Strategic Insight 529 Dash LinkedIn Group. By reviewing these success stories on college financial planning from your peers of advisers, accountants and estate planners, the barriers to supporting your clients and building your book of business will be reduced.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Editor-in-Chief of 529 Dash
Director of College Savings Research
paul.curley@strategic-i.com
Twitter: @PaulCurleyBC
LinkedIn: Strategic Insight 529 Dash LinkedIn Group

What trends does a fee-only fiduciary advisor and tax planner see in terms of college financial planning?

This article features an interview with Steve Stanganelli, CFP, CRPC, AEP, Founder of Clear View Wealth Advisors. Based in the greater Boston area of Massachusetts, Steve’s insight as a fee-only fiduciary planner is built off of providing strategic financial planning to families, business owners and pre-retirees since 1991. Over that time period, he was a registered representative with First Colony National, financial advisor with Merrill Lynch Private Client Group, Investment Advisor with Focus Capital Wealth Management, financial planner with Quest Financial Services and more recently as a fee-only financial and tax planner with Clear View Wealth Advisors. During that time, Steve was also elected to a 2-year term as Councilor-at-Large for the City of Amesbury in Massachusetts, and ran for state representative in 2014. As part of his current role, he provides a number of public education articles on funding college and retirement, and on financial literacy. Within his role as financial planner, Steve covers a number of client issues including retirement income, divorce, college and elder care. You can learn more about Steve Stanganelli and Clear View Wealth Advisors at http://www.clearviewwealthadvisors.com/. Last but not least, thank you Steve for your time, insight and support for working with me on the article. Please read the question and answers to learn about his perspective on college financial planning, and hope that the article provides you with an opportunity to learn more from your peers.

Here is what you need to know from stories released this week.

– Investopedia by Steve Stanganelli, CFP, CRPC, AEP, “IRA or 529 plan for a grandchild’s college?” Editor’s Take: Thank you Steve for your insightful article, and for your recent interview with Strategic Insight covered in this 529 Insiders article.
– MarketWatch, “Can I use ‘529’ college money overseas?” Editor’s Take: Q&A format with Linda Leitz, a fee-only financial planner.
– Financial Advisor Magazine, “Student loan debts plague older Americans.” Editor’s Take: Advisors need to integrate college and retirement financial planning to ensure both are utilized to their fullest and without negative impacts to or from the other goal.

Here is the latest market data by Strategic Insight that can be used by the media and other organizations, and contact Strategic Insight for more information on its proprietary data, research, consulting and presentations for subscribers.

3Q 2016 Quarterly 529 Market Sizing Data
– 13.0 million accounts invested $272 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans as September 2016
– 11.9 million accounts invested $248 billion in assets in 529 savings plans as of September 2016
– 1.1 million accounts invested $24 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans as of September 2016
Source: Strategic Insight

This section will cover this week’s top legislative updates, product developments, news and resources relating to ABLE accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings accounts for certain individuals with disabilities and their families. After-tax contributions grow tax deferred, and distributions from the accounts are tax exempt when used for qualified expenses.

Article Round-Up, News and Resources:
– On January 26, 2017, NC ABLE launched for nationwide usage and was added to the list of Open ABLE Programs below.
– In January, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Nevada launched and was added to the list of Open ABLE Programs below.
– Webinar on February 7th at 2pm ET, “Enable Savings Plan Checking Option Webinar” by First National Bank of Omaha
– Webinar on February 8th at 3pm ET, “Yes You Can! Savings Tips for People with Disabilities” by the National Disability Institute (NDI) and America Saves.

3Q 2016 Quarterly ABLE Market Sizing Data
– 1,934 accounts invested $4 million in assets in ABLE accounts as September 2016, according to Strategic Insight.

List of Open ABLE Programs:
– ABLE for All Savings Program
– ABLEnow
– ABLE Nevada
– ABLE TN
– Alaska ABLE Plan
– Florida ABLE United Program
– IAble
– Illinois ABLE
– Kansas ABLE
– MiABLE
– Minnesota ABLE plan
– NC ABLE
– Nebraska Enable Savings Program 
– Ohio STABLE Program
– Oregon ABLE Savings Plan
– RI’s ABLE
– STABLE Kentucky

The 529 Conference 2017 will take place from September 11-13, 2017 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando. Updates to the agenda will be announced in this section below. In the meantime, please save the date.

529 Conference 2017:
– The event’s website and landing pages have been updated with 2017 information, including dates and a new photo loop on the landing page
– 2017 529 Media Kits are now available

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