529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: 
The 529 Dash e‑newsletter helps institutions, financial professionals, employers, and families navigate education financial planning by sharing timely industry news, product insights, market data, and best practices while promoting awareness of 529 plans and ABLE accounts.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Executive Director
ISS Market Intelligence
paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com

Here is what you need to know from stories, research, and data released this week:

• Old National Wealth Advisors, “College Savings Crash Course.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Jeanne Krigbaum, Chief Wealth Planning Officer with Old National Bank, for creating and sharing this crash course on 529s and education financial planning. The 29-minute video shows how advisors think about education financial planning, their perspective on the process, and provides an example of how advisors and home offices can and do use education financial planning as part of their book building and retention process. Watch, learn and grow.
• ISS Market Intelligence, “U.S. Families Continue to Prioritize Education Savings Amid Uncertainty, ISS MI’s Latest 529 Industry Analysis Report Finds.” Editor’s Take: Despite economic uncertainty and market volatility, American families are still prioritizing saving and paying for education. Our latest 529 Industry Analysis Report reveals a strong majority (75%) of U.S. households reported saving for education in 2026. In a world where skills and career paths are changing faster than ever, expanded qualified expenses and broader use cases are driving deeper engagement with 529 plans. The next five years will be defined by how effectively product providers, state agencies, and distributors modernize their strategies to meet families where they are, and read the full press release on our website in the link above.
• ISS Market Intelligence 529 Day Webinar Replay, “3 Key Trends Shaping the Future of Education Savings in 2026.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage for the opportunity to collaborate on the 529 Day 2026 webinar. Watch, read the summary and grow.
• 529 Insiders and planadviser, “1Q 2026 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: 529 and ABLE market sizing as of March 31, 2026 release.
• ISS Market Intelligence, “New Research: 529 Industry Analysis 2026.” Editor’s Take: Based on a new proprietary consumer survey fielded in April 2026, this annual 529 report provides actionable guidance on how 529 product providers and distributors can enhance their legislative, product, marketing, and distribution strategies to drive growth in the direct, employer, and advisor-sold channels. Click the link to learn more.

• Dates: September 23–25, 2026
• Location: JW Marriott Nashville
• Register: Here
• Hotel Room Block: Book Here
• Event Website: Link
• Agenda: Link
• Event Updates: 
  • Stan Marshall, Product Manager, Government Savings, Ascensus, has been confirmed as a panelist of the “Product Strategy Trends and Outlook” 529 Conference session.
  • Sarah Pennington, Education Savings Program Director, Commonwealth Savers, has been confirmed as a panelist of the “Marketing: Engaging New Audiences” 529 Conference session.

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