Issue 255:
– 529 News & Research
– ABLE Act Column
– 529 Conference 2021

529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: The goal of the 529 Dash is to help institutions and financial professionals who help families and employers in the college financial planning process by creating and sharing industry relevant news, product training, and best practices, while also building awareness and understanding of the importance of 529 plans and ABLE accounts.

Please Read, Engage and Share.

Paul Curley, CFA
Director of 529 & ABLE Research
ISS Market Intelligence
paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com
Twitter: @PaulCurleyBC

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

• MEFA Podcast, “All you need to know about 529 accounts.” Editor’s Take: Thank you MEFA, Jonathan Hughes and Julie Shields-Rutyna for the opportunity to be a special guest on the MEFA Podcast. Please view, like and share.
• 529 Insiders, “1Q 2021 529 and ABLE Market Sizing Highlights.” Editor’s Take: What was the 529 and ABLE market sizing as of 1Q 2021? Read to learn more.
• ISS Insights, “ISS Market Intelligence Releases Annual 529 Industry Analysis Report.” Editor’s Take: The 94-page report is undergirded by a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. households with children under the age of 18 to help identify the decision-making and product-selection processes of individuals who were at the time of the survey either 529 users, non-529 college savers or non-college savers. Read the press release to learn more.
• Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, “Almost anyone can open a 529 plan.” Editor’s Take: Great message and article on how (almost) all families can save and save efficiently for education with a 529 plan. Thank you, and read to learn more about this important message.

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged investment vehicles for certain individuals with disabilities and their families. 
News, Research, Data & Resources:

• ABLEnow, “Three things to know about expanded child tax credit payments.” Editor’s Take: Thank you ABLEnow for showing how families can use the child tax credit to fund an ABLE account. Also, learn more about ABLEnow in an upcoming webinar on July 20th here, and from an article by an ABLEnow ambassador here. Thank you for building awareness and understanding of ABLE accounts, and much appreciated.
• IL ABLE, “FAQs.” Editor’s Take: Thank you IL ABLE for creating and sharing these FAQs on the 19 most common questions.
• 529 Insiders, ABLE Market Sizing. Editor’s Take: 90,706 ABLE accounts invested $759 million in assets as of March 31, 2021 per ISS Market Intelligence.
• ABLE Age Adjustment Act Status Board: The bill would increase the age of onset for eligibility to open an ABLE account from 26 years old to 46 years old. As of July 9, 2021, the bill sponsorship was as follows:
  • Senate (S331): 1 sponsor and 12 cosponsors
  • Congress Sponsorship (HR1219): 1 sponsor and 62 cosponsors

What & Why: The 529 Conference is a highly interactive and educational industry gathering where you’ll learn from and network with the entire 529 and ABLE ecosystem to ensure product training, insight and networking across the 529 and ABLE community.

When: November 2-4, 2021

• 529 Essentials: November 2
• 529 Conference: November 3 and 4
• ABLE Summit: November 4

Where: Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grade Lakes, Florida, U.S. 

Updates:

• Registration: Now open here. 
• Agenda: 
  • Andrea Feirstein, Managing Director, AKF Consulting Group, has been confirmed as presenter of the “Federal Regulatory Framework” and “Plan Governance & Administration Best Practices” 529 Essentials session and moderator of the “State’s Perspective on Industry Trends and Building Momentum” 529 Conference session.
  • Chris Stack, Esq., Managing Consultant, Savingforcollege.com, has been confirmed as a presenter of the “529 Primary & Landscape” and “Comparing College Savings Vehicles: How do 529s Stack Up?” 529 Essentials session and moderator of the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on the Marketing and Distribution Strategies” 529 Conference session
  • Kay Ceserani, Managing Principal, Meketa Investment Group, has been confirmed as presenter of the “Structuring & Evaluating the Investment Line-Up” 529 Essentials session
  • James W C Canup, Assistant General Counsel & Legislative Counsel, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Commonwealth of Virginia, has been confirmed as presenter of the “Tax Benefits & Planning” 529 Essentials session.
  • Stacey MacPhetres, Senior Director, Education Finance, Bright Horizons College Coach, and Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training, MEFA have been confirmed as co-presenters of the “Financial Aid: Lifecycle of Saving, Paying & Repaying” 529 Essentials” Session.
  • We have confirmed the following on the “Searching Process & Value of Adding Stable Value as an Investment Option Choice in a 529” 529 Conference session:
    • Moderator: John Barrasso, Managing Director | Strategic Relationships, Prudential Financial
    • Panelist: Henry Kao, CFA, Senior Vice President, PIMCO
    • Panelist: Richard Ellis, Executive Director, my529
    • Panelist: Emily Wrightson, Principal, CAPTRUST
    • Panelist: Jeff Deetsch, Senior Stable Value Portfolio Manager, Invesco

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