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:

• College for North Carolina (CFNC), “NC 529 First Pitch Sweepstakes.” Editor’s Take: On August 13th, attendees of the Durham Bulls vs. Memphis Redbirds baseball game have an opportunity to the NC 529 First Pitch Sweepstakes for a chance to win $529. Summertime family trips such as Ohio’s state fair from July 29th to August 9th provide an opportunity for families, their advisors, their accountants and employers to have the family education financial planning conversations. Thank you CFNC for raising awareness of 529s, and have the education financial planning conversation or proverbial “at bat” today.
• The College Investor, “75% Of American Families Now Save For Education, New Report Finds.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Robert Farrington for highlighting that the percentage of families saving for education increased from 53% in 2015 to 58% in 2020 to 72% in 2025 to 75% in 2026. Though the percentage of families saving for education has increased over time, the job is not done for the 529 industry as 45% could have saved in a 529 to increase efficiency a tax, financial aid and estate planning perspective. Let’s keep the momentum going in the right direction, and have the 529 conversation today.
• ISS Market Intelligence, “Status Board: State Income Tax Treatment on 529 Distributions to Roth IRAs.” Editor’s Take: The status board has been updated. The four remaining states categorized as pending have been categorized. The status board will be updated as new information becomes available and thank you to the reader that suggested that I review those pending states and update the status board accordingly.
• 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.

• Dates: September 23–25, 2026
• Location: JW Marriott Nashville
• Register: Here
• Hotel Room Block: Book Here
• Event Website: Link
• Agenda: Link
• Event Updates: 
  • Steven Johnson, Treasurer, State of Kansas, has been confirmed as a panelist of the “Investments: Differentiating Asset Classes” 529 Conference session.
  • Thank you Franklin Templeton or your support of the event as Room Key Sponsor

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