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:

• FAME (Finance Authority of Maine), “FAME launches new webpage to improve Mainers’ financial skills.” Editor’s Take: Based on ISS Market Intelligence research, the higher families assess their overall financial knowledge, the more likely families are to save for education and career training and the more likely they are to use a 529 for that goal. Therefore, congrats and thank you to FAME for launching this critical initiative to “Build Your Financial Wellness.” Read the announcement to learn more.
• Fidelity Investments, “What’s going on with student loans.” Editor’s Take: Thank you Fidelity Investments for summarizing the recent updates to student loans in the article here, and for creating and sharing the article here on how small habits can help families to either chip away at their student loans or get ahead of the debt through saving ahead of time through small savings habits. Read the article to learn more and share.
• LinkedIn by The Education Plan, “Meet the Brown Family.” Editor’s Take: The Education Plan created and shared a video of the Brown Family on their experience in using 529s, their perspective and outcome. Watch, learn and share.
• ISS Market Intelligence, 529 Day Webinar Replay on “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: 
  • Ben Gibbons, Director of Marketing, Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage, Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, has been confirmed as a moderator of the “Marketing: Engaging New Audiences” 529 Conference session.
  • Jeff Turcotte, Director of Outreach & Marketing, Education Trust Board of New Mexico, has been confirmed as a panelist on the “Marketing: Engaging New Audiences” 529 Conference session.
  • Thank you TIAA for your support of the event as Friday’s Lunch Sponsor