– News
– Data
– Perspectives
– Webcasts
– Events
– Presentations
– ABLE Act Column

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

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

– Investopedia by Mark Struthers, CFA, CFP, “How rising college costs impact the 4% rule.” Editor’s Take: College financial planning is a retirement issue, as failing to save, pay and repay the cost of higher education negatively impacts the ability to prepare for retirement at the same point in one’s life when they need to start accelerating their savings rate for retirement the most. Using this framework will create better overall financial planning results for clients, and satisfaction by clients. Have the college financial planning conversation today.
– NJ.com, “Lump sum vs. monthly investment for 529 plan.” Editor’s Take: Matt Masterson, CFP, with Regent Atlantic, provides his perspective on the question.
– PLANADVISER, “Franklin Templeton 529 tool leverages crowd funding.” Editor’s Take: College financial planning is a family goal, and provides you with an opportunity to get deep and wide with your book of business.
– CBS Money Watch, “Drilling down into a college financial aid offer”
– University Herald, “How to negotiate A better college financial aid package”
– InvestmentNews, “Finra is asking broker-dealers, ‘What’s in your clients’ 529 savings plans?'”

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 and commentary on its proprietary data, research, events and digital publications.

December 2016 Quarterly 529 Market Sizing Data
– 13.1 million accounts invested $275 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 12.0 million accounts invested $252 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 1.1 million accounts invested $23 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 4,064 accounts invested $14 million in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts

What is Tiffany Spudich’s perspective on 529s and creating the ideal 529 plan investment line-up for advisors, employers and direct investors?

This article features a transcript of a video interview with Tiffany Spudich, Chief Client Officer with Capital Cities from Day 1 of the 529 Conference 2016. At the event, Tiffany presented on the “Conservative Investment Strategies” panel at the 529 Conference 2016. The session covered trends in the typical spectrum of conservative options, the ripple effect of money market reform, the resurgence of stable value and Morningstar’s view on conservative investment options. For over fourteen years, Tiffany has distinguished herself as an expert in investment manager research and ongoing due diligence with Capital Cities. Within the role as Chief Client Officer, Tiffany oversees the firm’s client relationships by providing proactive and responsive service to her key institutional clients which includes several 529 plan state agencies. Also as a member of Capital Cities’ Investment Committee, she actively conducts investment manager research, author’s white papers and assists with the firm’s marketing initiatives. Last but not least, Tiffany received her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Indianapolis. You can watch the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/CDi0tpb-MXE, and learn more about Tiffany Spudich and her organization at http://www.capcities.com/. Last but not least, thank you Tiffany for your time, insight and support for working with me on the interview, and we look forward to learning more about 529 investment platforms at the 529 Conference 2017. Please read the question and answer to learn about her perspective on 529s and investment options, and hope that the article provides you with an opportunity to learn more from your peers.

When: Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST

What: Do your clients think using a 529 plan will hurt their chances of receiving financial aid? Get the facts from 529 insiders guest Stephen Jobe. Join Paul Curley of 529 Insiders and Stephen Jobe of the Legg Mason College Savings Group for a live webinar focused on arming advisors like you with the information they need to help their clients plan for and pay future college costs. How will your clients pay for college? Increasingly, families are looking to their trusted Financial Professional to assist them in developing a complete college funding strategy.

Accepted by the CFP Board for 1 CE credit, by IMCA for CIMA /CIMC /CPWA for 1 CE credit, and by The American College for CLU and ChFC for 1 CE credit

‘529 Essentials’ topics covered:
– Understanding 529 Benefits and Financial Aid Impact
– Explaining the 4 Types of Financial Aid
– Demystifying the Financial Aid Eligibility Calculation
– Five Steps to Successful Savings

Register here.

When: September 11-13, 2017
Where: JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
Overview: The 529 Conference is a highly interactive and educational industry gathering where you’ll meet and network with the entire 529 ecosystem. Using a 360-degree perspective, the conference drills down into the most significant trends and challenges facing the industry today and includes critical conversation and debate surrounding the latest legislative developments, product innovations, investment options, distribution strategies, marketing initiatives, consumer trends, regulatory announcements and much more.

Optional sessions are available in conjunction with the 529 Conference to offer attendees additional education and training. The pre-conference ‘Essentials Seminar’ provides an understanding of the granular details of 529 plans in a constantly evolving market, and the post-conference ‘ABLE Session’ provides insight and networking into successfully implementing ABLE accounts.

– Susie Bauer, 529/UIT Manager, Senior Vice President, Robert W. Baird & Co., and Co-chair of the SIFMA 529 Working Group, will present on the “Marketing and Distribution Strategies-View from Independent and Regional Channels” panel at the 529 Conference 2017.
– Mark Edblom, Associate Product Manager of Mutual Funds and ETFs with RBC Wealth Management will present on the “Marketing and Distribution Strategies-View from Independent and Regional Channels” panel at the 529 Conference 2017.
– Registration for the event is now open.

– NAPFA, “Everything you wanted to know about 529 plans (Using them with holistic fee-only planning)” by Paul Curley, CFA, in Edina, Minnesota, on May 9th from 5pm to 7pm. This in-person live continuing education presentation is designed for advisors, but the general public is welcome. Register here.

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:
News:
– KOMU 8, “MO ABLE program designed to help people with disabilities save money.” Editor’s Take: Missouri will soon launch an ABLE program in partnership with Ohio, Kentucky, Vermont and Georgia.
– Xenia Daily Gazette, “ABLE Act accounts help people with disabilities save for the future”

Data: 4,064 accounts invested $14 million in assets in ABLE accounts as December 2016, according to Strategic Insight.

Events: ABLE Summit 2017 on September 13, 2017 at the JW Marriott, Orlando Grande Lakes

List of Open ABLE Programs:
– Alaska: Alaska ABLE Plan
– Florida: Florida ABLE United Program
– Illinois: Illinois ABLE
– Iowa: IAble
– Kansas: Kansas ABLE
– Kentucky: STABLE Kentucky
– Michigan: MiABLE
– Minnesota: Minnesota ABLE plan
– Nebraska: Enable Savings Program 
– Nevada: ABLE Nevada
– North Carolina: NC ABLE
– Ohio: Ohio STABLE Program
– Oregon: ABLE for All Savings Program
– Oregon: Oregon ABLE Savings Plan
– Rhode Island: RI’s ABLE
– Tennessee: ABLE TN
– Vermont: Vermont ABLE
– Virginia: ABLEnow

Please be aware, we are transitioning the 529 Dash newsletter to a new service provider. The new domain will appear as 529conference.strategic-i.com, so please make any necessary adjustments to spam filters, preferred sender lists, etc. Thank you!

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