529 Dash, Required Reading for Your 529 Education: 
The goal of the 529 Dash e-newsletter is to help institutions, financial professionals, employers, and families in the education financial planning process by creating and sharing industry relevant news, product training, market data 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
Executive Director
ISS Market Intelligence
paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com

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

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over by educational attainment.” Editor’s Take: The value of education and career training continues to and through periods of market volatility and market cycles. For example, the unemployment rate as of February 2026 decreases from 5.6% for those with less than a high school diploma to 4.8% for high school graduates without a college degree to 3.5% for those with some college or an associates degree to 3.0% amongst those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Inversely, the labor force participation rate increases with higher levels of education and career training from 46.8% among those with less than a high school diploma to 71.4% amongst those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Therefore, despite the media’s focus on the potential of decrease in demand for college and career training due to the negative impact of employment opportunities stemming from productivity gains in the workforce from artificial intelligence, the brass tax on the value of education and career training continues and parents continue to value education through their actions as 529 gross sales increased 7.8% from 2024 to 2025 and increased 9.1% from 4Q 2024 to 4Q 2025. 
• The College Funding Coach Podcast, “College planning is about more than paying tuition.” Editor’s Take: Congrats to Brock Jolly on the launch of The College Fund Coach Podcast, and thank you for sharing your perspective and insight on the education financial planning process after years of helping families to think through and navigate the process. Watch, listen and learn, and have the 529 conversation today.
• 529 Insiders, “4Q 2025 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: Click the link to learn more about 529 and ABLE market sizing as of December 31, 2025.

• Date: May 29, 2026
• Time: 12pm-1pm EST
• Register: Here
• Title: 529 Day 2026: Top Trends in 529 Plans
• Description:

Hosted by Paul Curley, CFA, Executive Director at ISS Market Intelligence, and Trisha Good, Executive Director of Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, ISS MI’s 529 webinar celebrates 30 years of 529s and builds awareness and understanding of 529s through:

• • 529 reminders, tips and best practices
  • New themes and updates on education financial planning for families
  • Key developments impacting the 529 landscape in 2026 
  • 529 market sizing, trends and insights in 2026
  • New industry intelligence from ISS MI’s annual surveys of parents, advisors, and employers
  • 529 & ABLE industry announcements and product enhancements

Whether you’re supporting families (including your own), working with employee benefit solutions, advising clients, or shaping the industry, this webinar provides practical product training, actionable best practices, and data‑driven insight into where the 529 market has been—and where it’s heading next.

• Dates: September 23–25, 2026
• Location: JW Marriott Nashville
• Hotel Room: Book in room block here
• Event Website: Link
• Registration: Now open here
• Event Updates: 
  • Luis Sierra, CFA, Vice President, Marquette Associates, has been confirmed as presenter, teacher and trainer of the “Structuring & Evaluating the Investment Lineup” 529 Essentials Seminar session. Preliminary session description in the course syllabus includes:
    –Investment structure in philosophy and in practice
    –Defining key terms and differentiating factors
    –Investment types and management style trends
    –New asset classes, trends in selection, and review of fees types
    
  • Thank you Catalis for your support of the event as a Networking Refreshment Break sponsor
  • Thank you Chapleau Law Group for your support of the event as Presenting sponsor

Please forward the e-newsletter to a friend to subscribe using the link here, or click “reply” anytime to connect or share feedback, thoughts, and ideas on the newsletter or industry trends. Cheers to creating a great day.