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 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
Twitter: @PaulCurleyBC

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

• Plansponsor, “Sweeping republican tax bill leaves retirement policy mostly untouched.” Editor’s Take: In May 2025, US Ways and Means Committee released its Tax Reform Legislation including 529 related provisions that would (if passed as is) expand qualified expenses to recognized postsecondary credential programs and credentials. Furthermore, the legislation would broaden its K-12 institutions from public and private schools to include homeschooling, while also broadening K-12 related expenses from tuition to a broader set of categories ranging from curriculum, books, instructional material (physical or online), standardized tests, and more. Furthermore, the legislation would make three sunsetting ABLE related provisions permanent. Read the article to learn more. In the meantime, these 529 and ABLE provisions have been discussed and circulated amongst 529 industry insiders in recent years including dedicated U.S. Congressional hearings on these topics in 2024. Together, these provisions would broaden and expand the scope and functionality of the investment products and therefore increase usage and demand going forward if passed. 
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Household Debt and Credit.” Editor’s Take: Student loans increased to $1.63 trillion with 7.7% of that amount over 90 days delinquent as of March 2025. Additionally, New York Fed economists released a new article here titled, “Student loan delinquencies are back, and credit scores take a tumble.” The recent coverage of student loans will increase client demand and prioritization for education financial planning and 529s as families seek to get ahead of the curve. Have the education financial planning discussion today.
• 529 Insiders, “1Q 2025 529 & ABLE market sizing highlights.” Editor’s Take: Click the link to learn more about 529 and ABLE market sizing as of March 31, 2025.
• 529 Day 2025 Webinar by ISS Market Intelligence and Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, “529 Day 2025: Top Trends in 529 Plans” Webinar on May 29th at 1pm EST. Editor’s Take: 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 Q2 2025 529 Day webinar will provide you with: New themes and updates on education financial planning; Key developments impacting the 529 landscape in 2025; 529 market sizing, trends and insights in 2025; 529 reminders, tips and best practices; New industry intelligence from ISS MI’s annual surveys of parents fielded in April 2025; 529 & ABLE industry announcements and product enhancements. Please register here for the webinar and see you there.

• Dates: September 29 – October 1, 2025
• Location: Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida, USA
• Registration: Register here; Early Bird rate available through June 27, 2025
• Hotel Room: Book in event room block here
• Sunday, September 28: Welcome Reception
• Monday, September 29: Day 1 – 529 Essentials Seminar
• Tuesday, September 30: Day 2 – 529 Conference Panels, Presentations & Roundtables
• Wednesday, October 1: Day 3 – 529 Conference Final Day of Panels, Presentations & Roundtables
• Event Updates:
  • Ryan White, CFP^®, CIMA^®, Senior Director, 529 Plans | Product Management, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on Product, Marketing and Distribution Strategies” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Cassandra DiBenedetto, Executive Director, ScholarShare Investment Board, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “State’s Perspective on Industry Trends and Building Momentum” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Julie Peachey, Deputy State Treasurer of Consumer Programs, Pennsylvania Treasury, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “State’s Perspective on Industry Trends and Building Momentum” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Brea Tabernik, Senior Product Leader | Managed Investments, Edwards Jones, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on Product, Marketing and Distribution Strategies” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Risa Schulz, Executive Director, Product Development Manager, Morgan Stanley, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on Product, Marketing and Distribution Strategies” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Chuck Ranney, Wealth Management Solutions, Vice President – Mutual Funds, CEFs & 529 Plans, Ameriprise Financial, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on Product, Marketing and Distribution Strategies” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Richard Polimeni, Managing Director, Head of Education Savings Programs, Investment Solutions Group, Bank of America Merrill, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “National Broker-Dealer’s View on Product, Marketing and Distribution Strategies” 529 Conference 2025 session.
  • Steve Elzerman, Product Analyst – Managed Investments, Edwards Jones, has been confirmed as a presenter on the “Top-5 Education Financial Planning Strategies in 2025” 529 Conference 2025 session.

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, and hope you have some great plans lined up for 529 Day 2025!