News from the Home Team

We are kicking things off early with a pre-conference, hands-on financial planning workshop on Monday, July 13 at 1:00 p.m. Bring real client data – we will provide step-by-step guidance within CLIC^® Advisor (powered by eMoney) so you can walk out with a finalized, presentation-ready plan for your client.

We are also bringing back our Speed Dating Happy Hour! Spend a few minutes with each of our sponsors to learn about their latest offerings and network while enjoying free drinks and appetizers, followed by dinner.

As an added bonus, your visit aligns with Sail Boston, as the Tall Ships will be in town celebrating our country's 250th anniversary. It should be an impressive and memorable week to be in Boston.

Our full agenda is coming soon, but here is a preview of some of the topics we will be covering:

• Annual Compliance Meeting
• Cultivating Centers of Influence
• Financial Planning
• High Net Worth Client Solutions and Actionable Strategies for Solving Tax Challenges
• Intelligent Growth: AI Reveals the Growth Strategies of Top-Performing Advisors
• Structured Products
• Work Smarter with Tech Integrations
• Succession Planning
• Retirement Planning Strategies and When Roth’s and Other Solutions Make Sense
• Referral and Lead Generation

Cantella Partner Satisfaction Survey (Coming Early Summer)

We know you have a busy schedule, but this upcoming survey is incredibly important to us. When we partnered with Cambridge, our goal was to give you the scale and long-term backing of a large, independent firm while protecting the personalized support and service culture you expect from Cantella. This survey is designed to help us see if we are successfully delivering that balance.

Please note that this survey is about your satisfaction with Cantella and is entirely separate from the Cambridge Satisfaction Survey.

We will be looking for your feedback on:

• Cantella Support: How effectively we are managing your needs, including facilitating your interactions with Cambridge.
• Operational Friction: Are there specific areas where we can reduce or eliminate operational frustrations relating to cashiering, transfers, new accounts and maintenance, trading, processing time, technology, and client death and cost basis, etc.

Tech Tips

For financial professionals in 2026, 529 plan technology is heavily focused on automation, maximizing new flexibility rules (such as higher K-12 limits and Roth rollovers), and integrating with broader estate planning tools. As of January 1, 2026, the annual gift tax exclusion is $19,000 per recipient ($38,000 for married couples), with a $95,000 "superfunding" capability. 

Here are key tech tips and trends for FP 529 planning in 2026:

1. Automation and Account Management

• Automated "Found Money" Contributions: Use planning software that links to client bank accounts to identify "found money" (like tax refunds) and automatically direct it into 529 plans.
• 1% Annual Contribution Increase: Set up digital tools to automatically increase contributions by 1% or more annually, or whenever a pay raise is detected in the payroll system.
• Digital Gift Centers: Utilize platform-specific gift centers (e.g., Invest529) to make it easy for friends and family to contribute directly to accounts via link sharing. 

2. Leveraging 2026 Regulatory Changes

• K-12 Expense Tracking Tools: With the annual K-12 withdrawal limit doubling to $20,000 per beneficiary in 2026, use digital expense tracking to ensure qualified expenses (including new items like tutoring, curriculum materials, and educational therapies) match withdrawals in the same calendar year.
• 529-to-ABLE Rollovers: Use digital tools to automate 529-to-ABLE rollovers, which are now permanently extended, for beneficiaries with disabilities.
• Career Credentialing Tracking: Track expenses for non-degree, vocational training, and professional licensing (e.g., HVAC, CDL, CFA) which are now broadly covered. 

3. Investment and Portfolio Tech

• Portfolio Selection Assistants: Use AI-driven, in-app "Portfolio Selection Assistant" tools to analyze risk tolerance and automatically adjust allocations.
• Target Enrollment Portfolios: Leverage automated target enrollment portfolios, which shift from higher risk (equities) to lower risk (bonds/cash) automatically as the beneficiary nears college age, with the latest adjustments taking effect January 1, 2026. 

4. Advanced Planning and Integration

• 529 to Roth IRA Transfers: For clients concerned about overfunding, use tracking software to manage the SECURE 2.0 Act provision allowing up to $35,000 to be rolled over to a Roth IRA over the beneficiary's lifetime. Note that the account must have been open for 15+ years.
• Superfunding Automation: Use specialized calculators to model five-year gift acceleration ($95,000 per individual in 2026) to manage estate tax exposure, particularly with the 2026 lifetime exemption at $13.99 million+ per person.
• Digital Account Authorization: Review and update, via online portals, authorized individuals and designated survivors who can access 529 accounts. 

5. Tech Tips for Lower Costs

• Out-of-State Digital Platforms: Advise using high-tech, low-cost out-of-state platforms (like Vanguard or Fidelity) if the home state offers no tax deduction.
• Paperless Adoption: Many plans have eliminated annual maintenance fees, but some charge fees for paper submissions; ensure all 529 activity is handled entirely through digital, online platforms.

Theme of the Month

Helping Clients Start Early: Using 529 Plans to Reduce Future College Stress

For many families, the cost of college is one of the most significant financial challenges they will face—and one of the most emotionally charged. As a financial professional, you have a unique opportunity to guide clients toward solutions that not only prepare them financially, but also reduce the stress and anxiety often tied to funding higher education. Encouraging early planning through 529 plans or dedicated college savings accounts is a powerful place to start.

Position Early Saving as Both a Financial and Emotional Strategy
Clients often think of college planning purely in terms of dollars and cents. Reframing the conversation to include emotional well-being can be impactful. Starting early with a 529 plan allows families to take advantage of compound growth and tax-advantaged savings, easing the pressure of large, last-minute funding decisions. Just as importantly, it gives clients a sense of control and confidence about the future.

Even modest, consistent contributions can accumulate significantly over time. Helping clients see that progress early can shift their mindset from reactive to proactive—reducing the likelihood that they or their children will feel overwhelmed when tuition bills come due.

Integrate College Planning into the Broader Financial Plan
A 529 strategy should not exist in isolation. Work with clients to align college savings with their overall financial picture, including retirement goals, debt management, and cash flow. This holistic approach ensures that funding education doesn’t come at the expense of long-term financial stability.

As children approach college age, guide clients through additional steps such as completing the FAFSA early, identifying scholarship opportunities, and understanding payment options. Encourage families to explore cost-saving alternatives when appropriate, such as community college pathways or employer tuition assistance programs.

You can also add value by helping clients establish practical budgeting habits for their students. Introducing frameworks like the 50/30/20 rule equips young adults with essential money management skills that will serve them well beyond college.

Address the Mental Health Impact of Financial Stress
College funding concerns are a growing source of anxiety for both parents and students. By proactively planning, you help reduce uncertainty—one of the primary drivers of financial stress. Consider incorporating conversations about emotional readiness into your planning process.

Encourage clients to maintain open communication with their children about financial expectations. Transparency helps set realistic assumptions and reduces the pressure students may feel to “figure it out” on their own.

You can also remind clients that support systems matter. Many colleges offer counseling services, and students benefit from maintaining healthy routines such as regular exercise, mindfulness practices, and balanced social engagement. While these may seem outside traditional financial planning, they contribute directly to a student’s ability to succeed.

Educate for Long-Term Confidence
Financial literacy is a critical component of reducing both cost and stress. Take time to educate clients and their children on how student loans work, including interest rates, repayment options, and refinancing considerations. When families understand their choices, they are better equipped to make informed decisions—and less likely to feel overwhelmed.

Delivering Value Beyond the Numbers
By leading with early college savings strategies like 529 plans, you position yourself as more than a financial advisor—you become a partner in your clients’ long-term well-being. Helping families prepare in advance not only minimizes future financial strain, but also supports healthier, more confident students.

In the end, the goal is not just to fund education—it’s to create a path where clients and their children can move forward with clarity, stability, and peace of mind.

Portfolio Point

Navigating the 2026 Youth Savings Landscape

The Bottom Line: With the full implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, the strategy for building generational wealth has shifted. While 529 plans remain the "Gold Standard" for tuition, the new Trump Account offers a unique entry point for newborns that advisors and parents should not overlook.

Key Market Updates & Modern Contrasts

• The 529 Power-Up: Under the OBBB Act, 529 flexibility has doubled. Families can now withdraw up to $20,000 annually for K-12 tuition, making it a potent tool for private primary and secondary education, not just university costs.
• The "Baby Bond" Incentive: Trump Accounts provide an immediate $1,000 federal deposit for children born between 2025 and 2028. Furthermore, employers can now contribute up to $2,500 tax-free to these accounts, creating a new avenue for workplace benefits.
• Tax Nuance: While Trump Accounts mirror a Traditional IRA (tax-deferred growth), withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. In contrast, UGMA/UTMA accounts are taxed at capital gains rates, which may be lower depending on the beneficiary's bracket.
• Financial Aid Impact: For families eyeing the FAFSA, the 529 remains superior. It is treated as a parent asset (assessed at ~5.64%), whereas UGMA/UTMA funds are student assets, which the government assesses at a much heavier 20% rate.

Advisor Recommendation: The "Hybrid Approach"

For most families in 2026, the optimal strategy is no longer choosing just one account, but combining them:

1. Use the 529 Plan as the primary engine for tuition to maximize tax-free growth and preserve financial aid eligibility.
2. Open a Trump Account for newborns to capture the $1,000 federal grant and build a separate “launch fund” that transitions into a retirement vehicle at age 18.

Next Steps: To determine the exact allocation between these vehicles, we should review your specific family variables.

The most effective strategy depends heavily on your timeline and tax bracket. To provide a mathematically precise recommendation, I would need to understand:

• What are the current ages of your children (specifically, were any born between 2025–2028)?
• What is your estimated annual contribution across all accounts?
• Do you anticipate your family will qualify for need-based financial aid (FAFSA)?
• Is your primary motivation strictly tuition-focused, or are you looking to provide a general inheritance for home-buying or retirement?

Save the Date

July 14-15 - Cantella’s Annual Conference and pre-conference financial planning workshop.

May 27 - Symmetry Partners and its Tax Alpha approach. Webinar link will be emailed.

May 1 - Resource Center will be retired and replaced with Indy in CLIC Workstation. Please reach out to us with any questions.

Recipe of the Month

Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken: Easy Recipe You’ll Love!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for a gluten-free option)
• 1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil (or olive oil)
• 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
• 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks (can use canned if necessary)
• 1 piece red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 piece green bell pepper, sliced
• to taste salt and pepper
• Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil to prepare the marinade.
3. Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable bag or shallow dish. Pour half of the marinade over the chicken, ensuring it is well coated. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes while you prepare the veggies.
4. On a large baking sheet, arrange the marinated chicken, pineapple chunks, and sliced bell peppers. Drizzle the remaining marinade over the top and toss to mix.
5. Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
6. Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving. Top with green onions and sesame seeds for garnish.

Source:

https://excelitehost.com/sheet-pan-hawaiian-chicken-recipe/?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=organic

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