Smitha Walling serves as the Head of Education Savings at Vanguard, where she leads initiatives to help families achieve their education financing goals through strategic investments. With a passion for making higher education accessible, Smitha has been instrumental in promoting the benefits of 529 plans—tax-advantaged savings vehicles designed to help families save for college, trade schools, and other educational expenses. Having personally navigated the 529 journey, Smitha brings a wealth of practical insight and professional expertise to help investors maximize the potential of their education savings plans.