Yosh Miller

SPARKING A VISION. Yosh Miller’s entrepreneurial journey began with a simple desire to support his nieces’ education. Yosh, founder and CEO of Hadley, a platform reimagining how Americans save for education and retirement, recalls, “When my niece Hadley was turning two, my sister asked us to stop giving junky plastic toys for her birthday. I asked if I could put money into her school savings fund, and my sister said, ‘Just Venmo me.’” This simple request unearthed a multi-trillion dollar gap in the market and ignited a transformative vision for Yosh.

Every American can, and should, have a 529 account, but less than 5% do. The quest to understand 529 accounts—a savings account that compounds tax-free for education, career training, retirement, student loan repayment, and disability costs—became a project and passion Yosh tackled with the strategic acumen he developed as a strategy executive in Hollywood. “529 accounts are the go-to way to save for career and retirement goals–they’re the ultimate intergenerational wealth builders,” Yosh explains. “They are so powerful yet completely underutilized.” This realization led to the launch of Hadley, an app designed to connect any payroll or bank account to any 529 savings account, making it easier for families to save for education and for employers, friends, and family to contribute

Yosh’s journey to launching Hadley was marked by considerable challenges. Without a background in finance, technology, or startups, he faced numerous obstacles. “I had to become a registered investment advisor to legally talk about 529 accounts,” he explains. “I found a test prep book off Amazon, studied for two weeks, took the Series 65 exam, and passed it.” This determination and willingness to learn exemplifies Yosh’s philosophy of “keep moving forward.”

Another pivotal moment in Yosh’s journey was when he encountered resistance from state 529 plan administrators. “Some states said they would only work with me if I routed 100% of Americans to their worst-rated, most expensive plan,” Yosh recalls. Instead of giving up, he engineered payment rails into every 529 plan, enabling seamless electronic contributions. His persistence paid off, and today Hadley is the only universal and personalized 529 savings platform, helping more Americans access education savings and employers offer 529 benefits.

BUILDING A BRIGHTER, INCLUSIVE FUTURE. Reflecting on his experiences as a founder, Yosh shares, “I envision a future where no American has to calculate the number of years they might have to stay closeted in order to get their dream job or pursue college.” This vision is not just about financial savings but about creating a society where everyone can pursue their best path without fear or financial barriers. Yosh’s dedication to this cause is evident in his ambitious plans for Hadley. “I see Hadley making 529 benefits a standard workplace benefit and totally reimagining the way our country saves together,” he says.

Yosh’s commitment to making a positive impact extends beyond his business. He values the importance of creating a more inclusive and empathetic world. “We all succeed when we have a more skilled, educated, and informed society of movers and shakers,” he says. This belief has guided his efforts to democratize access to education savings and ensure that every American family can save meaningfully for our best future, together.

For aspiring LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, Yosh offers profound advice: “Find something you feel so passionately about that you will blast through every mountain put in front of you. And remember, if you want to go far, you have to go with others. Find something that you feel so passionately about, a real problem, and commit yourself fully to solving it. Bend it into existence; you can envision and create the future.”