Jason Berkowitz

The 401(k) has been under attack on multiple fronts lately.

Between calls for eliminating their tax advantages to prop up Social Security to Bernie Sanders pining for a return to pension plans, and momentum seeming to build for the TSP-like “Retirement Savings for Americans Act” that many in the workplace retirement market believe would constitute unfair competition from the federal government, it’s enough to have retirement plan advisors feeling a little defensive these days.

Fortunately, plenty of retirement industry experts have stepped up to answer these attacks, and today’s podcast features a prominent one in Sarah Holden, senior director of retirement and investor research at the Investment Company Institute.

ICI has been very active in debunking recent attacks on defined contribution plans, and Holden makes some great points in defense of the 401(k).

Unlocking the Door to Broader Adoption of Guaranteed Lifetime Income in 401(k)s: Matt Gray and Todd Levy

Guaranteed lifetime income remains a hot topic in the workplace retirement plan market and there are plenty of factors at play these days that are helping these solutions gain traction—and more widespread adoption—in 401(k) plans.

Matt Gray, Assistant Vice President, Workplace and Middle Markets at Allianz Life, and Todd Levy, a “first mover” for lifetime income in DC plans who is Managing Director of RIA for The Retirement Plan Company, join the 401(k) Specialist Pod(k)ast to discuss how these products are evolving to meet the wants and needs of 401(k) participants.

Ohtani’s ‘Retirement’ Strategy, NQDC Plans and 2024 Stock Trends with ‘401(k) Lady’ Jeanne Sutton

Baseball’s biggest star Shohei Ohtani made headlines recently by signing the largest individual contract in the history of sports when he inked a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Interestingly, he deferred $68 of the $70 million per year in a move that could save him nine figures in California state income tax down the road.

We’ll talk about that unique contract and the power of non-qualified deferred compensation plans with Strategic Retirement Partners Managing Director Jeanne Sutton, known as “The 401(k) Lady” in her popular social media videos. We’ll also talk about her stock market trends to watch in 2024, as well as what’s on her industry travel and speaking agenda this year.

Catching Up with 'Annuity Yoda' Tamiko Toland

Guaranteed in-plan lifetime income solutions is a hot topic in the workplace retirement market these days, and we wanted to hear from one of the foremost experts on these products in “Annuity Yoda” Tamiko Toland.

After stints at TIAA and CANNEX, the thought leader in retirement and annuities in the individual and institutional markets last year started Toland Consulting, LLC, to share her insights, experience, and strategic analysis with clients, and she’ll also tell us about a couple of other new gigs keeping her busy these days—all with a focus on helping to educate people about lifetime income solutions.

The Year Ahead with John Hancock Retirement CEO Wayne Park

As the new year opens, our first podcast of 2024 features a look at what to expect in the workplace retirement market from a high-level leader in John Hancock Retirement CEO Wayne Park.

With oversight over all aspects of John Hancock Retirement’s business, Park is an ideal person to shed insight on topics that will impact the workplace retirement business this year, particularly as they relate to emerging opportunities in the small plan marketplace.

He talks about impacts of SECURE 2.0 and state-mandated IRAs, why advisors should be attracted to the small plan market, and what retirement savers should be focused on in the year ahead.

IBM sent shockwaves through the retirement industry recently when it was revealed that the tech and computing giant is halting its 5% 401(k) match in favor of a 5% contribution to a new, portable, immediate-vesting pension called a “Retirement Benefit Account.”

Joining us to discuss this move and its wider implications within the retirement industry is someone who knows the defined benefit market very well in Brian McDonnell, Head of the Global Pension Practice at Cambridge Associates. There he oversees the firm’s work with more than 150 plan sponsors, and also works directly with clients as their OCIO.

He'll explain why the move happened, whether (and why) other plan sponsors might be considering it, and key trends he sees impacting the defined benefit space in the coming year.

2024 SECURE 2.0 Insights with Principal’s Lance Schoening

As we head toward 2024, more and more provisions of the landmark SECURE 2.0 retirement reform legislation package are coming online, including some provisions that have lots of people in the industry really excited.

One of those people is Lance Schoening, Director of Policy at Principal, the sponsor of today’s podcast. As the person responsible for the company’s analysis of retirement legislation, he’s well-versed in all things SECURE 2.0, and shares insights on a number of new provisions.

He’ll also explain why he’s excited about the start-up tax credits, and why retirement plan advisors might want to take another look at the small plan market because of them.

Talking DOL Retirement Saving Priorities with EBSA Head Lisa Gomez

It’s been about a year since the Honorable Lisa M. Gomez was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Labor, and quite a busy year it’s been for the head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, which is responsible for administering, regulating and enforcing provisions of ERISA.

She joins the 401(k) Specialist Pod(k)ast to talk about topics including the high-profile rewrite of the conflict of interest rule, SECURE 2.0 and its ability to address the workplace retirement plan coverage gap, and what EBSA can do to help plan advisors, plan sponsors and participants make the most of 401(k) plans to save for retirement.

When you want to gain insight about what’s going on in the retirement industry, you want to talk to someone who’s in the loop and immersed in the business. We can’t think of someone who fits that description better than Jania Stout.

401(k) Specialist’s “Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes” in 2020 is now the Senior Vice President, Retirement + Wealth, at OneDigital, where she brings over 22 years of experience in ERISA plan consulting to her role as Practice Leader.

She fills us in on the latest when it comes to helping participants tackle the difficult task of paying down debt while still saving for emergencies and retirement, momentum building for in-plan guaranteed income solutions, and how artificial intelligence can complement—and not compete with—advisors.