401(k) Specialist Podcast

Vestwell CEO Aaron Schumm on Who Owns the Participant and What’s Next for Recordkeeping

We pitched Vestwell CEO Aaron Schumm a softball question to start the interview and hit him with a hard follow-up. True to form, he deftly fielded both.

The digital 401(k) recordkeeper is on a tear of late, raising money from major players, and is now named to INC. magazine’s list of the fastest growing U.S. companies. We discuss needed disruption in the recordkeeping space, a pivot to college savings, and what’s next for the industry and company.

Schroders’ Deb Boyden on Alternative Assets, ESG, and Other Investment Menu Hot Button Issues

Developing an effective investment menu for 401(k) plan sponsors is always a tricky yet interesting proposition. Include too few options and it lacks proper diversification, but add too many, and plan participants are quickly overwhelmed.

Schroders’ Deb Boyden, Head of US Defined Contribution, is here to help us figure it out.  She explains what and what not to include, the value of active and passive options, and best practices for advisors when educating employees.

intellicent’s Grant Arends Adds Another ‘F-Word’ to Fees, Funds, and Fiduciary

It’s always fun speaking with the Arends brothers about their very successful financial firm intellicents. Grant Arends, the company’s Co-Founder and President of Retirement Services, also happens to be our Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes (TAPO) for the month of July, an honor long overdue. 

He joins us to discuss his laser-like focus on worksite financial planning, how the firm defines retirement plan success and, of course, a particular client case of which he’s most proud.

Recordkeeper Revolutionary Faith Teope on Combating Financial Abuse

Faith Teope is a multimedia journalist, advocate, and retirement industry expert with a passion for helping others. Her fascinating story includes going from executive assistant to CEO of Texas-based TPA and recordkeeper Leverage Retirement.

She’s dedicated to combating financial abuse, which she notes is often silent and shows no-visible bruises. She discusses her advocacy, what TPAs and recordkeepers can do better, and she relates a great story about her childhood business success.

This week, we’re joined by high-profile advisor Tyrone Ross Jr., whose outspokenness on controversial topics has gotten him noticed of late. 

After a surprising, and as of yet, unexplained exit from the crypto platform he co-founded, he’s back with two new endeavors, which he explains in the latest issue of our magazine. He also talks about bitcoin in retirement plans, financial education, and what the industry needs to do to be more inclusive.

Nicole Corning is a published author, podcaster, blogger, former political strategist, and managing partner with Buckman & Corning Financial Strategies Group.

If that isn't enough, she also happens to be our Top Advisor By Participant Outcomes (TAPO) for the month of April. Among other topics, she joins us to discuss a particular retirement plan case that, while successful, was extremely educational and in her words, humbling. She also describes her efforts with diversity and inclusion, particularly with professional women. 

We all know the dangers of using too many industry buzzwords, but Mike Webb of CAPTRUST found some surprises when doing his own research.

We have to say Webb or Webby to friends and colleagues is one of our more enjoyable conversations recently due to his infectious energy. He joined us to discuss a niche market of particular success, one of the worst things about being acquired by an aggregator, and what he does so well.

Recent market volatility has people thinking about guaranteed income sources in retirement, and there’s not a bigger one for most Americans than Social Security. But when to claim and how to best pair it with other retirement income sources are critically important questions, which thankfully Sri Reddy, Senior Vice President with Retirement and Income Solutions at Principal Financial Group, is here to answer.

He joins us to discuss inflation and COLA adjustments, possible help in SECURE 2.0 and much more.

Here’s a little Monday morning and Monday afternoon inspiration, Chris Roper has a lofty goal of helping one million people over the course of his career, and so far, he’s on track to do so.

It’s one of the reasons Roper, with Kansas-based Qualified Plan Advisors, is one of our Top Advisors by Participant Outcomes. He tells us about how, specifically, he’ll reach his goal, a retirement plan case of which he’s particularly proud, and what the firm does better than anyone else.

Anyone who knows Sheri Fitts knows her hard-charging, yet fun, approach to marketing and branding. The speaker, consultant, and creator with Sheri Fitts & Co. is a staple on the conference circuit, preaching the need for the digital adoption of social media marketing tactics for 401(k) advisors, and the real business-building and revenue-generating opportunities that result.

Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious, which made, as always, for a great interview. Among other topics, she joined us to discuss LinkedIn, and the live streaming capabilities it now affords.