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.  

Student loan debt is a big problem that’s getting bigger, affecting multiple aspects of an employee’s financial life, retirement savings being just one. Laurel Taylor is doing something about it. The MIT grad and CEO of innovative fintech firm FutureFuel.io are out to CRUSH student debt in the workplace and beyond.

Taylor joins us to discuss the scope of the problem, if it’s getting better or worse and how advisors can help. We also somehow drag the American Retirement Association’s Nevin Adams into all of it.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better ambassador for the 401k advisory space than Brad Arends. The Co-Founder and CEO of intellicents sit on conference panels, organizing committees, and anywhere else to get the word out about helping underserved American workers save for retirement.

His focus goes far beyond simply investing in the 401k, and he’s banging the drum about what it will really take to achieve successful retirement outcomes while ensuing profitability for advisors and their firms.

SageView Advisory Group’s Rodney Balbuena is a bilingual 401(k) advisor in Southern California who also happens to be our Top Advisor By Participant Outcomes for February.

Through a combination of technology and one-on-one meetings, he’s tripled employee deferral rates over the course of five years. But the emotional impact of market corrections threatens his hard work. He joins us to discuss it, and more, and we begin with the one-on-one meetings.

How does the U.S. retirement system compare with other countries in retiree satisfaction? For all its faults, you’d be surprised.

Andrew Biggs, one of the busiest people we know, is a Forbes columnist, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and is a member of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico. He recently took a look at the issue and came away with a number of interesting observations.

Will Hackler is a big personality with a big book of 401k business, and he’s also our Top Advisor By Participant Outcomes recipient for January.

One of the most competitive advisors we’ve come across, the president of Integrated Pension Services joins us to describe the particular case of which he’s most proud, why he chose to narrow his business focus, and his surprising take on auto portability.