D.C. Pension Geeks

The 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is rapidly approaching, a law that “affects real people every day,” according to Michael Kreps, a principal with Groom Law and chair of its Retirement Services Group.

Kreps, a former Senate HELP Committee retirement policy staffer, joins American Retirement Association (ARA) CEO Brian Graff to discuss recent Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary setbacks, why it keeps happening, and the value of incremental change in regulatory policy.

They also note the coming tax policy debate in light of the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and what may or may not happen. It’s an important and timely conversation at a critical juncture for the retirement plan industry.

ERISA turns 50 on Labor Day. It’s older, wiser, and still looks great. What has been its most significant impact on the ability of America’s workers to save?

Preston Rutledge joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a comprehensive look back and ahead. Rutledge, founder and principal of Rutledge Policy Group, knows the subject well. Prior to founding Rutledge Policy Group, Preston was the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA led the US Delegation on private pension policy at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, and led oversight of the Federal Thrift Savings Plan, the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

Former high-ranking Social Security Administration official and retirement policy gadfly Andrew Biggs joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a frank discussion about the data fueling the 401(k) debate. Biggs, a frequent financial media critic of ‘retirement crisis’ sensationalism, explains the retirement readiness disconnect—and why we get it so wrong.

The bipartisan nature of retirement plan legislation is key to its success. American Benefits Council President Jim Klein, the “OG” of retirement plan policy, joins Brian Graff for an in-depth discussion of retirement saving, healthcare and how ERISA—which turns 50 this year—has impacted both.

Department of Labor Chief Operating Officer and senior staff member Tim Hauser joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a comprehensive discussion of the myths, controversies and questions surrounding the final fiduciary rule, officially called the Retirement Security Rule.

This frank and factual conversation between two fiduciary rule veterans tackles any questions or criticisms about the rule head-on.

Research and consulting giant Morningstar was cited over 40 times in the final fiduciary rule release, officially called the Retirement Security Rule. The reason was largely due to the data and information for which the company is known. 

Aron Szapiro, Head of Government Affairs with Morningstar, joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a wide-ranging discussion about the rule and its future implications, as well as recent attacks on the country’s private retirement savings system. This is an episode not to miss. 

Defined contribution plans, and 401(k)s specifically, are increasingly under attack, criticized by think tanks and academics for perceived (yet easily refuted) flaws. What—and who—is behind the effort? Are the criticisms resonating and why are they happening now? Does the industry need to do a better job defending itself and are we effectively illustrating the 401(k)’s value proposition?

Michael Davis, Head of Global Retirement Strategy for T. Rowe Price and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a lively and informative discussion.

‘Retirement provocateur’ Kathleen Kennedy Townsend played an instrumental role in the debate over retirement issues, resulting in significant policy ideas. A founder of the Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives, the 40-year political veteran and former Maryland Lieutenant Governor joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a provocative discussion about making it easy to save, state auto IRAs, national retirement plan proposals, and why people just don’t want to talk about retirement.

Academics are on the march, coming for the defined contribution retirement savings system with policy prescriptions that would fundamentally change employer-sponsored plans and what they’re designed to do. The system is failing; it only benefits the wealthy and doesn’t produce adequate retirement income, which is the chorus of commonly heard criticism.

American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff is joined by Peter Brady, a senior economist for retirement and investor research at the Investment Company Institute, to counter the claims. Brady brings the data to dispute the latest attacks and discuss what’s driving the attacks.  

Calling the latest iteration of the fiduciary rule “the third installment of a long running regulatory series,” American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff went directly to the source, speaking with EBSA COO Tim Hauser about the Retirement Security Rule.

The two fiduciary regulation ‘veterans’ sit down for a (very) comprehensive discussion the primary reasons EBSA thought it necessary to update the regulatory definition of investment advice and the goals and objectives in doing so.