Decoding Growth

The retirement industry is entering a new phase of innovation—and the old playbook isn’t working anymore.

Technology is changing how retirement platforms are built, how record keepers modernize legacy systems, and how advisors connect retirement planning with wealth management. Instead of massive platform overhauls, the industry is shifting toward modular modernization, orchestration platforms, and embedded retirement infrastructure.

In this conversation, Will Prest sits down with Mahesh Natarajan, Chief Revenue Officer at Congruent Solutions, to unpack the forces reshaping the retirement ecosystem—from the rise of retire-tech startups to the role AI will play in operational efficiency and participant outcomes.

They explore how record keepers are modernizing without replacing legacy systems, why retirement and wealth management are converging faster than expected, and what embedded finance means for the future of retirement platforms.

The discussion also dives into retirement income solutions, enterprise technology strategy, and the growing role of AI in improving plan administration, data workflows, and participant experiences.

For founders, advisors, and retirement industry leaders, this conversation offers a clear view of where the industry is heading—and how to position for the next wave of growth.

00:55 – Mahesh Natarajan’s background and industry perspective

When you watch the episode:

👍 Follow the show if you enjoy conversations about how innovation is reshaping financial services

#RetirementIndustry #Fintech #RetirementPlanning #AIinFinance #WealthManagement #FintechInnovation #RetirementTech #EmbeddedFinance #FinancialServices #DecodingGrowth

Plan documents hold more intelligence than most people realize—if you know how to unlock it.

In this episode of Decoding Growth, we explore how PlanPort uncovers the hidden logic, rules, and decisions embedded in SPDs, amendments, and other complex plan materials. Founder David Levine breaks down how AI can interpret dense plan language, reduce manual review time, and support TPAs, record keepers, and advisors with greater accuracy and consistency.

We dive into the role of responsible AI, why human oversight still matters, and how PlanPort blends automation with expert judgment to support retirement service professionals at scale. From legacy system challenges to real operational use cases, this conversation reveals how AI can transform workflows without replacing the people behind them.

Listen to learn how PlanPort is redefining intelligence within plan documents—and why it matters for the future of retirement services.

00:00 Introduction

#PlanPort #FinTech #RetirementServices #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

Plan documents hold more intelligence than most people realize—if you know how to unlock it.

In this episode of Decoding Growth, we explore how PlanPort uncovers the hidden logic, rules, and decisions embedded in SPDs, amendments, and other complex plan materials. Founder David Levine breaks down how AI can interpret dense plan language, reduce manual review time, and support TPAs, record keepers, and advisors with greater accuracy and consistency.

We dive into the role of responsible AI, why human oversight still matters, and how PlanPort blends automation with expert judgment to support retirement service professionals at scale. From legacy system challenges to real operational use cases, this conversation reveals how AI can transform workflows without replacing the people behind them.

▶️ Watch to learn how PlanPort is redefining intelligence within plan documents—and why it matters for the future of retirement services.

00:00 Introduction

00:23 Meet Your Host: Will Press

01:09 Guest Introduction: David Levine

02:28 The Origin of PlanPort

03:54 Innovations in the Retirement Industry

05:46 Real Use Cases of PlanPort

14:14 Accuracy and Flexibility in AI

25:34 Industry Staffing Challenges

29:26 Why Human Oversight Matters

33:17 PlanPort’s Middleware Approach

36:41 Advice for New Ventures

45:36 Customer Feedback & Iteration

50:47 Future Trends & Final Thoughts

54:19 Closing Remarks

#PlanPort #FinTech #RetirementServices #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

#DocumentAutomation #TPA #Recordkeepers #FinancialAdvisors

#B2BTech #RetirementTech #HumanInTheLoop #DecodingGrowth #Podcast

The retirement industry keeps talking about convergence.

Lori Hardwick breaks down what it actually takes to make it real.

This conversation cuts straight into the structural issues—America’s savings gap, advisor confidence, platform integrations, valuation pressures, and the technology finally capable of scaling access. Lori brings decades of experience as an operator, board member, and founder to explain why this moment is different, what’s newly possible, and where firms are still holding themselves back.

You will hear what most leaders learn only after expensive trial and error:

• 00:00 — The real retirement access crisis in America
• 04:20 — The savings gap, Social Security challenges & bipartisan urgency
• 08:45 — Why wealth advisors hesitate: risk, regulation & confidence
• 12:30 — The time-management dilemma: 25 employees, one advisor
• 15:50 — The Sater model: specialists, referrals & shared revenue
• 20:55 — Swell’s turnkey infrastructure & chatbot-powered onboarding
• 25:10 — Tech rails: the new path from payroll → recordkeeper → asset mgmt
• 29:35 — Emergency savings, student-loan matching & plan design innovation
• 34:18 — What retirement can learn from wealth—and vice versa
• 37:45 — Where retire-tech platforms can plug in
• 41:20 — Early-stage founders vs. enterprise due diligence reality
• 45:12 — Riding the rails: integrations with Orion, InvestNet, Pershing
• 49:05 — Founder traits: execution vs. ideas
• 53:25 — Build, buy, or partner? Lori’s framework from inside the big firms
• 56:12 — The legacy tech debt problem nobody wants to talk about
• 01:00:40 — How firms can modernize without breaking the enterprise
• 01:03:50 — Final challenge: who will actually bridge the gap?
• 
  

This isn’t industry commentary.

It’s a strategic field guide for enterprises, advisors, founders, and retirement innovators who want to bridge the gap without burning years—or budgets—doing it the hard way.

If this episode gave you a new lens on convergence and growth:

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#RetirementTech #WealthManagement #Fintech #FinancialInnovation #AdvisorGrowth #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfFinance #401k #RetirementPlans #SaaS

Welcome to Decoding Growth, where unfiltered conversations and bold ideas are reshaping retirement. In this episode, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Press sit down with Dan Beck, co-founder and CEO of 401GO, to explore how innovation, empathy, and a customer-first mindset are transforming the small business retirement market.

While others talk about serving small employers, Dan and his team are actually doing it. From tackling legacy systems to designing technology that reduces friction and humanizes finance, this episode breaks down what it truly means to modernize an industry that’s been slow to evolve.

If you’ve ever wondered why so many small businesses still struggle to offer 401(k) plans — and what it takes to fix that — this conversation is your roadmap.

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Decoding Growth: The new playbook for retirement innovation

00:33 – Introducing Dan Beck, co-founder and CEO of 401GO

01:40 – From e-commerce to fintech: Dan’s journey into retirement innovation

03:08 – The origin story: when solving his own 401(k) problem sparked a startup

05:20 – Why curiosity drives entrepreneurship and change

07:14 – Lessons from e-commerce: reducing friction and building better experiences

10:08 – Understanding the small business pain point — why complexity kills adoption

13:22 – How 401GO’s “own the friction” philosophy reshapes advisor relationships

16:18 – Building for small businesses: empathy over industry jargon

18:45 – Real-life impact: helping employees save their first dollar

21:10 – Human design + tech innovation: the secret to long-term engagement

25:04 – Redefining advisor partnerships and distribution models

29:28 – Why automation and relationships must coexist

32:00 – The danger of legacy thinking and the power of outside perspective

35:46 – Bootstrapping vs. venture capital: building for growth with integrity

38:25 – Lessons on innovation from startups and legacy firms

42:14 – How big companies and fintechs can collaborate instead of compete

46:00 – Innovation inside risk-averse industries: how to make it work

50:27 – The mindset shift: experimentation, autonomy, and innovation

55:19 – What incumbents can learn from startups — and vice versa

59:00 – The surprising truth: this industry wants to change

1:02:00 – Closing reflections: curiosity, empathy, and the future of 401(k)s

💡 Key Takeaways

• “Own the friction” — make complexity your responsibility, not your client’s.

• Real innovation starts with solving real problems, not chasing shiny tech.

• Empathy + automation = sustainable business transformation.

• Small businesses deserve better access, clarity, and care in financial services.

• The retirement industry is ready to evolve — it just needs better tools.

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💬 Comment your biggest takeaway — how do you “own the friction” in your business?

📢 Share this episode with a colleague ready to rethink how retirement works.

Because innovation isn’t about technology — it’s about courage, curiosity, and care. 💬🚀

Welcome to Decoding Growth — where unfiltered conversations and bold ideas are reshaping the future of retirement and benefits.

In this episode, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest sit down with Anthony Bunnell and Tom Bishop, co-founders of Peopled, to unpack how their company is building the new front door for employee benefits. With backgrounds as executives and startup founders, Anthony and Tom bring unique insights into how AI, personalization, and trust can transform how employees engage with their benefits.

From solving the problem of benefits confusion to reimagining the advisor’s role in an AI-driven world, this episode cuts through the noise to reveal what true innovation looks like in financial wellness.

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Decoding Growth

01:15 – Meet the co-founders of Peopled

04:10 – The problem Peopled is solving in the benefits space

07:45 – How AI is transforming employee engagement

10:32 – “The new front door” for benefits explained

14:55 – Hyper-personalization and trust in financial decisions

19:40 – Scaling the advisor relationship through technology

24:05 – Why alignment—not assets—should define industry success

29:12 – Lessons learned from past startups and regulated industries

33:25 – Building partnerships with recordkeepers and healthcare providers

37:58 – The real future of integration and collaboration

42:10 – Final thoughts: redefining success in financial services

🎧 Tune in to explore how “Peopled” is using technology to help individuals make smarter, more confident financial decisions—one conversation at a time.

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💬 Subscribe for fresh insights from innovators transforming the retirement landscape.

Welcome to Decoding Growth, where unfiltered conversations and bold ideas are reshaping the future of retirement. In this episode, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest sit down with legendary industry voice Nevin Adams to explore how innovation, regulation, and human behavior intersect in retirement—and where the industry must go next.

Nevin shares candid insights on fiduciary risk, the evolving role of AI, financial wellness, and the human side of innovation. Packed with wisdom, humor, and real talk, this conversation challenges old assumptions and inspires fresh thinking about what’s possible in financial services.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to Decoding Growth

00:37 – Why challenge the status quo matters in retirement innovation

02:24 – Introducing Nevin Adams: a voice of reason and change

03:16 – The legal lens: how regulation shapes progress

07:15 – AI and the future of retirement services

10:08 – Guardrails, compliance, and the evolution of trust in AI

13:16 – Personalization and financial wellness at scale

15:47 – Generational shifts and comfort with digital tools

18:14 – Convergence and new business models

21:12 – The real fear around money and financial conversations

23:16 – Underappreciated ideas and the future of access

27:13 – Retirement income, defaults, and the language of innovation

31:01 – Education gaps and financial literacy challenges

33:28 – Connecting technology, trust, and incremental learning

35:01 – How to bring innovators and legacy institutions together

37:19 – Where the industry should focus next

40:19 – Improving access, participation, and outcomes

45:22 – Making retirement transitions easier and smarter

49:00 – Nevin reflects on impact, influence, and legacy

53:46 – The kindest lessons and leaders who shaped his path

57:39 – Closing thoughts: why this work truly matters

58:13 – Subscribe and stay connected with Decoding Growth

🎙️ About the Show

Decoding Growth goes beyond the headlines to reveal the strategies, partnerships, and technologies transforming retirement. Each episode brings together voices driving change and creating a more innovative, inclusive future for the industry.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations that challenge convention, inspire leadership, and spark real growth.

#DecodingGrowth #NevinAdams #RetirementInnovation #AIinFinance #FinancialWellness #Fintech #PodcastEpisode

Financial wellness pioneer Liz Davidson, founder of Financial Finesse, and president Todd Lacey join Lisa Kottler and Will Prest to decode the most misunderstood category in workplace retirement. 

With 15 companies on their tech map but countless definitions, they explore what financial wellness really means, why only 4% of people are truly "financially well," and how the industry must shift from product-first to participant-first thinking. 

Learn why, with financial coaching, healthcare claims have been shown to drop by 4.5% (compared to rising 19.4% without it), and why speaking in English (not industry jargon) might be retirement's biggest innovation opportunity.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction & The Retirement Tech Map

3:15 Defining Financial Wellness

8:45 Todd's Journey to Financial Finesse

12:30 The Unbiased Coaching Model

17:20 Measuring Success: Healthcare Claims Data

23:45 Beyond the 401(k): Breaking Down Silos

29:10 Platform vs. Point Solutions

34:25 Personalization & AI Innovation

40:15 Evaluating Financial Wellness Providers

46:30 The Engagement Challenge

51:40 Starting with the End User

56:20 Speaking English: The Innovation Gap

In this episode of Decoding Growth, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest sit down with David Musto, Chair & CEO of Ascensus, to explore the bold moves shaping the future of retirement. With over three decades of leadership across J.P. Morgan, Prudential, Great-West, and now Ascensus, David brings a rare perspective on how big brands can innovate, adapt, and lead at scale.

Join hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest as they dive deep into the legal and compliance landscape shaping retirement technology innovation with ERISA attorney Bonnie Treichel. This episode explores practical strategies for navigating the complex regulatory environment while fostering collaboration between legacy firms and emerging RetireTech companies.

Bonnie brings a unique perspective as both an attorney and operator, running two firms while staying at the forefront of industry innovation. From her upcoming book "Your Retirement Sketchbook" to her insights on partnership structures, this conversation reveals how smart legal strategy can accelerate rather than hinder RetireTech growth.

Your Retirement Sketchbook: 125 Retirement Planning Lessons from Financial Experts: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Retirement-Sketchbook-Planning-Financial/dp/1804091952/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IYgUDFBD_ZLNwrEnxXZLr1rmQBAEiU2s3nc9YgrwQeMJk6oj5PpfJWCbJQtr7BhYWY7gNZrNmRhtXTFYELwD16TiUhF3qX6zXHj_6z6TVVm53f-EGHFcgbWv-IK5WL7QU65_FsMv7Ri3xQzVIH280GwgqcHNZEx9btrjhAnHYw_HQVAcAHfA1M3N3q1j0gWEB-H-Epz80JRYzDzrhOSOhOodqVJaNeWaVRp3l8I1-1M.KsBEMeSH1H6MnwwhTjIMdfIryJ0FK_OUGyi3GZTBaVI&dib_tag=se&hvadid=713542018012&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9059583&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=16771137218294878157--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16771137218294878157&hvtargid=kwd-2438321451310&hydadcr=22566_13730726&keywords=your+retirement+sketchbook&mcid=5de30c2c70a0346eb1457cfd6f746d0d&qid=1758660146&sr=8-1