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.

🔔 Join the Movement

If this episode inspired you:

✅ Subscribe to Decoding Growth for more unfiltered conversations on innovation.

💬 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.

📢 Watch more episodes of Decoding Growth

💬 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

Join Lisa Kottler and Will Prest as they sit down with Ryan Tiernan from Capital Group's Workplace Strategic Growth team to explore how a nearly century-old asset manager embraces fintech innovation. This "four-wheel drive episode" dives deep into Ryan's unique perspective as both a former founder and current enterprise innovation leader, revealing how Capital Group scouts, partners with, and scales fintech solutions across the retirement ecosystem.

Discover the five critical drivers Capital Group uses to identify opportunities, learn their philosophy for working with startups, and understand how they create value for both emerging ventures and established intermediaries. Ryan shares candid insights about building a culture of curiosity, managing risk in a highly regulated industry, and the evolving role of AI in workplace benefits.

Whether you're a fintech founder seeking enterprise partnerships or an established firm looking to innovate, this episode offers practical strategies for navigating the complex world of retirement technology and workplace benefits convergence.

Welcome to the premiere episode of Decoding Growth, where industry veterans Lisa Kottler and Will Prest introduce themselves and their mission to transform conversations around retirement technology innovation.

In this inaugural episode, discover how two seasoned professionals who've worked at both Fortune 500 companies and scrappy startups are bridging the gap between established retirement plan providers and emerging technology disruptors. Lisa and Will share their personal journeys from corporate executives to entrepreneurs, explain why they coined the term "RetireTech," and reveal their vision for creating an ecosystem where innovation thrives.