Our guest on the podcast today is Lori Lucas, the president and CEO of the Employee Benefits Research Institute, or EBRI. EBRI aims to provide unbiased research and data on retirement, healthcare, and other employee benefits. Prior to joining EBRI, Lori was an executive vice president and practice leader at Callan. She has also served as director of Retirement Research at Hewitt associates, vice president at Ibbotson associates, pension fund consultant at J.H. Ellwood & Associates, and as an analyst and product development leader at Morningstar. Lori received a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University and earned a master’s from the University of Illinois. Additionally, she is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Background

Bio

Employee Benefits Research Institute

Retirement Confidence and Financial Wellness

EBRI’s Retirement Confidence Survey

“2021 Retirement Confidence Survey: A Closer Look at Black and Hispanic Americans,” by Craig Copeland and Lisa Greenwald, ebri.org, June 10, 2021.

EBRI 2021 Workplace Wellness Survey

“Why Do People Spend the Way They Do in Retirement? Findings From EBRI’s Spending in Retirement Survey,” by Lori Lucas, ebri.org, Jan. 14, 2021.

“These Retirees Are More Likely to Be ‘Comfortable’ or ‘Affluent,’ Study Finds,” by Kate Dore, cnbc.com, Aug. 4, 2021.

“Retirement Confidence Survey Highlights Overwhelming Participant Support for Auto Portability,” Retirement Clearinghouse, prnewswire.com, April 22, 2021.

“Racial Inequities and Retirement Income: Contributing Factors and Possible Solutions,” by Lori Lucas, lifeandretirement.aig.com, December 2021.

The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity “FARE” Coalition

“Brigitte Madrian: ‘Inertia Can Actually Be a Helpful Thing,’” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, April 22, 2020.

“Emergency-Fund-Focused-Employers: Goals, Motivations, and Challenges,” by Lori Lucas, ebri.org, Feb. 13, 2020.

“Talking About My Generation: Comparing the Financial Wellness of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials,” by Lori Lucas, ebri.org, Jan. 13, 2022.

The Retirement System

“Senators Look at Ways to Make Retirement Saving Easier,” by Susan Rupe, insurancenews.net, May 13, 2021.

“The Rising Retirement Perils of 401(k) ‘Leakage’,” by Anne Tergesen, wjs.com, April 2, 2017.

“401(k) Plan Leakage and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018,” by Lori Lucas, lifehealth.com, Feb. 26, 2018.

“Participants Still Support Automatic Portability of 401(k)s: Survey,” by Alan Goforth, benefitspro.com, April 27, 2021.

“Andrew Biggs: Create a Thrift Savings Plan for the Masses,” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, May 25, 2021.

Illinois Secure Choice

OregonSaves

CalSavers

Healthcare

“What Leads to Greater Satisfaction With High-Deductible Health Plan Coverage?” ebri.org, Feb. 17, 2022.

2021 Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey

“Projected Savings Medicare Beneficiaries Need for Health Expenses Spike in 2021,” by Paul Fronstin and Jack VanDerhei, ebri.org, Jan. 20, 2022.

“Why Patients Aren’t Cost-Conscious Consumers of Health Care,” by Lori Lucas, ebri.org, Sept. 9, 2021.