Morningstar Retirement President Brock Johnson joins a special 100th episode of the 401(k) Specialist Pod(k)ast to provide an inside look and share insights into the past, present and future of the comprehensive retirement planning solutions and investment research unit.

Johnson talks about how retirement solutions and research have evolved over the years, what’s behind a host of recent innovations, and provides a glimpse into the future.

Key Insights:

1. Morningstar Retirement’s Evolution and Mission: Morningstar Retirement has maintained a consistent mission since its inception, focused on empowering investor success by providing holistic advice and investment expertise, particularly in the retirement planning space. Over the years, they have expanded from offering a single product to a broad suite of services that now includes fiduciary services, custom target date offerings, and managed accounts.
2. Innovation and Future Focus: Morningstar Retirement emphasizes continuous innovation by listening to clients and expanding the definition of retirement solutions. They are focusing on offering more holistic and actionable retirement solutions, such as personalized annuity recommendations and advisor-managed accounts, to meet the evolving needs of the retirement planning industry.
3. Challenges and Industry Impact: One of the significant challenges highlighted is the lack of access to employer-sponsored retirement plans for many private sector employees. Morningstar Retirement is working to address this issue by making it easier for advisors and record keepers to manage smaller startup plans, aiming to improve access to retirement savings vehicles for a broader population.

Morningstar Investment Management LLC is a registered investment adviser and subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc. This recording is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Opinions expressed are as of the date of recording; such opinions are subject to change without notice. The views and opinions of guests are not necessarily those of Morningstar and its affiliates. Morningstar Investment Management and its affiliates shall not be responsible for any trading decisions, damages, or other losses resulting from, or related to, the information, data, analyses or opinions or their use. Morningstar Investment Management does not guarantee the accuracy, or the completeness of the data presented herein. Firm data as of March 31, 2024. DC plan accessibility statistics available at https://press.aarp.org/2022-7-13-New-AARP-Research-Nearly-Half-Americans-Do-Not-Have-Access-to-Retirement-Plans-at-Work. Read more important disclosures here: https://www.morningstar.com/products/social-media-disclosures