Women in Retirement

Starting and growing a business is both exciting and challenging—and there’s no substitute for learning from women who have navigated that journey firsthand.

From navigating uncertainty and overcoming self-doubt to establishing governance structures, finding a niche, attracting clients, and managing growth, our panelists will offer candid insights into the realities of entrepreneurship.

Whether you're considering starting your own business, recently launched a firm, or looking to grow an existing practice, you'll gain practical advice, lessons learned, and strategies for building confidence and resilience along the way. As always, the session will conclude with breakout discussions, providing an opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences, and learn from other women across the industry.

Decisions made throughout your lifetime can have a big impact on your future financial security. Women especially face unique challenges that put them at greater financial risk, including longevity, lower lifetime earnings, out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and unpaid caregiving. From navigating savings options to managing debt, caregiving responsibilities, and long-term care, this session will highlight common retirement planning “pitfalls” and specific actions you can take at every stage of your life to build greater financial security. Information and resources provided can also be shared and incorporated into workplace aging and wellness programs to help underserved and under-resourced women and families improve their financial outcomes.

Think you know the ARA sisters? Join us for an interactive panel discussion featuring representatives from the five powerhouse organizations under the ARA umbrella—ASPPA, ASEA, NAPA, NTSA, and PSCA. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow within the retirement industry, this engaging session will spotlight what each group does, how they collaborate, who they serve, and how you can get involved. Explore career-advancing certifications, volunteer opportunities, and real-world insights from leaders in the field. With opportunities to ask questions, connect in breakout rooms, and reflect on your career goals, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and clear next steps to elevate your future.

Get Involved: Thrive Mentoring Program

Get Involved: NOW Mentoring Program

Looking to take your career to the next level while building connections that matter? Join us for a dynamic virtual event on the importance of mentoring in shaping successful careers for women in the retirement industry.

A panel of three accomplished women professionals will share their personal experiences with mentoring—both as mentors and mentees. They’ll discuss how mentoring has influenced their career trajectories, strategies for making the most of these relationships, and the unique challenges and opportunities women face in the industry.

Whether you’re seeking insights from another corner of the industry, looking to give ack as a mentor, or simply craving a bigger, brighter network, this event is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive—together!

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Impact of Mentoring: Gain insights into how mentoring can accelerate career growth, build confidence, and navigate the unique challenges women face in the retirement industry.
• Learn Best Practices for Mentoring Relationships: Discover practical strategies for fostering meaningful and productive mentor-mentee connections, including setting goals, effective communication, and managing expectations.
• Explore Opportunities to Get Involved: Learn about the available mentoring programs through ARA and how to participate as a mentor or mentee, including actionable steps to sign up and maximize the program’s benefits.
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Speakers:

• Kirsten Curry, APM, Attorney, CEO & Founder, Leading Retirement Solutions
• Colleen Windham, CPC, QPA, CBS, QKC, QKA, TGPC, Relationship Manager & CPA, RPSI-Retirement Plan Solutions Inc
• Margaret Younis, CPC, QPA, QKA, TGPC, Vice President, Head of Consultant Relations, Lincoln Financial Group

Sponsored by: Commonwealth Financial Network

In this episode of Women in Retirement: Third Thursdays, the vital role of how branding plays in both personal and corporate success. Featuring insights from Jennifer Lawrence, Director of Retirement Operations at Element Financial, Kelli Beckstrom, Brand Manager at Legacy Planning, Valerie McClendon, Financial Advisor with Boston Wealth Strategies, and the dynamic team from Commonwealth Financial Network—Angela Streba, Patricia Marcel, and host Kara Tierney—this episode is packed with strategies to help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. From creating emotional connections to building consistent, authentic brands, our panelists share actionable advice on strengthening your brand presence and ensuring it reflects your values. Discover how branding can transform your business and career.

Featuring:

• Jennifer Lawrence, Director of Retirement Operations, Element Financial
• Kelli Beckstrom, Brand Manager, Legacy Planning
• Valerie McClendon, Financial Advisor, Boston Wealth Strategies
• Angela Streba, Director, Advisor Brands - Marketing, Commonwealth Financial Network
• Patricia Marcel, Director, Marketing Client Services, Commonwealth Financial Network
• Kara Tierney, Manager, Marketing & Communications, Strategic Retirement Solutions 

Hosted by: ARA. Third Thursday Committee

When it comes to saving for retirement, women face a different set of challenges. In this fireside chat with Carrie Schroen, BlackRock’s Head of the US DC Intermediary Business, and KC Boas, BlackRock’s Head of Retirement Marketing and Thought Leadership, we unpack the retirement gender wealth gap. Part- retirement content, part- career development convo, we’ll cover a range of topics in this Third Thursday session.

Speaker Bios
Carrie Schroen
Head of the US DC Intermediary Business
BlackRock
Carrie Schroen, Managing Director, is the Head of the US DC Intermediary Business within BlackRock’s Retirement Group. Carrie and her team develop and execute strategy to accelerate the defined contribution client business in partnership with plan advisors, recordkeepers, and insurance platforms in the US and Canada

Previously, Carrie was the National Sales Manager of the Independent Broker Dealer business at BlackRock and led the Southern Region across the broader USWA Segmented Sales client teams.

Carrie was integral in the founding of our BlackRock Model Portfolios for Women, our innovative model portfolios built on the core factors that may alter long-term portfolio construction for women investors. She is passionate about financial literacy and closing investment access and educational gaps.

Carrie received her undergraduate degree from Boston College, where she was a Captain of the Varsity Swim Team. She received her MBA from the University of Phoenix and participated in the InvestmentNews Women to Watch Think Tank.

KC Boas
Head of Retirement Marketing and Thought Leadership
BlackRock

KC Boas is Head of Retirement Marketing for BlackRock. In this role, she oversees thought leadership, content strategy, and execution to differentiate BlackRock within the industry and amplify our brand. Within BlackRock, KC serves on the Financial Inclusion Network’s Leadership Team. Outside the firm, she serves on the Advisory Board for the American Savings Education Council.

With the aging population growing so rapidly and birth rates declining, many industries could be up against labor shortages. As many employers face a coming wave of baby-boomer retirements, the resulting gaps in unique skills, experience, and institutional knowledge may be difficult to fill. Keeping mature workers engaged may help ensure that your company retains the employee knowledge necessary to compete.

Going forward, successful workplaces will not only leverage the skills and institutional knowledge of mature workers, but also appeal to those whose talent they are looking to replace. And if younger workers are going to fill the shoes of those who will be transitioning out of the workforce, they’re going to rely on older generations to pass on their knowledge and expertise.

PenChecks COO Alexandra Gerritsen has been a hard charger her entire career, delivering exceptional performance for her employers. Her journey was full of eye-opening “Oh S@%$” moments that impacted her growth as a manager and leader. What started out as a metrics and performance-driven mindset evolved into one that builds relationships and team alignment to deliver outstanding business results.

Sometimes hard-driving leaders may move fast to get results, but in the process, they can alienate the team and build resentment. She learned that if you take a step back and slow down just a little, you can still get the desired results without sacrificing speed.

Ali will share her journey and highlight moments that provided key inflection points in her career so you can understand how they helped her become a better and more effective leader. There are a variety of approaches to growing your organization, driving change, and delivering results, many of which can yield success. But there is one approach that will deliver results while building a positive culture and greater engagement–even during difficult times.

Sponsored by PenChecks.