The State of Retirement: Shaping the Future
Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives
Subscribe
Georgetown Center for Retirement Initiatives (CRI)’s Executive Director Angela Antonelli talks with industry innovators, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of retirement.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Mar 15, 2023
Episode 36: Closing the Access Gap: What Can We Expect from SECURE 2.0 and State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs?
On this audio replay of CRI’s February 9, 2023 webinar, Angela Antonelli moderates a series of panel presentations by:
* Will Hansen, Chief Government Affairs Officer, American Retirement Association
* Jessica Muirhead, Executive Director, MyCTSavings
* Chad Mullen, Director, Financial Security, AARP
* Chad Parks, CEO, Ubiquity Retirement + Savings
* William (“Hunter”) Railey, Executive Director, Colorado SecureSavings Program
* Glenn Simmons, Executive Director, Maryland$aves
sharing their observations about how the latest federal reforms in the SECURE 2.0 Act could reshape the retirement plan market and expand coverage and participation. In addition, three of the newest state-facilitated retirement savings programs now open to all eligible workers - MyCTSavings, Maryland$aves, and the Colorado SecureSavings Program -provide updates on their progress to date.
playlist_add
Dec 19, 2022
Episode 35: What Can the Design, Evolution, and Launch of MyCTSavings Teach Us About the Implementation of State Retirement Savings Programs?
Connecticut Comptroller Natalie Braswell and Jessica Muirhead, Executive Director, MyCTSavings program, discuss the history, design, and evolution of this state-facilitated retirement savings programs for private sector workers who lack access to an employer-sponsored plan, and share some important some lessons learned for other states and stakeholders considering such programs.
playlist_add
Oct 21, 2022
Episode 34: What Are Surveys Telling Us About Financial Well-Being, Retirement Confidence, and Trends Shaping Retirement Plan Design?
Three prominent and influential thought leaders – Anne Ackerley of BlackRock, Catherine Collinson of the Transamerica Institute, and Lori Lucas of the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) - help us better understand how American workers are doing when it comes to their overall financial well-being and concerns, their retirement confidence and readiness, the changing nature of the employer and employee relationship, and how all of this is shaping the future of retirement.
playlist_add
Sep 6, 2022
Episode 33: How Can Dynamic Pension Pools Address the Need for Lifetime Pension Income in Canada
Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald, Director of Financial Security Research at the National Institute on Ageing at Ryerson University and Barbara Sanders, Associate Professor Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University introduce us to the concept of Dynamic Pension Pools, how they are different from other lifetime income solutions, and the role they can play enhancing the quality of life in retirement not only in Canada, but around the world. Their recent policy paper titled “Affordable Lifetime Pension Income for a Better Tomorrow: How we can address the $1.5 trillion decumulation disconnect in the Canadian retirement income system with Dynamic Pension pools” was selected by the Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives as part of a Call for Papers in November 2021 for our Annual Policy Innovation Forum. It was published November 16, 2021 by the National Institute on Ageing at Ryerson University and the Global Risk Institute.
playlist_add
Aug 1, 2022
Episode 32: Extending Pension (Retirement Savings) Coverage to the Informal Sector in Rwanda
Ayandev Saha, Head of Climate Risk and Insurance, RMD London, introduces us to a new retirement savings scheme launched in Rwanda in late 2018. This initiative also is outlined in a recent white paper submitted to the CRI titled "Rwf 23.2 billion saved into informal sector pension scheme –Extending pension coverage to the informal sector in Rwanda" for the 2021 Policy Innovation Forum.
playlist_add
Jun 3, 2022
Episode 31: How are FinTech Firms Responding to Recent Reforms and Innovating to Cost-Effectively Serve the Small Business Market and Close the Access Gap?
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS EDITION
Chad Parks, Founder and CEO of Ubiquity Retirement +Savings, a fintech company committed to serving the small business market, explains why he supports new state-facilitated retirement savings programs, the ways in which the public and private sectors can contribute to closing the savings access gap, the innovation and competition we are seeing with new products and entrants in the small business plan market, and what we can expect from the industry as we look to the future.
Ubiquity is a general supporter of the Center for Retirement Initiatives. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the views of the guests and do not reflect any policy or position of the Center for Retirement Initiatives.
playlist_add
Apr 27, 2022
Episode 30: What Do We Know About How Retirees Spend and the Role of Guaranteed Income in Improving Outcomes?
David Blanchett, Managing Director and Head of Retirement Research for PGIM DC Solutions, and Michael Finke, Professor, Professor of Wealth Management and Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security Research at The American College of Financial Services, explain what we know about how retirees save and spend their money, what information, tools, and solutions can be of the greatest help to retirees to plan for their needs in retirement, and the role lifetime income solutions can play in enhancing the quality of life in retirement. One of their more recent research papers, "Guaranteed Income: A License to Spend" was selected by the Georgetown Center for Retirement Initiatives, with the generous support of the Berggruen Institute, to highlight as part of its virtual 2021 Policy Innovation Forum held November 2-3, 2021.
playlist_add
Apr 7, 2022
Episode 29: State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs: How 40,000 Employers Have Helped 400,000 Employees Save $400 Million for Retirement...and It's Just the Beginning
On this audio replay of CRI’s February 17, 2022 webinar, Angela Antonelli moderates a series of panel presentations by:
* The Honorable Stacy Garrity, Treasurer, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
* The Honorable Josh Gotbaum, Chair, MarylandSaves
* Mary Morris, CEO, Virginia529 and the VA Retirement Savings Program
* John Scott, Retirement Savings Project Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts
* Katie Selenski, Executive Director, CalSavers Retirement Savings Board
* The Honorable Dave Young, Treasurer, State of Colorado, and Chair, Colorado Secure Savings Program Board
sharing their experiences to date making the case for these programs, how these new programs continue to innovate in their design and implementation, and what the experience has been for both employers and employees.
playlist_add
Jan 26, 2022
Episode 28: What is the 2022 Legislative and Regulatory Outlook for Retirement Reform?
Michael Kreps, Principal & Co-Chair of the Retirement Services Practice, Groom Law Group, discusses how well the retirement system continues to hold up as we begin a new year; provides an overview of some of the more significant retirement related legislative reform initiatives considered but not enacted by Congress in 2021 with his predictions for action in 2022; and also reviews the Biden Administration’s first year regulatory actions taken, some of which reflected changes from the policy decisions of the prior Administration.
playlist_add
Dec 14, 2021
Episode 27: Why Is It Important to Close the Retirement Savings Access Gap, What Are Policymakers Doing, and How Are Employers and Employees Responding?
John Scott, Project Director, Retirement Savings Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts shares the findings of recent research related to the implementation of state auto-IRA retirement savings programs in Oregon and Illinois. He explains the role these programs play in closing the retirement savings access gap, the budget and economic consequences of doing nothing to address the problem of insufficient retirement savings, how the private sector has responded, and the future trends as more of these programs launch in the next few years.
playlist_add
Sep 29, 2021
Episode 26: What Has Made Washington State One of the Top 5 Best Performing and Funded Pension Systems in the U.S.?
Theresa Whitmarsh, Executive Director, Washington State Investment Board will retire at the end of 2021 after 18 years of service. The Board manages more than $165 billion in assets, and is one of the top 5 best funded and highest performing pension funds in the nation. It also is a leader in private asset investing, with private equity, real estate and tangible assets comprising 48 percent of its retirement portfolio. Theresa shares some of key best practices and lessons learned that she believes has been critical to the Board's success.
playlist_add
Aug 31, 2021
Episode 25: What Do Chief Investment Officers (CIOs) View as Key Issues and Opportunities to Strengthen the Retirement System?
Dennis Simmons, Executive Director of the Committee on the Investment of Employee Benefit Assets (CIEBA), discusses key issues of focus for today’s retirement plan sponsors. Chief Investment Officers (CIOs) are keenly focused on the investment performance of their defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) retirement plans and working in the best interest of their employees. Recent reforms, the current economy and the COVID-19 pandemic have presented some new challenges and opportunities for strengthening the retirement system.
playlist_add
Jul 27, 2021
Episode 24: How Are Current Demographic and Economic Trends Shaping the Future of Social Security and Retirement Security?
NBER President and MIT Professor James Poterba discussed current demographic and economic trends and the challenges they pose for the future of retirement security. He provides an update on the current condition of Social Security, what a low return environment means for retirement savings, the importance of financial education, and why designing lifetime income solutions can be complicated.
playlist_add
Jun 17, 2021
Episode 23: What are the Benefits and Challenges of Pooled Funding and Risk-Sharing in Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) Plans?
On this audio replay of CRI’s May 13, 2021 webinar, Charles E.F. Millard, former Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and Senior Advisor, Amundi Asset Management moderates a discussion with panelists from the United Kingdom (David Pitt-Watson and Terry Pullinger), the Netherlands (Alwin Oerlemans), and the United States (Bradford Campbell) on challenges faced by defined contribution in turning savings into lifetime income and how experiences from abroad with collective defined contribution (CDC) plans can inform better plan designs for the US.
playlist_add
May 25, 2021
Episode 22: How ERISA and the Tax Code Apply to IRAs and 401(k)s - What Does it Mean for State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs?
David Morse, Partner, K&L Gates, provides an overview of how ERISA and the tax code apply to IRAs, 401(k)s and MEPs and what it means for state-facilitated retirement savings programs. See recent CRI related paper.
playlist_add
Mar 30, 2021
Episode 21: What is the 2021 Legislative and Regulatory Outlook for Retirement Reform?
Michael Kreps, Principal, Groom Law Group, reviews how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected retirement savings for public and private sector retirement systems, the implementation of the SECURE Act to date, and the prospects for additional legislative and regulatory reform in 2021 and beyond with President Biden and Congress.
playlist_add
Feb 24, 2021
Episode 20: How Would Virginia Benefit from Expanding Access to an Auto-IRA Retirement Savings Program?
VA529 CEO Mary Morris discusses the nature of the retirement savings challenge facing private sector workers in Virginia; the work of the 2020 retirement study lead by VA529 and the feedback received; why the study report recommended an auto-IRA program; and some key program features reflected in their recommendations, many of which are included in the program bill being considered during the 2021 state legislative session.
playlist_add
Dec 16, 2020
Episode 19: What are the Potential Benefits of National Universal Access to Retirement Savings?
In this audio replay of CRI's December 15, 2020 webinar, CRI's Executive Director Angela Antonelli and Ethan Connor-Ross, Senior Vice President at Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI) discuss the CRI's latest research prepared in collaboration with ESI which evaluates options for providing national universal retirement savings access if some or all employers are required to offer either a payroll deduction Roth IRA or Roth 401(k) plan to their workers. The presentation is followed by a discussion with a panel of experts. Research related materials can be found at https://cri.georgetown.edu/past-webinars/
playlist_add
Oct 30, 2020
Episode 18: Why Is CalSavers the Big, Bold Retirement Solution Needed by 7.5 Million Private Sector Workers?
California Treasurer Fiona Ma, Chair of the CalSavers Retirement Savings Board and Katie Selenski, Executive Director of CalSavers, discuss the history and goals of the program; its current design and launch, which like so much has been affected by the current COVID pandemic; and some lessons learned.
playlist_add
Sep 25, 2020
Episode 17: What Are Some Innovative Approaches to Addressing the Financial Well-Being and Lifetime Income Needs of Retirement Plan Sponsors and Participants?
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS EDITION
Nick Nefouse, Head of Defined Contribution Investment and Product Strategy with BlackRock, and Jeff Cimini, Head of Institutional Product at Voya Financial, discuss the financial challenges facing workers today and how they, along with others, are responding to the demand to provide options to improve financial well-being, including innovative new solutions to generate and protection income in retirement.
BlackRock is a supporter of the Center for Retirement Initiatives. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the views of the guests and do not reflect any policy or position of the Center for Retirement Initiatives.
playlist_add
Aug 21, 2020
Episode 16: Retirement Savings in the Time of COVID-19: International Best Practices to Address Challenges
Pablo Antolin, the Principal Economist and Head of the Private Pensions Unit, and the Deputy Head of the Insurance, Pensions, and Financial Markets Division, of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shares important considerations in the design of retirement plan arrangements, recent reform trends around the world, and some international best practices policymakers and stakeholders should keep in mind as they respond rapidly to the crises related to COVID-19.
playlist_add
Jul 9, 2020
Episode 15: How Might the COVID Economy and Upcoming Elections Reshape the Future of Retirement?
The Honorable Seth Harris, former Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary of Labor in the Obama Administration, discusses the challenges and options for addressing retirement coverage and adequacy, including the importance of state-facilitated retirement savings programs and provisions of the Secure Act, including pooled employer plans and lifetime income. He also shares his thoughts about how retirement policy and priorities might be different if there are changes in Congress and an Administration after the November 2020 national election.
playlist_add
Jun 10, 2020
Episode 14: What Have Pennsylvania and Colorado Learned Analyzing the Costs of Retirement Insecurity?
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella and Colorado Treasurer Dave Young share their concerns about the financial fragility of too many Americans, the importance of savings, including retirement savings, and their work chairing retirement security study groups in their states leading to recommendations to establish state-facilitated retirement savings programs.
playlist_add
May 7, 2020
Episode 13: COVID-19 & Market Volatility: Can Greater Asset Diversification in DC Plans Lead to Better Outcomes?
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS EDITION
Charles Millard, former Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), Josh Cohen, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Defined Contribution, PGIM and Matthew Brenner, Managing Vice President, Investments, ICMA-RC discuss why DC plans today should consider greater diversification of asset classes and strategies. Might the COVID-19 economic shock and its impact on portfolios provide evidence of the importance of such diversification during periods of market stress? What are the challenges that slow the inclusion of alternative asset classes, available to defined benefit plans and institutional investors, in DC plans and can they be overcome?
PGIM and ICMA-RC are supporters of the Center for Retirement Initiatives. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the views of the guests and do not reflect any policy or position of the Center for Retirement Initiatives.
playlist_add
Mar 20, 2020
Episode 12: What Is the Power of the Auto-IRA and Its Potential to Transform Retirement Savings?
David John, AARP Public Policy Institute, shares the history of his bipartisan collaboration with Mark Iwry leading to the creation of the auto-IRA, its adoption by states, and its role in shaping a more holistic approach to savings and financial well-being.
playlist_add
Feb 10, 2020
Episode 11: How Could the SECURE Act Reshape the Retirement Savings Landscape in 2020 and Beyond?
Michael Kreps, Principal, Groom Law Group, reviews the provisions of the recently passed SECURE Act, outlines what these latest reforms could mean for the future of retirement plans, and provides a legislative and regulatory outlook for 2020.
playlist_add
Dec 2, 2019
Episode 10: How Should What We Know About Savings Behavior Shape Retirement Plan Design And Improve Outcomes?
Brigitte Madrian, Distinguished Professor and Dean of the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University, highlights findings from her research about the ways choice architecture can shape retirement plan design, the role financial education and emergency savings accounts can play in improving financial security, and how framing strategies can affect decisions to adopt lifetime income solutions.
playlist_add
Oct 30, 2019
Episode 09: What Challenges Will an Aging Global Population Pose for the Long-Term Sustainability of Retirement Systems?
Harry Smorenberg, CEO of Smorenberg Consultancy, discusses the aging of the global population and how it will inevitably transform how we work, how long we work, and require new approaches to creating and building the sustainable retirement systems of the future.
playlist_add
Sep 26, 2019
Episode 08: What Do We Know About Financial Fragility and Financial Literacy in the U.S. and How it Undermines Retirement Security?
Professor Annamaria Lusardi, Founder and Academic Director of the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center at George Washington University, explains the severity of financial fragility among Americans today, the lack of financial literacy, and the role financial education can play in helping improve both short-term and long-term financial and retirement security.
playlist_add
Aug 7, 2019
Episode 07: How Do We Build a Retirement Income System for the 21st Century?
Keith Ambachtsheer, President of KPA Advisory Services, is one of the world's most original thinkers on pension design, governance and investing issues. He explains how Peter Drucker's concept of the "power of three" helps shape his thinking about what's most important in the design of the sustainable retirement income system of the future.
playlist_add
Jun 26, 2019
Episode 06: Profiles in Leadership: A Conversation with John W. Rogers, Jr., the Founder & Chair of Ariel Investments
John launched Ariel Investments in the early 1980s and has been very successful for the past 36 years managing funds for investors. He shares some of the secrets of his investing success and how it can help us prepare for retirement. We also learn how his leadership and determination to improve financial literacy and advocate for greater diversity and inclusion are transforming lives, communities, businesses and boardrooms across the nation.
playlist_add
Jun 4, 2019
Episode 05: What Are the Challenges Facing Global Retirement Systems to Help "Save For Our Future?"
Han Yik, Head of Institutional Investors, the World Economic Forum (WEF), explains the objectives of the WEF's Retirement Investment Systems Reform Project and its series of reports that seek to ask and answer the question - "We'll Live to 100 - How Can We Afford It?"
playlist_add
May 2, 2019
Episode 04: How Are Oregon and Illinois Helping More Workers Save for Retirement?
Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read and Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs each share program updates, insights, and lessons learned for their state-facilitated retirement savings programs -OregonSaves and Illinois Secure Choice- as these pioneering states lead the way to expand access and strengthen retirement security for millions of Americans.
playlist_add
Mar 27, 2019
Episode 03: What Are the Lessons Learned and the Next Generation of Challenges for the UK NEST Program?
Will Sandbrook, Executive Director, UK Nest Insight Unit, reviews the genesis of the UK’s NEST program and the next generation of challenges facing DC plans today, including increasing participant engagement, optimizing retirement income, improving the overall financial wellbeing of savers, and reaching workers who lack the traditional employer relationship.
playlist_add
Feb 27, 2019
Episode 02: Is It Possible to Build a Better Target Date Fund?
David O'Meara, Head of DC Investment Strategy, Willis Towers Watson discusses trends in DC plan design, the use of target date funds, and whether greater diversification, by including alternative asset classes, can improve retirement income outcomes.
playlist_add
Jan 30, 2019
Episode 01: The 2019 Legislative Outlook
In this inaugural episode, Michael Kreps, Principal of the Groom Law Group, discusses the legislative outlook and priorities for 2019.
playlist_add