Retireholics - 401k Plan Industry Show for Advisors

The 401k Girls are back. Hayley Porter and Jessica Porter return to talk acquisitions, target-date funds, financial literacy, vibe coding, and getting more women into financial services. Plus Fact or Fiction Thursday, a Chat Bar Champion challenge, and the usual chaos. We dig into the Ascensus and American Trust custodian shakeup and what consolidation means for advisors and TPAs, the wave of public comments on the latest DOL rule, whether private assets belong inside target-date funds, and why retirement should maybe just be boring. The girls break down their approachable take on financial literacy, the rebrand to The 401k Girls, and how authenticity (and the occasional quarter-zip) wins on social media. We also get into AI and vibe coding for plan administration. 0:00 Validate everyone in the chat bar 1:30 Welcoming back The 401k Girls 1:57 Fact or Fiction Thursday 4:50 Ascensus and American Trust custodian shakeup 13:30 Wholesaler relationships and partner reactions 20:50 DOL rule draws 37,000 public comments 23:30 Private assets inside target-date funds 27:20 Chat Bar Champion challenge 29:30 Reading bad financial advice posts 36:30 Making financial literacy approachable 38:40 Rebranding to The 401k Girls 41:30 Authenticity wins on social media 43:50 Vibe coding and AI for plan admin 49:50 Getting more women into financial services 59:00 Setting sales goals and succession planning 1:04:00 Wrap up and shoutouts Guests: Hayley Porter and Jessica Porter, The 401k Girls LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-401k-girls Retireholics is a live show for the 401(k) industry. New episodes the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 4:30pm Pacific. Join the next show live: https://plandesign.zoom.us/w/760355487 More episodes and transcripts: https://retireholics.com

Mesirow's deal to acquire LeafHouse Financial Advisors and Blue Ridge Associates' acquisition of Economic Group Pension Services. QuickBooks and Vestwell integrated 401(k) solution aimed at small and mid-sized businesses. Fred Reish's analysis of the DOL's proposal on alternative assets and how it affects plan investment menu selection, EBSA head Aronowitz's request for industry input on the DOL investment rule, and President Trump's executive order expanding workers' retirement access.

Topics: GUARANTEED INCOME: A DEEP DIVE. Really excited to do a precursor episode to NAPA 401k Summit, the idea here is to take one topic and cover all the angles.

Topics: Rollover tech company Capitalize, is Advisor compensation on a downward trend? Americans and Entrepreneurship, an Advisor Skills Challenge Contest, an update on BidMoni Inc., Tales from Texas, and an extended version of FinTok. Get em' on ice your 401k Freaks!

Special guest Hunter Hopcroft is joining on behalf of Basic Capital. We will dig into Basic Capital's concept they call a Retirement Mortgage where they put in 4 dollars for every 1 dollar the participant puts in.....crazy right? Hoping to ask all the right questions and learn more later today. Other topics include: Morningstar's new Ai Assistant, a revisit of the whole Gusto x Guideline x Accrue x Vestwell dealio, Financial FOMO, and an update on Crypto in 401k. Fun Segments = FinTok Clips, Tales From Texas, Acrosin, and The 100% Credible and Trustworthy Wheel of Ice.

Topics to include: Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) wants Congress to mandate lifetime income in 401k (really bro?), a deep look at 408b2 & 404a5, Fi360 (now Broadridge) vs RPAG vs Morningstar, How much money are Recordkeepers and Advisors making? a review of PLANADVISER's Adviser Value Survey, Fintok, Texas Tips and more....

Jason Wenk joined as the featured guest on Retireholics. Topics include: Aaron Schumm and Vestwell raise 365 million, SEC backs new $300 gift limit for Advisors, Fred Barstein thinks 401k plans are an illusion, Altruist's Ai platform Hazel is making big waves in wealth management. For those that don't know Jason is the real deal... the firm (Altruist) he founded is a disruptor custodian competing with the likes of Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, and Pershing. In 2025 Altruist was valued at approximately 2 Billion dollars!

Topics we pulled from the 401k rags: We will be breaking down Radish and how it’s reshaping tax advantaged employee incentive plans. Digging into Basic Capital’s $25M raise and what it signals for VC backed recordkeeper disruption. Unpacking leadership changes at Ubiquity with James Hobson stepping in as CEO. We’ll also demystify the NAPA Black Book, what it is and why advisors care. Taking a look at Otto, the new AI assistant debuting at RPAG to support retirement plan advisors. A fast paced episode packed with insights, innovation and industry intel.

Topics we're pulling from the 401k rags: 🔥401GO just locked in a $33M series B what this means for advisors and platforms.💡BNY Mellon is stepping up with contributions to employees’ Trump accounts. 🏆 Proven strategies to ace the finalist presentation and close more 401(k) plans?

Pentegra “boogeyman” settlement finally gets the green light, Trump Accounts roll out with bold promises for newborn savers, and a surprising study suggests retirees may be heading toward a 2.1% withdrawal rate—whether they mean to or not. Plus, fresh data shows investors growing frustrated with disappointing Target Date Funds.

A 401(k) blackout gone wrong, a quick dive into market value adjustments (MVAs), and our reaction to ABOON. We also hit Great Gray’s latest acquisition, the evolving Wealthspire/Aon/NFP/Madison Dearborn story, and Paychex’s new AI-powered advisor alerts.

Guest: Lisa M. Gomez the Former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security at USDOL Potential topics: A mix of industry, regulatory, and cultural developments. Key retirement plan topics include growing litigation concerns impacting DC plan services, new CIT offerings aimed at reducing small business 401(k) fees, and the ongoing battle over the DOL fiduciary rule, the DOL’s reversal of crypto investment guidance. A law firm facing penalties for sharing confidential information, and Empower signaling potential RIA acquisitions.... and Taylor Swift.

Join us for a special episode of Retireholics this week with expert guest Financial Advisor Jim Sampson. A breakdown/analysis of Freddy B's 'Ten Products and Services with the Greatest Impact on the 401(k) Industry' : Crypto, Private Equity, Custom TDFs, Held Away Assets, Retirement Income, Capturing IRA Rollovers, PEPs, Managed Accounts, and of course Artificial Intelligence. Brian Graff and American Retirement Association ask the DOL to not favor PEPs. Todd Kading of LeafHouse has new Op-Ed on 401(k) Data tells the industry "You Don't Own The Alphabet!"

Topics: Mandatory Roth Catch-Up rules, dark-side of M&A, NASDAQ on blockchain, FINRA crypto/blockchain education program, Chad's shoulder.

Potential topics: Topics to include: Blaze Credit Union and Osaic Deal, Empower's Schlichter Law Suit, Justin Bieber's New Album, Tax Credit Failures, Technology for Small Plans, Beneficiaries and our New FinTok Segment

Potential topics: Trumps EO!, The DOL’s RFI for PEPs, Sway Conference, Human Interest gets more $$, Empower Zero Fee SP500 X-Ray, FinTok, and Roswell Sighting of PEP Loving Mind Controlling Aliens.

ERISA expert and Industry Vet Jack Towarnicky joins Retireholics today. Topics to include: Josh Itzoe's New Product Launch, J.P. Morgan and Vestwell's SoloK, Is the Coverage Gap really narrowing?, Senator Warren vs Empower drama now includes Voya Financial, Blue Owl Capital and Trump, My QDIA is better than your QDIA, and what is a Ben Franklin Child Roth IRA?

Guest: We don't need no stinking guest Topics (maybe): • Schlichter, Pentegra Settle MEP Fiduciary Breach Suit • Bobby Bonilla, TIAA & Nuveen short film, 'The Big Deal' • Elizabeth Warren is seeking answers from Empower Retirement • SEC Announces it Will Analyze Private Securities in Retirement Accounts

We dive deep into the mind of Grant Ellis, AIF®, CPFA® The experiences, success and "learnings" of a Retirement Plan Advisor and his 20+ years in the biz. Topics potentially covered: • 401k Fee Structures • The Stealthy Wealthy • Being Yourself and Advisor Fashion • Lifestyle Practice vs Scale • Custom Service Models Depending Upon Client Size

Topics potentially covered: John Sullivan's article on Fidelity Investments' analysis of 401k savings rates, Shlomo Benartzi's Secret Society, Brian Anderson & 401k Specialist Magazine's interview of Knut A Rostad, MBA on the EBSA's rescind of Crypto Guidance, a status check on LinkedIn, PEP going ons?, Amanda's guide to email management.

This week on Retireholics, Christopher Tipper and Katherine Tipper of Hunter Benefits Consulting Group, Inc. also know as THE 401(k)ouple! Let the bourbon flow!

Excited to announce this week's guest on Retireholics. Entrepreneur, Podcast Host, and Industry Speaker... Melissa Terito, CPA

Honored to have another 401k Industry Expert on the show. Deborah Rubin, CFP has an impressive career in leadership roles with major Recordkeepers. Equally exciting is that her passions extend into success coaching and achieving your best in life and business. This week we talk current 401k Headlines and dive deep into the brain of this 401k Expert!

First time guest alert! Kevin Spaeth of PenChecks Trust joins as this week's special guest. Topics to include: LPL Financial acquiring Commonwealth Financial Network, the new Betterment Podcast, 401GO has a new partnership, the TikTok Financial Advice trend, and Schlichter strikes out again.

Topics: Do the Disruptors (Guideline, Human Interest, etc) know what they are doing when it comes to compliance work? The ROI of an Advisor Practice, is the ERISA Advisory Council no more? Advisor Revenue to see boost in 2025, and Great Gray Trust Company buys RPAG, WTF!?

The 401(k) Girls are joining us this week as our special guests. Jessica Porter, RICP®, AIF® and Hayley Porter, AIF® are two Advisors at BPG Wealth Management on a mission to shake up Financial Services with a fresh and innovative approach.

Do the vast majority of 401k plan 5500s have a red flag? Under performing investments in recent litigation, Cerulli report says 1 million micro plans by 2029, Roth Catch-Up Loop Holes, and more!

Juicy 401k News this week, lots to discuss with a fan-favorite guest Holly Knight. What is FutureStep and why have Vestwell and John Hancock partnered?, American Airlines/ESG Lawsuit and cartel-like behavior, Transamerica's Re-Brand, Waivz Webinar, AI in 401k, and more!

Nothing like ERISA law & 401k to bring in the holiday spirit.

He is not afraid to share his opinion, a straight shooter and one of the top ERISA attorneys in the biz, Thomas Clark guests on this week's Retireholics show. Possible Topics: The Nevin Adams and Shlomo drama....so juicy! Flashlight Segment on SavvyFi, Jania Stout makes big move from One Digital to Prime Capital. What is the DOL's ERISA Advisory Council? Hidden fees in guaranteed income solutions, acrosin, drunk stock tips, and more!

Big Time Guest Alert! Daniel Bryant founded Sheridan Road Financial which eventually was sold to HUB, he is an author, adjunct lecturer, entrepreneur and all around baller. Topics to include Todd Kading's Manifesto, Empower's New Small Biz 401k, ARA and Racial Sabings Gap, and DoorDash's new Employee Savings plan. Drunk Stock Tips, Acrosyn and the comeback of the Lame or Game Game. Grab a cold one and join the fun.

We don't know what we are doing, maybe reading some news.

Spiro Preovolos the President of Penchecks joins a live Retireholics. Topics to include: RPAG’s FlexPATH Lawsuit, Voya’s Managed Accounts, Forfeiture Account Happenings and will the Government eventually take over the 401k. We are back with Drunk Stock Tips, Flashlight Segment and a very special announcement for the Retireholics Community. Get your beers on ice and boot up that laptop.

Matthew Eickman, J.D. the National Retirement Practice Leader at Prime Capital Investment Advisors/Qualified Plan Advisors joins as special guest on today's Retireholics. Topics to include: Brian Graff and the ARA take issue with Terese Ghilarducci again, The Dystopian Future of Government Controlled Retirement Plans, The New Fiduciary Rule, Negative Press for In-Plan Income Solutions and a New 401Kid Bill has been introduced. Get your laptops booted up and get those beers on ice....it's an all-new episode of Retireholics!

From their secure locations, the Retireholics discuss if Blackrock, Vanguard and State Street rule the world and how ESG, Bitcoin, Target Date Funds and even disruptors like Human Interest are under their control. Make a tinfoil hat and contribute your favorite conspiracy theories in the chat bar.

The Honorable Preston Rutledge joins as our guest for the Christmas Special. Topics to include: U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Woke ESG, Osaic acquires Lincoln's wealth management biz, Coffee Badging, Artificial Intelligence backed IRS 5500 marketing strategies, Roth Rollover Legislation, Drunk Stock Tips, a new XMAS game, and more!

Today's Show: Special guest Bob Foster of Fiduciary Advocates. Topics to include Bitcoin in 2024, LTPTE and the American Retirement Association ERISA'S Birthday, Advisor Shortcomings, and John Sullivan's juicy article on Rich Dad Poor Dad Robert Kiyosaki. Also...Drunk stock tips from Robey.

RobeGuy is back for a special episode that is jam packed with surprises. Topics to include: IBM's new change to plan design, Dave Ramsey Controversy, Empower's 2023 Sales Numbers, Bitcoin's Comeback, Drunk Stock Tips and Yield Curve Inversion. Lets get drunk and talk about financial stuff.

Beagle Co-Founder Jeffrey Tha explain how Beagle helps participants find and move their forgotten 401k account balances. https://meetbeagle.com/ Headlines: ForUsAll to Offer 401(k) Crypto Investments Via CoinDesk Indices With younger workers in mind, deal creates the first index-based digital asset offering available on a 401(k) platform in the U.S. Some 401(k) participants will soon be able to invest part of their 401(k) directly into the constituents of the CoinDesk Market Select Index (CMIS) under terms of a deal announced today by ForUsAll and CoinDesk Inc. -401k Specialist House Passes Resolution to Repeal DOL 401(k) ESG Rule The resolution catalyzes the debate over whether to allow ESG investing considerations in retirement savings plans, with the Senate next to weigh in. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution to overturn a Department of Labor rule passed in November 2022 allowing for, but not mandating, environmental, social and governance investing in retirement plans. -PlanAdviser

Headlines: MILLENNIALS HAVE SOLVED THE RETIREMENT CRISIS 401kspecialistmag.com/surprising-percentage-of-millennials-counting-on-crypto-for-retirement/ Surprising Percentage of Millennials Counting on Crypto for Retirement - 401K Specialist Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. 401kspecialistmag.com ARA NOT DIGGING NEW LEGISLATION napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/ara-expresses-opposition-protecting-americas-retirement-security-act ARA Expresses Opposition to Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act | National Association of Plan Advisors The American Retirement Association expressed its opposition to the Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act (PARSA) in an April 5 letter to lawmakers. “Our opposition to this legislation is based on both its substance and its process,” writes ARA CEO Brian Graff. napa-net.org TECH THAT ALLOWD ADVISORS TO MANAGE PARTICIPANT'S 401k FOR THEM planadviser.com/pontera-mutual-group-launch-new-partnership/ Pontera and Mutual Group Launch New Partnership | PLANADVISER The new relationship provides affiliated advisers with a simplified way to manage their clients’ retirement accounts and held away accounts from a single, secure interface. Financial technology company Pontera, formerly known as FeeX, has announced that it has formed a partnership with Mutual ...

Headlines today:  NAPA LIST OF ADVISORS BY ASSETS and PLANS https://www.napa-net.org/industry-intel/industry-lists/top-dc-advisor-teams-2021 DC Multi-Office List https://www.napa-net.org/top-dc-advisor-multi-office-firms-2021 GOLDMAN SACHS BUYS NEXT CAPITAL https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/29/goldman-sachs-is-buying-corporate-retirement-plan-robo-advisor-nextcapital.html SECURE ACT 2.0 https://401kspecialistmag.com/house-passes-secure-2-0/

How to grow a company from 5 to 200 million.  Are Recordkeepers a threat to Advisors? Will VC investors win with 401k Distuptors?

Discussing small biz 401k plans, industry disruptors, technology and more!

Chief Of Police at City of San Bruno.  Founder of an amazing organization http://everpresent.Love enables you to easily create a library of video messages to ensure that you are forever loved, forever remembered and forever present for the people you love most.

Managing Director, Head of Retirement Research, PGIM DC Solutions

Partner | Director - Retirement Plan Services at Shepherd Financial, LLC   Josh Itzoe joined as a guest host, because Robe Guy was getting drunk at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am

"Excited to talk about 401(k) litigation and the plaintiff attorney's place in the retirement plan ecosystem with the Retireholics crew this Thursday!"

Odell Beckham Jr. bitcoin play, was it dumb or just another investment and no big deal? The U.S. Supreme Court on Hughes v. Northwestern for excessive fee case and what it means.

Do 401k Unicorns exist? Human Interest has raised over 335 million in funding and has it eyes set on an IPO in the near future. The Retireholics welcome Eric Phillips, CFA the Sr. Director, Partnerships & Strategic Insight for Human Interest.