Episodes
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68. Scaling Innovation with Empathy: Dawn Colby on Growth and Service at Pacific Life
In this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen sits down with Dawn Colby, Head of Growth Operations for Pacific Life’s Institutional Retirement Solutions Group, to explore how a 160‑year‑old company is bringing fresh, startup energy to help formulate modern retirement solutions for today's...
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67. Collaborating for Retirement Confidence in Defined Contribution Plans
In this episode of The Wave Strength, Pacific Life’s Christine Bass and Brian Galle sit down with Andrew Stumacher from AllianceBernstein to unpack 13 years of evolution in defined contribution lifetime income—and how a multi-insurer, institutionally priced solution is helping increase retirement...
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66. From Service to Civilian Success: Pioneering Opportunities for Veterans
In this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen sits down with Major General Spider Marks and Lieutenant General Mike Groen. Our guests share their unique military backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, trust, character, and positivity. They also discuss Academy Securities and...
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65. The Personalization of Lifetime Income Solutions
In this special episode of The Wave Strength, recorded live from the floor of the 2025 NAPA 401(k) Summit in Las Vegas, Jim sits down with Steve McCoy, CEO of iJoin. The two discuss the partnership between Pacific Life and iJoin, which brings Pacific Life’s lifetime income solution to iJoin’s...
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64. The Plan Sponsor Mindset: Will Hansen Discusses Retirement Benefits & Employee Well-Being
In this insightful episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen sits down with Will Hansen, Executive Director of the Plan Sponsor Council of America, to explore the essential elements of the plan sponsor mindset in today's evolving financial landscape. They discuss key topics, including the...
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63. A Mission-Driven Operation: From Flight Deck to Finance with Academy Securities
Academy Securities is empowering veterans in finance and helping them transition from success in the military to successful civilian lives. In this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen has a compelling conversation with Spencer Wilcox from Academy Securities and Lance Doherty from Pacific...
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62. The Future of Pension Risk Transfer: Insights & Innovations with Mike Domingos
In this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen, head of Marketing at Pacific Life, is joined by Mike Domingos, AVP, head of Defined Benefit (PRT) for Pacific Life's Institutional team, to discuss Pacific Life's long-standing commitment to its policy owners, spanning over 80 years in the...
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61. Shaping the Future of Retirement: Insights with Brian Graff and Karen Neeley
Join us on this episode of The Wave Strength as host Jim Breen interviews Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association (ARA), and Karen Neeley, Senior Vice President and Head of Institutional Retirement Solutions Group at Pacific Life. Brian and Karen discuss the critical role of...
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60. Navigating Retirement Regulations: Insights on SECURE 2.0, AI, and Future Legislative Changes
In this insightful episode, Will Hansen, Chief Government Affairs Officer at the American Retirement Association, joins The Wave Strength for a dive deep into the evolving regulatory landscape for retirement plans, including key provisions of SECURE 2.0 and the anticipated SECURE 3.0. Discover…
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59. Exploring Pacific Life’s Stable Value Wrap Solution with Maya T. Pillai
Pacific Life's Maya T. Pillai Provides Insights into Stable Value Wrap and its Future On this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen and guest Maya T. Pillai discuss Pacific Life's Stable Value Wrap product. Discover the background, development, and key features of this lower-risk…
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58. Plan Sponsor Council of America: Enhancing 401(k) Systems & Retirement Solutions
In this episode of The Wave Strength, Host Jim Breen sits down with Will Hansen, Executive Director of the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA), to discuss the vital role of PSCA in advancing retirement benefits for employees across the U.S. As part of the American Retirement Association (ARA),...
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57. From the Skies to Secure Futures: Michelle “Mace” Curran on Overcoming Challenges
Join host Jim Breen as he sits down with Michelle “Mace” Curran, former lead solo pilot of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, motivational speaker, and author. In this episode, Michelle shares her incredible journey from a small-town girl to a fighter pilot, and how she overcame imposter...
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56. Transforming Retirement Solutions: Insights from Lew Minsky and Karen Neeley
On this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen sits down with Lew Minsky, President and CEO of DCIIA, and Karen Neeley, Senior Vice President at Pacific Life, to explore the advisor mindset and the importance of strategic partnerships in the retirement industry. Lew and Karen discuss the...
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55. Building Success: Five Years of Innovation with Pacific Life's Institutional Team
Tune in to this special episode of The Wave Strength as host Jim Breen sits down with Brian Woolfolk, executive vice president and head of Pacific Life's Institutional Business, to reflect on the team's first five years. Brian shares the remarkable teamwork, growth, and innovation journey that…
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54. Revolutionizing Retirement: DCIIA & Pacific Life Explore the Future of Retirement Solutions
On this episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen welcomes Lew Minsky, President and CEO of DCIIA, and Karen Neeley, Senior Vice President at Pacific Life, to discuss the transformative impact of innovation and collaboration in the retirement industry. Lew and Karen delve into the mission of...
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53. Simplifying Retirement Planning with Bonnie Treichel
On this episode of The Wave Strength, Pacific Life’s Chris McGlynn interviews Bonnie Treichel, founder and Chief Solutions Officer of Endeavor Retirement. Bonnie shares her extensive experience and knowledge in the retirement plan industry, offering valuable insights and practical advice for...
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52. Securing Retirement Income: Key Financial Planning Insights from Pacific Life
In this episode of The Wave Strength, join Pacific Life’s Jim Breen and Shane Dawe, Senior Advisor Relations Director, for a deep dive into the future of retirement income. Shane shares his 24 years of experience, discussing the importance of planning for longer lifespans, protecting savings, and...
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51. How Pacific Life is Transforming Employee Benefits & Retirement Solutions
In the latest episode of The Wave Strength, we explore Pacific Life's innovative approaches to employee benefits and retirement solutions. Join host Jim Breen, along with Pacific Life’s Karen Neeley, vice president, and head of Institutional Retirement Solutions Group, and Erich Sternberg, SVP,...
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50. Understanding the Participant Mindset: Chris Stout on Behavioral Finance & Retirement Planning
In this episode of The Wave Strength, Host Jim Breen and Chris Stout, AVP and Head of National Markets at Pacific Life, take a deep dive into the mindset of retirement plan participants. With over 30 years of industry experience, Chris discusses the challenges participants face, the importance of...
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49. Revolutionizing Retirement: Pacific Life's Karen Neeley and Chris Stout Talk Innovating Lifetime Income
In this insightful episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen welcomes Pacific Life’s Karen Neeley, vice president, and head of Institutional Retirement Solutions Group (IRSG), and Chris Stout, AVP and head of IRSG’s National Markets function, to share their thoughts on the evolving retirement...
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48. Retirement at Risk: What are the Hidden Hurdles to The Golden Age
How are health-related challenges, including chronic diseases, impacting quality of life in retirement? In this thought-provoking episode of The Wave Strength, Pacific Life’s Dr. Qi Sun and Jim Breen discuss the latest issue of Qi’s newsletter: Hidden Hurdle to The Golden Age: The Financial…
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47. Financial Literacy 101 – How Stock-Trak is Schooling Kids on Financial Wellness
President and CEO of Stock-Trak, Mark Brookshire joins Pacific Life’s The Wave Strength for a thought-provoking discussion about financial literacy, and the innovative efforts underway to promote money management and financial wellness among students and adults with gamification. When students...
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46. Essential Insights for a Secure Retirement with Mary Beth Franklin
In this insightful episode of The Wave Strength, renowned Social Security expert Mary Beth Franklin joins Pacific Life's Ruth Shaw and Carolyn Elrod to uncover vital strategies for optimizing Social Security benefits. With a focus on empowering women and diverse groups with knowledge to maximize...
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45. The Evolution of Stable Value: Insights from Pacific Life's Maya T. Pillai
In this insightful episode of The Wave Strength, Host Jim Breen welcomes Maya T. Pillai, assistant vice president, and head of the Stable Value Program at Pacific Life, for a thought-provoking discussion on the significance of stable value in retirement plans. With over 15 years in the industry,...
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44. Navigating the New Retirement Reality with Mary Beth Franklin
In this eye-opening episode of The Wave Strength, “The Google of Social Security” Mary Beth Franklin, joins Pacific Life’s retirement experts Ruth Schau and Carolyn Elrod to explore the essentials of preparing for retirement. Go beyond the basics of Social Security and discover the significance…
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43. How to Retire Happy and Spend Smart with Retirement Expert Dr. Michael Finke
What is a “license to spend”? And how can we make sure we don’t “leave happiness on the table”? On this episode of The Wave Strength, financial planning expert Dr. Michael Finke joins Host Jim Breen to unpack the No. 1 cause of anxiety for those approaching retirement: Not knowing how much they…
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42. How are Participant-Focused Solutions Disrupting Retirement?
On this episode of The Wave Strength, Franklin Templeton’s Mary Beth Glotzbach joins Pacific Life’s Destiny Lara and Jim Breen to discuss how focusing on the needs of participants, providing customized solutions, and meeting participants where they are on their retirement journey can lead to…
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41. How to Maximize Social Security Benefits: Tips & Strategies from Mary Beth Franklin
Leading Social Security expert, author, advisor, and winner of the Investment News’ Trailblazer Award, Mary Beth Franklin visits The Wave Strength to discuss how we can make sense of Social Security rules and regulations to take advantage of every available benefit. A self-described “Social...
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40. Accelerating Success – Pacific Life’s Institutional Business Steps on the GAS
acific Life’s Executive Vice President, and Head of Institutional Business, Brian Woolfolk, stops by The Wave Strength to reflect upon the business unit’s first four years, and to discuss the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Brian and The Wave Strength host Jim Breen, revisit the…
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39. How Pacific Life and Franklin Templeton are Innovating Lifetime Income Solutions
On this episode of The Wave Strength, Franklin Templeton’s Lavina Mehta joins Pacific Life’s Michael Oler and Jim Breen to discuss the new partnership that’s bringing simple and flexible lifetime income solutions to workplace retirement planning. We explore the market shift away from defined...
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38. Can Lifetime Income Help Solve America's Retirement Crisis?
On this episode of The Wave Strength, Franklin Templeton’s Katie Campbell joins Pacific Life’s Ahmet Kamil and Jim Breen to discuss the retirement crisis facing America and the lack of education around lifetime income solutions. Personalization is a crucial aspect of the lifetime income...
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37. How Wespath's LifeStage Retirement Income Program Maximizes Retirement Income with Pacific Life
Pacific Life’s Ruth Schau and Jim Breen traveled to Glenview, IL, to meet with Wespath Benefits and Investments’ Martin Bauer to discuss innovation, collaboration, and helping plan participants enjoy a secure retirement. Listen in as they discuss how Wespath’s LifeStage Retirement Income program,...
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36. How Does Collaborative Innovation Help Retirees? Pacific Life & Franklin Templeton Explore
Join us on the latest episode of The Wave Strength as we explore the new partnership between Pacific Life and Franklin Templeton, two organizations with a long history of serving individual investors in the defined contribution space. Franklin Templeton’s Drew Carrington joins Pacific Life’s...
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35. Ensuring a Secure Retirement: Key Insights with Pacific Life’s Karen Neeley
Karen Neeley, Pacific Life’s new vice president of the Institutional Retirement Solutions Group, and Host Jim Breen discuss the challenges and opportunities for lifetime income to improve retirement outcomes. Karen reveals that while the financial services industry has effectively communicated…
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34. Discussing Retirement Readiness in the Hispanic Community
On this episode of The Wave Strength podcast series, Dr. Luisa Blanco joins Pacific Life’s Dr. Qi Sun and Destiny Lara to discuss the unique challenges facing members of the Hispanic Community when preparing for retirement. The insightful discussion highlights Dr. Blanco’s research, which reveals...
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33. Boost Your Online Presence: Winning Social Media Strategies for Financial Advisors
Pacific Life’s Institutional Division recently traveled to San Diego to attend the 2023 NAPA 401(k) Summit. During the conference, we recorded live interviews from the conference floor as part of our award-winning podcast, The Wave Strength. In this episode, host Jim Breen sits down with Dandarah...
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32. Managing Student Debt and Retirement Savings: How to Overcome Financial Obstacles for a Secure Future
What does student loan debt have to do with retirement? Surprisingly, the age group closest to retirement carries the most student loan debt. According to Forbes, as of July 2023, Americans owed a total of $1.75 trillion in student loan debt, that’s an average of over $28,000 per borrower.…
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31. Unlocking Financial Security in Retirement: Steve Vernon Reveals the Keys to Success
Steve Vernon wrote the book on lifetime income. In fact, the consulting research scholar at the Stanford Center on Longevity, and President of Rest-of-Life Communications has written several books on the subject, so we invited him to The Wave Strength to talk about financial security in…
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30. How Pacific Life's University Relations Program Attracts Top Intern Talent
On this episode of The Wave Strength, Pacific Life’s Nicci Leibold joins host Jim Breen to discuss Pacific Life’s University Relations program and the importance of attracting the country’s best interns. Listen as Nicci explains how outreach, building networks, and fostering relationships are key...
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29. How is Pacific Life’s KEAP Team Helping High Earners Save Pre-tax Dollars?
Pacific Life’s Institutional Division and members of Pacific Life’s Key Executive Advantage Program (KEAP), traveled to San Diego to attend the 2023 NAPA 401(k) Summit. During the conference, the Institutional team filmed several interviews for upcoming episodes of our innovative podcast, The…
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28. What does Innovative Customer Service Look Like? Pacific Life’s Jamie Finkral Explains
Jamie Finkral is part of Pacific Life’s Institutional Division’s exceptional customer service team; she joins The Wave Strength’s Jim Breen to share her passion for providing the best customer service in the industry. Listen in as Jamie shares how an innovative, proactive, people-focused…
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27. I Didn’t Sign Up for This: Don’t Let High Expectations Ruin a Perfectly Good Retirement
For some of us, what we think our retirement is supposed to be like could lead to a big letdown. On the latest episode of The Wave Strength, Dr. Qi Sun and host Shea Frates highlight the new issue of Qi’s newsletter: I Didn’t Sign Up for This: Don’t Let High Expectations Ruin a Perfectly Good...
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26. What’s in the Secure Act 2.0? Pacific Life’s Seaver Sowers Explains
With the Secure Act 2.0 officially signed into law, Seaver Sowers, Pacific Life’s vice president and head of global government & policy affairs, returns to The Wave Strength to discuss the provisions and explain how the Act can help Americans achieve a more secure retirement. Listen in as Seaver...
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25. Pacific Life’s Paul Hance on Defined Contribution Lifetime Income
For the 6% of Americans who work in financial services, defined contribution lifetime income (DCLI) may seem like an obvious solution to fund retirement. But for the remaining 94% who are outside of the financial services bubble, DCLI might need a little explaining. On the latest episode of The...
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24. Pacific Life’s Stable Value Team: 30-Years and Growing
The Wave Strength recently hosted Nicole Brooks, Pacific Life’s new Stable Value Client Relationship Manager, and Products Director, Maya Pillai for an insightful discussion marking the 30th anniversary of the product line. Stable Value offers investors a safe alternative to volatile markets and...
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23. How do Employees Feel About Retirement? Pacific Life’s Kristin Brooks Explains
What are empathy interviews and how do they help plan sponsors and employers understand participants’ retirement-planning needs? Pacific Life’s Kristin Brooks stops by The Wave Strength and unpacks how empathy interviews can help reveal how plan participants feel about retirement, and what they...
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22. From Groceries to Gas: A Conversation about Inflation with Pacific Life’s Dr. Qi Sun
In this episode of The Wave Strength, Pacific Life’s Dr. Qi Sun sits down with Digital Media Strategist Shea Frates to discuss Qi’s latest newsletter article which tackles the question: What’s up with inflation? Listen in as Qi and Shea discuss interesting data from the consumer price index,...
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21. How Does the Secure Act 2.0 Impact Retirement Security? Pacific Life’s Seaver Sowers Explains
Seaver Sowers, Pacific Life’s vice president and head of global government & policy affairs joins Host Jim Breen, Institutional director of marketing, for a conversation about the Secure Act 2.0. Seaver reveals that the Act contains approximately 70 provisions that address a myriad of financial...
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20. How to Plan for Retirement? Pacific Life’s Michael Oler Says, Do This First
Michael Oler, Pacific Life’s new AVP, head of defined contribution lifetime income, joins Host Jim Breen, Institutional director of marketing, to share his excitement for the future of lifetime income. Michael unpacks the exceptional career path that led him to Pacific Life and describes how his...
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19. Pacific Life’s Customer Solutions Group is Helping America Retire Securely, Paul Hance Explains
Paul Hance, Pacific Life’s senior vice president for Institutional Customer Solutions Group, joins Jim Breen, Institutional director of marketing, for a conversation about the challenges facing American retirees, and how the team is meeting those challenges. Paul shares that through a hearts and...
About this show
Pacific Life presents The Wave Strength, a podcast discussing innovative pension solutions for a secure retirement.
Hosted by
Pacific Life Insurance Company
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