NAGDCA Conversations

In this Connect Conversation, Matt Petersen talks with Jeri Savage of MFS Investment Management about findings from the 2026 MFS DC Plan Sponsor Survey.Why are plan sponsors increasingly confident in retirement outcomes—while many participants, especially Gen X and Boomers, aren’t? Explore generational trends, competing financial priorities, and what drives higher confidence grades in the Workplace Retirement Readiness Indicator.Listen now for key insights for public sector DC plans.

In this NAGDCA Connect Conversation, Matt Petersen speaks with leaders from Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) about how intentional plan design and effective communication can drive strong retirement outcomes.Winta Berhane, Manager of Benefits at BART, and Marcus Wu, Partner at Pillsbury and outside counsel to BART’s defined contribution plans, discuss how BART strategically uses its 457(b) and 401(a) plans to support employee savings-resulting in a 92% participation rate without auto-enrollment. The conversation explores lesser-known plan features, key compliance considerations, and practical approaches to educating a diverse workforce through strong partnerships and consistent outreach.

What does a “healthy” retirement plan actually look like in the public sector? In this episode of NAGDCA Conversations, Executive Director Matt Petersen talks with Nick Amaral, VP of Data, Analytics & Insights at Fidelity, about how plan sponsors can look beyond traditional benchmarks to evaluate performance, improve participant outcomes, and tailor their strategies to the unique structure of public plans.Nick shares how Fidelity’s Retirement Plan Health Score, financial wellness tools, and participant engagement analytics are helping plan sponsors redefine success in more holistic and meaningful ways.

Inflation may have cooled for now, but uncertainty remains—and public sector plan sponsors are left wondering how to prepare. In this episode, NAGDCA’s Matt Petersen sits down with Kevin Kneafsey, Senior Investment Strategist, to discuss how inflation impacts DC plans and what sponsors can do to build more resilient investment menus.Learn why inflation is so hard to predict, why traditional “inflation-hedging” assets often fall short, and how portfolio design—not participant timing—is the key to long-term protection.

What role can private markets play in defined contribution plans—and how are new investment structures making them more accessible? In this episode of NAGDCA Conversations, Matt Petersen talks with Steve Ulian, Managing Director at Apollo, about how recent innovations are helping public sector DC plans tap into the potential of private equity, real assets, and private credit.Steve explains why now is the right time to consider these investments, how they’ve become “DC-ready,” and what fiduciaries should know about liquidity, structure, and risk management.

In this episode of NAGDCA Conversations, Executive Director Matt Petersen sits down with Malia Bonham and Seth Miller from the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems to discuss how the state successfully expanded automatic enrollment from state employees to local governments.Malia and Seth offer a behind-the-scenes look at the legislative strategy, stakeholder engagement, and lessons learned. Whether you're exploring auto enrollment for the first time or looking to refine your existing approach, this episode provides practical insights and inspiration for state and local plan sponsors alike.

Join NAGDCA Executive Director Matt Petersen and Josh Cohen from PGIM as they discuss how public sector DC plan sponsors can adapt to rising market volatility and uncertainty.In this episode:- What volatility means for different participant groups- The role of fixed income and inflation-sensitive assets- Why personalization matters in times of uncertainty- Rethinking menus to support aging workforces

Stable value funds play a critical role in public sector retirement plans, but how do they really work? In this episode of NAGDCA Conversations, Matt Petersen talks with Mike Norman, President of Galliard Capital, to break it all down: New PRRL research on stable value allocation trendsWhy some younger participants are investing in stable valueHow different stable value structures impact risk and returnsThe role of interest rates and what’s ahead for stable value fundsLiquidity rules and plan sponsor considerationsTune in to gain expert insights and ensure your plan’s stable value options  align with participant needs!

How should public sector DC plans approach asset allocation? In this episode, Matt Petersen sits down with Justin Harvey from T. Rowe Price to explore: Why asset allocation drives 90% of investment returns How public sector workforce demographics should influence plan design The real definition of risk—it’s not just market volatility How DB plans and Social Security impact DC investment strategies Practical tips for small and large plans alikeDon’t miss this insightful conversation packed with actionable takeaways for public plan sponsors and fiduciaries!

Join us as NAGDCA Executive Director Matt Petersen kicks off an exciting new series with industry thought leader David Levine from Groom Law Group. Together, they dive into the most pressing trends in public DC plans—industry consolidation, emerging plan features like managed accounts and emergency savings, and innovations in investments such as customized target-date funds and income products. Whether you're a plan sponsor, fiduciary, or just curious about the future of public sector retirement, this episode is packed with insights to help navigate the evolving landscape. Tune in to explore how to build plans that truly meet public employees' needs!

Join NAGDCA for an in-depth discussion on the emergency savings provisions in SECURE 2.0 and the impact on public sector plans. Ned Taylor, Senior Consultant at Hyas Group, and Hutch Schaffer, Vice President of Business Development at Nationwide, share their insights with Executive Director Matt Petersen and answer questions from attendees.

Join NAGDCA for an in-depth discussion on the catch-up provisions in SECURE 2.0 and the impact on public sector plans. Marilyn Collister, Senior Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at Empower and NAGDCA Legislative Committee member, and Craig Chaikin, Senior Vice President at Callan, will share their insights with Executive Director Matt Petersen and answer questions from attendees.

The Department of Labor proposed subsequent rules in 2020 and 2021 to first discourage and then protect the use of ESG factors in the fiduciary decision-making processes. These rules, while important to the industry as a whole, would not apply directly to governmental plans that are not bound to ERISA. In response, several states have stepped in to create their own rules to influence the actions of public plan sponsors. The landscape of these rules is both complex and diverse.In this Connect Conversation, Marla Kreindler, Partner at Morgan Lewis and NAGDCA Legislative Committee member,  joins Executive Director Matt Petersen to discuss the proposed and enacted rules, and help plan sponsors understand their obligations.

The recordkeeper RFP process is among the most daunting tasks a public sector DC plan administrator can undertake. In this Connect Conversation, AndCo consultant and NAGDCA Industry Committee member Jacob Peacock joins NAGDCA Executive Director Matt Petersen to discuss the process from start to finish. Jacob discusses where to start, what to expect during the process, common pitfalls, and what to think about if you select a new service provider.

NAGDCA Executive Director Matt Petersen talks with Executive Board Member-at-Large, Christina Elliott, about auto enrollment. Christina shares her experience securing auto enrollment legislation for the Ohio Deferred Compensation Plan and offers tips for other plans considering pursuing similar state legislation.

Featuring Matt Petersen, NAGDCA & Michael Kreps, Groom Law GroupMichael Kreps, Principal at Groom Law Group joins NAGDCA Executive Director, Matt Petersen for a conversation about evaluating retirement income options through a public sector fiduciary lens.Michael recently published a paper titled, Guaranteeing a Secure Retirement: A Practical Guide for Selecting DC Plan Lifetime Income Options. He and Matt discuss ways that public plan sponsors can adapt lessons from the private sector and evaluate the rapidly growing list of retirement income options to suit their unique plan circumstances.