By 2030, all baby boomers will be over the age of 65, Generation X will start to retire, and millennials will be in their prime working years. How we work and how long we work will continue to change. The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to highlight the financial fragility of millions of Americans and how many have nothing saved for retirement or emergencies.
Important demographic and economic shifts will require leaders to come together to rethink access, savings, investment, and income strategies that will facilitate innovation, strengthen the economy, improve retirement security, and support overall financial well-being. What can — and should — policymakers, stakeholders, and the private sector do in the next five to 10 years realistically to make measurable progress toward building financial resiliency and improving today’s defined contribution (DC) retirement systems? Or, as Time magazine predicted in 2014, will 2030 be “the year that retirement ends”?
The Georgetown Center for Retirement Initiatives (CRI) hosted a three-day virtual Policy Innovation Forum that explored the trends, challenges, and solutions to shape the path forward for the next decade. The exclusive, invitation-only portion of the program included presentations from three keynote speakers: Bruce Mehlman, Jason Dorsey, and Nobel Laureate, Dr. Robert Merton.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Setting the Stage: What Are the Demographic, Economic, and Political Trends?
11:00 a.m.–11:50 a.m. ET
How Will Demographic, Economic, and Political Trends Shape the Future of Retirement? [Download Slides]
Moderator: Angela Antonelli, Research Professor and Executive Director, Center for Retirement Initiatives, Georgetown University
- Michael Kreps, Principal, Groom Law Group
- James Poterba, Mitsui Professor of Economics at MIT and President, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
- Preston Rutledge, Founder, Rutledge Policy Group LLC and Former Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), U.S. Department of Labor
- Alice Henriques Volz, Principal Economist, Federal Reserve Board
11:50 a.m.–12 Noon ET
BREAK
12 Noon–1:00 p.m. ET
What Role Should Our Retirement System Play in Strengthening Financial Resiliency and Financial Well-Being? [Download Slides]
Moderator: Karen Andres, Director of Policy & Market Solutions, Financial Security Program, Aspen Institute
- Pablo Antolin, Principal Economist and Deputy Head of the Insurance, Pensions, and Financial Markets Division, OECD
- Mariel Beasley, Principal, Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight
- Lauren Hoeck, Senior Consulting Actuary, Willis Towers Watson
- David Newville, Vice President, Policy & Research, Prosperity Now
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker & Discussion (Invitation-only Session)
Additional Information for Invited Guests
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Closing the Access Gap: Where Are the Opportunities and Options?
11:00 a.m.–11:50 a.m. ET
What Can We Expect from State-Facilitated Retirement Savings Programs, the SECURE Act, and FinTech? [Download Slides]
Moderator: Beth Pearce, Treasurer, State of Vermont
- Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Treasurer, State of Illinois
- Catherine Reilly, Director of Retirement Solutions, Smart USA
- Aron Szapiro, Director of Research, Morningstar
- Jack Vanderhei, Research Director, Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI)
11:50 a.m.–12 Noon ET
BREAK
12 Noon–1:00 p.m. ET
Is It Time to Consider Universal Access to Retirement Savings? [Download Slides]
Moderator: Angela Antonelli, Research Professor and Executive Director, Center for Retirement Initiatives, Georgetown University
- Keith Ambachtsheer, President, KPA Advisory Services
- Kara Getz, Chief Counsel, U.S. House Ways & Means Committee
- David John, Senior Policy Advisor, AARP Public Policy Institute
- Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker & Discussion (Invitation-only Session)
Additional Information for Invited Guests
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Generating Retirement Income: Can New Strategies and Solutions Improve Outcomes?
11:00 a.m.–11:50 a.m. ET
Do Investment Strategies and Tools Have to Evolve? [Download Slides]
Moderator: Chris Hanak, Senior Investment Officer, Risk Management and Asset Allocation, Washington State Investment Board
- Amish Gandhi, Principal, Mercer
- Stefano Giglio, Professor of Finance, School of Management, Yale University
- Vishal Hindocha, Director, ESG Investments, MFS Investment Management
- Michael Mendelson, Principal, AQR
11:50 a.m.–12 Noon ET
BREAK
12 Noon–1:00 p.m. ET
What Could a 21st-Century Lifetime Income “Pension” Look Like? [Download Slides]
Moderator: Charles Millard, Former Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
- Doug Kincaid, Assistant Vice President, Greenwald Research
- Tamiko Toland, Head of Research, CANNEX
- David Pitt-Watson, Visiting Fellow, Cambridge Judge Business School (UK)
- David Pratt, Jay and Ruth Caplan Distinguished Professor of Law, Albany Law School
- Richard Fullmer, Founder, Nuova Longevità Research
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker & Discussion (Invitation-only Session)
Additional Information for Invited Guests
A Special Thank You to Our Platinum Forum Event Sponsors
