Some conversations hit closer to home, especially when your guest is your mom.
In this refreshingly candid episode, Rebecca Hourihan sits down with her mother for a conversation that moves from garden centers and white minivans to the heart of what it means to lead with confidence in uncertain times.
From generational shifts to TikTok finance rabbit holes, and what really happens when advisors go quiet (spoiler: your clients start listening to Reddit, this episode delivers insight with humor, honesty, and just the right amount of sass.
Rebecca reminds us that communication isn’t just part of your strategy; it is your strategy—helping advisors stand tall like a lighthouse when the market gets foggy.
What to expect from this release:
How Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers want to be reached
Why silence breeds bad advice and how to stay visible
The “Every Day is Saturday” retirement moment
Line dancing, confession, and what casinos have to do with client trust
Most retirement plan advisors spend their days working in their practice, reacting to client emails, putting out fires, and chasing deadlines. But what if you carved out just 2 hours a month to work on your practice instead?
In this high-energy episode, Randy Fuss of Fuss Success Builders joins Rebecca Hourihan to unpack the real meaning of practice management. From clarifying the “Big Three” (wins, retention, and efficiency) to using DISC personality profiles and AI tools like Crystal, Randy shares strategies that can transform your client conversations, team dynamics, and sales outcomes.
Whether you’re walking into a boardroom full of decision-makers or trying to earn trust across generations, this episode will help you speak your clients’ language, literally.
What to expect:
The 2-hour rule for practice growth
Why DISC and adaptive selling still work in 2025
How AI tools like Crystal can predict buying behavior
The power of sales personalization in multi-generational wealth transitions
Randy Fuss is passionate about presenting, coaching, and consulting with the many professionals who work in the group retirement plan industry, who are seeking ways to take their performance to the next level! After a very productive and lengthy stint at Cuna Mutual Group, he is now excited to bring his skill set and experience in helping others through his own firm, Fuss Success Builders!.
As a Registered Corporate Coach™ and Certified DiSC® Trainer, Randy is most in his element in front of a group conducting trainings, workshops & webinars, sharing actionable ideas that lead to improvement. He’s been a frequent presenter at various industry meetings & conferences, and looks forward to bringing his practice management experience through coaching and speaking engagements to help individuals and companies like yours achieve greater success!
As the retirement landscape continues to evolve, understanding how new legislation and emerging technologies impact employers and employees is more important than ever.
In this episode, Rebecca chats with Will Hansen, Executive Director of the Plan Sponsor Council of America, to discuss the latest shifts in retirement planning and policy, and what they mean for you. Together, they explore how SECURE Act 2.0 has reshaped the way plan sponsors and employers approach retirement benefits, the growing gap between policymakers and those on the front lines, and how AI might change the future of plan management.
Will discusses:
[00:02:03] What are the impacts of SECURE Act 2.0 on plan sponsors.
[00:05:31] Bridging gaps between policymakers and plan sponsors for effective collaboration.
[00:07:51] Some of the biggest disconnects between retirement policy and the practical realities of implementation in real life.
[00:13:24] AI’s role in HR’s retirement plan management.
[00:16:06] Fundamental changes and future policies to strengthen retirement security for American workers
Will Hansen joined the American Retirement Association (ARA) in January 2019 in the new role of Chief Government Affairs Officer. In this position, Will oversees all advocacy activities at the federal, state, and local levels on behalf of the five trade organizations within ARA. In addition, Will is the Executive Director of Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) as of January 2020. Founded in 1947, PSCA has been at the forefront of protecting the American retirement system and is committed to improving workers’ retirement security by providing advocacy, insights, and education to plan sponsors.
What if your 401(k) followed you from job to job as effortlessly as your favorite playlist?
Join host Rebecca Hourihan as she sits down with industry experts Spencer Williams and Neal Ringquist from the Retirement Clearinghouse to explore this game-changing innovation. Discover how the Portability Services Network is tackling the challenge of maintaining retirement savings as employees change jobs, what it took to bring this idea to life, and why it matters to the evolving mobile workforce.
Spencer and Neal discuss:
The fascinating journey of auto portability from concept to critical mass and its impact on small account balances (00:01:06)
The role of the Portability Services Network and its collaboration with major record keepers like Fidelity and Vanguard (00:05:54)
How shifting demographics and technology are reshaping retirement savings behavior (00:08:35)
Navigating the mechanical process of auto portability and its implications for advisors (00:12:24)
Exploring the significant impact auto portability has on underrepresented communities and reducing cash-out leakage (00:24:56)
Vision for the future of Retirement Clearinghouse and upcoming innovations in retirement services (00:27:42)
Spencer Williams is Retirement Clearinghouse’s Founder, President & CEO and also is the President & CEO of Portability Services Network, LLC. Retirement Clearinghouse is a specialized provider of retirement savings portability and account consolidation services for America’s mobile workforce. Portability Services Network, LLC is a retirement industry-led utility dedicated to the industry-wide adoption of auto portability.
Williams is an innovator, including RCH’s singular innovation, Auto Portability, which was specially designed to help low-income and minority workers. Portability Services Network is built on a foundation of Retirement Clearinghouse’s intellectual property, technology, and operations.
Neal Ringquist is the Retirement Clearinghouse’s Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer and is a member of RCH’s Executive Leadership Team. Ringquist is responsible for the company’s overall marketing strategy and for all institutional sales activities.
Ringquist has been at the forefront of developing and delivering innovative wealth management solutions to the retirement and investment advisory market for more than 25 years. He joined RCH from Advisor Software, Inc. (ASI), where he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for nine years, responsible for the day-to-day operations of this privately held financial technology company. Previously, Ringquist was vice president of sales and marketing for Morningstar Associates, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Earlier, he was executive vice president of sales, marketing, and client service for mPower.com, Inc.(acquired by Morningstar), which established him as one of the early entrants into the online advice movement.
Join Rebecca Hourihan in this engaging episode of the 401(k) Marketing Podcast as she shares insightful strategies to elevate your 401(k) advisory practice from good to great. Explore Rebecca’s five dynamic techniques to stand out on social media, boost your engagement, and solidify your presence in the retirement plan community.
Rebecca discusses:
The impact of quirky content like cheese and pets on digital engagement. [00:02:00]
How to leverage personal interests for relatable content creation. [00:03:27]
Tips on using polls to increase interaction and gain insights. [00:05:35]
The significance of celebrating milestones for a vibrant company culture. [00:07:15]
Optimizing LinkedIn activity to improve visibility and authority. [00:09:58]
Are you keeping up with the AI wave in the financial services industry?
Rebecca Hourihan chats with Spencer X. Smith from AmpliPhi Digital about the transformative power of AI in the retirement plan industry. Get ready to explore how AI has quickly evolved from a niche technology to an everyday tool for financial advisors. Spencer and Rebecca discuss the innovative ways AI is being embraced, share insightful case studies, and offer practical advice for integrating AI into your business to enhance efficiency and profitability.
Spencer discusses:
The rapid adoption of AI since the release of ChatGPT
How advisors are leveraging AI for time savings and efficiency
Case studies of early AI adopters in the financial sector
The upcoming trend of AI agents for task automation
Practical tips for using AI to tailor communications and better understand client language
After starting his career at IBM during the Y2K days, Spencer X. Smith has always been an early adopter of new technology, with a passion for teaching others what he learns. This dedication to education has led Spencer to deliver over 300 in-person speeches, including at prestigious venues like the New York Stock Exchange, Gillette Stadium in Boston, and the Superdome in New Orleans. From 2008 to 2015, Spencer worked as a 401(k) wholesaler. Since then, he has been a regular presenter at the NAPA 401(k) Summit, the nation’s largest retirement plans conference. The rise of “DeFi Summer” in 2020 sparked Spencer’s deep interest in cryptocurrency and all things Web3, including NFTs, metaverses, and blockchains. Spencer is also among the first graduates of the Economics of Blockchain & Digital Assets program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Rebecca Hourihan speaks with Blake Allison, founder and CEO of LifeCents, on the evolving concept of financial wellness, its challenges, and how it impacts both employers and employees. He emphasizes the need for personalized financial wellness programs and critiques overly complex, one-size-fits-all programs, advocating instead for tailored approaches that consider each employee’s unique financial situation, stressors, and goals. Blake highlights the importance of measuring success through behavioral changes rather than just numerical outcomes, advocating for a more holistic approach to financial health.
Gain insight from today’s conversation as Rebecca and Blake highlight:
People are more than numbers–what truly defines financial wellness
Serving diverse employee needs–the significance of financial access and inclusion
Beyond the bottom line–why every employer should invest in financial wellness
How LifeCents is Redefining Financial Wellness Programs
The pitfalls of current financial wellness programs and how LifeCents innovates
Blake founded LifeCents with a mission to empower individuals by making financial health accessible, personalized, and behaviorally driven. Since 2005, Blake has championed a holistic approach to financial wellness, pioneering LifeCents as an adaptive platform that responds to each user’s unique needs, values, and goals. Under his leadership, LifeCents has set a new standard in the industry by combining technology, behavioral insights, and inclusivity to transform the way people engage with their financial health—changing lives and redefining what it means to be financially well.
Rebecca Hourihan is joined by Laura Garfield, co-founder of Idea Decanter, to discuss the evolution and significance of short-form content and video marketing, particularly for financial advisors. Laura emphasizes the importance of adapting to your audience’s evolving preferences, leveraging video for effective communication, and utilizing AI tools to enhance video production.
Gain insight and actionable takeaways surrounding:
Short-form video content
How to structure compelling video marketing strategies
AI’s role in enhancing video creation and engagement
Laura Garfield spent her teenage years idolizing Jane Pauley and Katie Couric. A thirst for learning and a love of writing had her hooked on broadcast journalism – where you didn’t have to know everything except how to ask the right questions. After graduation, Laura landed her first news gig at a tiny TV station in Hastings, Nebraska. Over the span of more than a decade, she worked her way up through stations in Omaha and New Orleans to a position at CBS News in New York and then CNN in Atlanta.
In this episode, Rebecca is honored to welcome Nevin Adams, a legendary figure in the retirement planning industry. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Nevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of retirement plans. His wealth of experience and knowledge is undeniable as he shares his insights and future projections.
Dive into the transformative impact of target date funds, the advent of automatic enrollment, and the challenges with retirement income solutions as Rebecca and Nevin discuss:
How target date funds have simplified the investment process for 401(k) participants
Why automatic enrollment could change significantly increase participation rates
Challenges and missed opportunities regarding retirement income
Forecasted growth and changes in the 401(k) industry by 2030.
Now “retired” (whatever that means), Nevin is the former Chief Content Officer and Head of Retirement Research for the American Retirement Association. One of the retirement industry’s most prolific writers, these days he’s “retired”, which means he writes less but continues to keep his eye on developments in, and threats to, the nation’s private retirement system. In addition to helping guide the agenda development for the NAPA 401(k) Summit, he’s also the “Nevin” in the Nevin & Fred podcast (along with renowned ERISA attorney Fred Reish), offering irreverent, but relevant perspectives on the critical issues confronting plan sponsors, advisors, and retirement industry professionals.
