2026 Annual Planning Meeting

VENUE - MEETING AGENDA - HOTEL INFORMATION - MEETING PLANNING COMMITTEE

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Revolution to Reinvention: Navigating the New Frontier of Retirement

In Boston — where bold ideas once reshaped a nation — today’s retirement leaders will come together to focus on what comes next.

Hosted at Boston College Law School and co-led by the Center for Retirement Research and First Eagle Investments, this meeting is designed to connect rigorous research with real-world application.

This is where “what if” becomes “how to.”

And because great ideas often happen outside the meeting room, we’ll kick things off with a social outing to a Boston Red Sox game on opening night — a chance to connect with peers in a quintessential Boston setting.

Join us June 16–17 for two days of insight, dialogue, and forward-thinking strategy.

VENUE

Boston College Law School
885 Centre St
Newton Centre, MA 02459

AGENDA

Click date to open Agenda

10am – 1pm	Board Meeting Location: Center for Retirement Research, East Wing 200
2:00 p.m.	Opening Lisa Buffington, AIF®, CPFA® - Senior Vice President \| Marsh McLennan Agency \| New England President of the Retirement Advisor Council Location: East Wing 115A
2:15 p.m.	Welcome TBA First Eagle Location: East Wing 115A
2:30 p.m.	Goals & Objectives Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
2:45 p.m.	General Session 1: Center for Retirement Research Description: This session will spotlight the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) and its mission, share key research findings, compare selected CRR survey results to views of RAC members, and close with upcoming research projects. Introduction: Matt Luksa, Director & Sr. Retirement Relationship Manager \| First Eagle Investments Speakers: Amy Grzybowski, Associate Director of Communications \| Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Andrew D. Eschtruth, Director \| Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Location: East Wing 115A
3:40 p.m.	Transition Break
3:45 p.m.	General Session 2: Legislative Moderator: Kevin Ross, Vice President, Advisor Sales Programs \| Fidelity Investments Panelists: Jillian Enoch, Vice President of Public Policy, Retirement, Healthcare and Tax \| Fidelity Investments Joel Shapiro, President \| Wealthspire Retirement Advisory Location: East Wing 115A
4:30 p.m.	Transition Break
4:35 p.m.	Closing Day 1 Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
4:45 p.m.	Adjourn
5:00 p.m.	Transportation from Boston College to Fenway Park – Red Sox Game
6:00 p.m.	Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Game at Fenway Park (game starts at 6:45 pm)
10:00 p.m.	Transportation back to AC Hotel Boston Cleveland Circle

8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
8:25 a.m.	Opening Lisa Buffington, AIF®, CPFA® - Senior Vice President \| Marsh McLennan Agency \| New England President of the Retirement Advisor Council Location: East Wing 115A
8:40 a.m.	Welcome Day 2 Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
8:50 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Breakout 1 – Evaluating Private Markets for 401(k)s: Yes/No/Not Yet Description: Private markets are quickly moving from “interesting idea” to retirement plan committee agenda item—and when that question lands, retirement plan fiduciaries need more than a point of view. This Retirement Advisor Council breakout delivers a fast, accessible primer on what private markets actually are and how advisors, recordkeepers, and asset managers expect them to show up in 401(k) plans (including potential paths like managed accounts and brokerage windows). We’ll separate real opportunities from marketing noise, spotlight the operational hurdles early adopters are preparing for, and frame the fiduciary process issues that matter most—governance, oversight, liquidity expectations, valuation realities, fee complexity, and participant fit. The goal isn’t to “pitch” private markets—it’s to equip you to guide committees through a defensible evaluation and land on a clear “yes / no / not yet.” If a sponsor asked you about private markets tomorrow, would you have a fiduciary-ready answer — or just an opinion? Moderator: Moderator TBA \| Firm, Title TBA Panelists: Panelist TBA \| Company TBA Panelist TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 2 – Roth Reconsidered: What Retirement Plan Fiduciaries Need to Know Now Description: Roth is one of the most familiar — and most misunderstood — concepts in the retirement plan landscape. Many advisors assume they already have it covered. This session challenges that assumption. This Retirement Advisor Council breakout blends a clear Roth refresher with actionable strategies for plan sponsors, participants, and wealth management clients. We’ll explore how Roth is being rethought in light of SECURE 2.0, evolving plan design, and increasing demand for tax diversification, while highlighting common misconceptions, the plan design options gaining traction, and the practical guidance leading advisors are using to help clients make smarter Roth decisions. You’ll walk away with a sharper framework to elevate Roth from a basic feature to a strategic planning tool — and to lead more informed, more valuable conversations with retirement plan committees and clients. Moderator: Courtenay Shipley \| Retirement Planology Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 3 – Tool Demo 1 Description: HealthPlan IQ Speaker: TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA
9:40 a.m.	Transition Break
9:45 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Breakout 4 – The Digital Shift Description: As recordkeeping moves deeper into a fully digital ecosystem, cybersecurity is becoming inseparable from the participant's experience. This session explores how new cyber risks, authentication tools, and digital workflows will transform 401(k) recordkeeping—and how these shifts will shape engagement for today’s participants and the next generation of savers. Speaker/Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 5 – Litigation Hotseat: Q&A With an Expert Attorney Description: An interactive session where attendees can ask a seasoned attorney about the latest litigation trends impacting retirement and healthcare plans—and what they mean for fiduciaries, providers, and participants. Moderator: Katherine Kohn \| Thompson Hine Location: TBA Breakout 6 – Tool Demo 2 Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA
10:35 a.m.	Break
10:50 a.m.	General Session 3: AI Session Description: AI is rapidly reshaping the 401(k) marketplace – enhancing plan design, strengthening compliance, and improving participant outcomes. This panel will explore how AI enables smarter plan optimization, proactive fiduciary risk management, and more personalized participant engagement. Join industry experts to learn how advisors and sponsors can leverage AI to drive efficiency, scale their practices, and deliver better retirement outcomes. Speaker/Moderator: Steve Geisert, Senior Business Development Manager \| Transamerica, Vice President of Business Development \| Transamerica Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: East Wing 115A
11:40 a.m.	Group Photos
11:55 a.m.	Lunch

12:50 p.m.	General Session 4: Board Report Lisa Buffington, AIF®, CPFA \| Marsh McLennan Agency \| New England Robert Haverstrom \| Corebridge Financial Matt Luksa, CRPS® \| First Eagle Investments Deana Calvelli AIF®, CEBS®, CPFA \| Wealthspire Mike Webb \| CAPTRUST Location: East Wing 115A
1:40 p.m.	Transition Break
1:45 p.m.	Breakout Sessions Breakout 7 – Is DEI Dead? Description: Throw the baby out with the bathwater or reimagine what could be? The panel aims to have an open, honest, and constructive dialogue about what if any path is open to the future of DEI. Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Panelists: Ruchi Tripathi \| MFS Investment Management Stephen Welch \| Crownmark Wealth Advisors Steve Dimitriou \| Mayflower Securities Location: TBA Breakout 8 – Beyond Prompts: Build a Smart AI Workspace for Your Retirement Practice Description: A practical, fast moving session on how to turn AI from a novelty into a real productivity engine for your retirement practice. We’ll show you how to build a smart AI workspace that streamlines research, strengthens client communication, supports plan sponsor deliverables, and enhances day to day workflow—going well beyond simple prompt writing to tools, structures, and use cases that actually move the needle. Moderator: Lisa Kottler \| Kottler Advisory Group Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 9 – Staying (or Getting in the Room) through M&A, Succession, and Business Transitions Description: As M&A activity stays elevated, private equity reshapes more industries, and clients face major business transitions, advisors who cannot engage beyond their core lane risk being pushed to the margins or losing the client. This session will focus on how to build a strategic network that helps you stay in the room, add value, and protect key relationships through mergers, acquisitions, succession, and other pivotal transitions. Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA
2:35 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	Peer Sharing Sessions Peer Sharing Session 1 – TBA Location: TBA Peer Sharing Session 2 – TBA Location: TBA Peer Sharing Session 3 – TBA Location: TBA
4:00 p.m.	Transition Break
4:10 p.m.	General Session 5: FINANCIAL WELLNESS AWARDS Speakers: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: East Wing 115A
5:00 p.m.	Closing Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
5:00 p.m.	Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktail Hour hosted by First Eagle at TBA
6:15 p.m.	Excelsior Awards
7:00 p.m.	Adjourn

Click date to open Agenda

10am – 1pm	Board Meeting Location: Center for Retirement Research, Stuart House 407
2:00 p.m.	Opening Lisa Buffington, AIF®, CPFA® - Senior Vice President \| Marsh McLennan Agency \| New England President of the Retirement Advisor Council Location: East Wing 115A
2:15 p.m.	Welcome TBA First Eagle Location: East Wing 115A
2:30 p.m.	Goals & Objectives Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
2:45 p.m.	General Session 1: Center for Retirement Research Description: This session will spotlight the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) and its mission, share key research findings, compare selected CRR survey results to views of RAC members, and close with upcoming research projects. Introduction: Matt Luksa, Director & Sr. Retirement Relationship Manager \| First Eagle Investments Speakers: Amy Grzybowski, Associate Director of Communications \| Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Andrew D. Eschtruth, Director \| Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Location: East Wing 115A
3:40 p.m.	Transition Break
3:45 p.m.	General Session 2: Legislative Moderator: Kevin Ross, Vice President, Advisor Sales Programs \| Fidelity Investments Panelists: Jillian Enoch, Vice President of Public Policy, Retirement, Healthcare and Tax \| Fidelity Investments Joel Shapiro, President \| Wealthspire Retirement Advisory Location: East Wing 115A
4:30 p.m.	Transition Break
4:35 p.m.	Closing Day 1 Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
4:45 p.m.	Adjourn
5:00 p.m.	Transportation from Boston College to Fenway Park – Red Sox Game
6:00 p.m.	Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays Game at Fenway Park (game starts at 6:45 pm)
10:00 p.m.	Transportation back to AC Hotel Boston Cleveland Circle

8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
8:25 a.m.	Opening Lisa Buffington, AIF®, CPFA® - Senior Vice President \| Marsh McLennan Agency \| New England President of the Retirement Advisor Council Location: East Wing 115A
8:40 a.m.	Welcome Day 2 Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
8:50 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Breakout 1 – Evaluating Private Markets for 401(k)s: Yes/No/Not Yet Description: Private markets are quickly moving from “interesting idea” to retirement plan committee agenda item—and when that question lands, retirement plan fiduciaries need more than a point of view. This Retirement Advisor Council breakout delivers a fast, accessible primer on what private markets actually are and how advisors, recordkeepers, and asset managers expect them to show up in 401(k) plans (including potential paths like managed accounts and brokerage windows). We’ll separate real opportunities from marketing noise, spotlight the operational hurdles early adopters are preparing for, and frame the fiduciary process issues that matter most—governance, oversight, liquidity expectations, valuation realities, fee complexity, and participant fit. The goal isn’t to “pitch” private markets—it’s to equip you to guide committees through a defensible evaluation and land on a clear “yes / no / not yet.” If a sponsor asked you about private markets tomorrow, would you have a fiduciary-ready answer — or just an opinion? Moderator: Moderator TBA \| Firm, Title TBA Panelists: Panelist TBA \| Company TBA Panelist TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 2 – Roth Reconsidered: What Retirement Plan Fiduciaries Need to Know Now Description: Roth is one of the most familiar — and most misunderstood — concepts in the retirement plan landscape. Many advisors assume they already have it covered. This session challenges that assumption. This Retirement Advisor Council breakout blends a clear Roth refresher with actionable strategies for plan sponsors, participants, and wealth management clients. We’ll explore how Roth is being rethought in light of SECURE 2.0, evolving plan design, and increasing demand for tax diversification, while highlighting common misconceptions, the plan design options gaining traction, and the practical guidance leading advisors are using to help clients make smarter Roth decisions. You’ll walk away with a sharper framework to elevate Roth from a basic feature to a strategic planning tool — and to lead more informed, more valuable conversations with retirement plan committees and clients. Moderator: Courtenay Shipley \| Retirement Planology Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 3 – Tool Demo 1 Description: HealthPlan IQ Speaker: TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA
9:40 a.m.	Transition Break
9:45 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Breakout 4 – The Digital Shift Description: As recordkeeping moves deeper into a fully digital ecosystem, cybersecurity is becoming inseparable from the participant's experience. This session explores how new cyber risks, authentication tools, and digital workflows will transform 401(k) recordkeeping—and how these shifts will shape engagement for today’s participants and the next generation of savers. Speaker/Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 5 – Litigation Hotseat: Q&A With an Expert Attorney Description: An interactive session where attendees can ask a seasoned attorney about the latest litigation trends impacting retirement and healthcare plans—and what they mean for fiduciaries, providers, and participants. Moderator: Katherine Kohn \| Partner Thompson Hine Location: TBA Breakout 6 – Tool Demo 2 Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA
10:35 a.m.	Break
10:50 a.m.	General Session 3: AI Session Speaker/Moderator: Brian Nickolenko, Vice President of Business Development \| Transamerica Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: East Wing 115A
11:40 a.m.	Group Photos
11:55 a.m.	Lunch

12:50 p.m.	General Session 4: Board Report Lisa Buffington, AIF®, CPFA \| Marsh McLennan Agency \| New England Robert Haverstrom \| Corebridge Financial Matt Luksa, CRPS® \| First Eagle Investments Deana Calvelli AIF®, CEBS®, CPFA \| Wealthspire Mike Webb \| CAPTRUST Location: East Wing 115A
1:40 p.m.	Transition Break
1:45 p.m.	Breakout Sessions Breakout 7 – Is DEI Dead? Description: Throw the baby out with the bathwater or reimagine what could be? The panel aims to have an open, honest, and constructive dialogue about what if any path is open to the future of DEI. Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Panelists: Ruchi Tripathi \| MFS Investment Management Stephen Welsh \| Mayflower Securities Steve Dimitriou \| Mayflower Securities Location: TBA Breakout 8 – Beyond Prompts: Build a Smart AI Workspace for Your Retirement Practice Description: A practical, fast moving session on how to turn AI from a novelty into a real productivity engine for your retirement practice. We’ll show you how to build a smart AI workspace that streamlines research, strengthens client communication, supports plan sponsor deliverables, and enhances day to day workflow—going well beyond simple prompt writing to tools, structures, and use cases that actually move the needle. Moderator: Lisa Kottler \| Kottler Advisory Group Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA Breakout 9 – Staying (or Getting in the Room) through M&A, Succession, and Business Transitions Description: As M&A activity stays elevated, private equity reshapes more industries, and clients face major business transitions, advisors who cannot engage beyond their core lane risk being pushed to the margins or losing the client. This session will focus on how to build a strategic network that helps you stay in the room, add value, and protect key relationships through mergers, acquisitions, succession, and other pivotal transitions. Moderator: TBA \| Company TBA Panelists: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: TBA
2:35 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	Peer Sharing Sessions Peer Sharing Session 1 – TBA Location: TBA Peer Sharing Session 2 – TBA Location: TBA Peer Sharing Session 3 – TBA Location: TBA
4:00 p.m.	Transition Break
4:10 p.m.	General Session 5: FINANCIAL WELLNESS AWARDS Speakers: TBA \| Company TBA TBA \| Company TBA Location: East Wing 115A
5:00 p.m.	Closing Meeting Planning Committee Co-chairs: Craig Rosenthal, Chief Marketing Officer \| Fiduciary Decisions Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA®, Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services \| HUB International Location: East Wing 115A
5:00 p.m.	Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktail Hour hosted by First Eagle at TBA
6:15 p.m.	Excelsior Awards
7:00 p.m.	Adjourn

HOTEL

Hotel Reservations

AC Hotel Boston Cleveland Circle
395 Chestnut Hill Avenue
Boston, MA 02135

We have a block of rooms at the AC Hotel Boston Cleveland Circle at the rate of $339.00 per night not including taxes and incidentals. Please reserve here by June 5, 2026

MEETING PLANNING COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs

Craig Rosenthal Chief Marketing Officer | Fiduciary Decisions
Scott L. Schlappi CEBS®, CPFA™, AIFA® Senior Vice President, Retirement Plan Services | Wealth Plan Advisors - a division of HUB International

General Sessions Subcommittee
Robert Haverstrom AIF®, C(k)P® | Corebridge Financial
William Schories AIF®, CIMA®, CRPS® | Invesco

Breakout Sessions Subcommittee
Melissa Cowan | Cowan Consulting

Marketing and Member Engagement Subcommittee
Daniella Moiseyev Head of Content Strategy | Principal Financial Group

Fun Subcommittee
Paula A. Hendrickson CFP®, C(K)P®, CBFA® | NFP Retirement Division

Host and Location Subcommittee
John Kinsley | John Hancock

MEMBERS

Julie Braun CRPS® QPFC® | Morgan Stanley Graystone Consulting
Lisa Buffington AIF ®, CPFA ® | Marsh McLennan Agency
Patrick Bushlack AIF®, CPFA® | The Standard
Esti Buskin | Nuveen
Christopher Cervantes C(k)P®, CFP®, CIMA®, CPFA®, NQPA® | Valorous Advisors
Nicole Corning CFP®, CRPC®, AIF® | Pathlight Advisors
Glenn Dial | American Century Investments
John Erickson AIF® | The Standard
Kelly Famiglietta AIF®, C(k)P®, CFP®, CPFA | Charles Stephen and Company, Inc.
Derek Fiorenza C(k)P®, CPFA™, AIF®, PPC™, MSBA | Summit Group Retirement Planners
Tommy B. Ford C(k)P® | The Gibson Group at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Erin Hall MBA, AIF®, C(k)P®, CPFA | Strategic Retirement Partners
C. Andrew Harbour CFP®, CIMA® | Morgan Stanley Graystone Consulting Atlanta
Matt Haywood AIF®, CPFA® | Krilogy
Greg Hobson, CFP®, AIF®| Greenspring Wealth Management, Inc.
Matt Luksa CRPS® | First Eagle Investments
Greg Marsh AIF® | Bridgehaven Fiduciary Partners
Robert A. Massa, ChFC®, CEBS®, CPFA™, AIF®, CBC | Qualified Plan Advisors
Emily Minnich CFP® | Gaertner Investment Consulting Group
Daniel J. Peluse AIF®, C(k)P®, CBFA®, CRPS® | Wintrust Wealth Management
Troy L. Redstone CFPA®, AIF®, CFEI®, CBFA® | PHD. Retirement Consulting
Kevin Ross | Fidelity Investments
Peggy Santhouse | Envestnet
Matthew Savage | Morningstar Retirement
Timothy M. Schannep CFP® | Retirement Wealth Partners, LLC
Renee Scherzer AIF®, CPFA® | OneDigital Retirement Advisors
Emma Vicenzi | Invesco
Geoff White | GRP Financial