PLANADVISER - March/April 2018 - 2

editor's letter
Symbiosis
A
s I write this column, we are in final preparations for the 2018 PLANSPONSOR/PLANADVISER
Excellence in Retirement Awards ceremony.
This annual event is one of the ways in which we thank so many in the
industry for their dedication to solving the challenges of saving for retirement.
Our award programs across both PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER showcase
an amazing group of retirement plan sponsors, plan advisers and providers that
do marvelous things each day. In different ways, in fulfilling their fiduciary
duties and then some, they encourage American workers to set, pursue and
reach their unique retirement goals.
In preparing for this year's event, one thing that I found exceptionally interesting
was that so many award recipients were connected to one another. For
example, we had PLANSPONSOR Plan Sponsor of the Year finalists and winners
being advised by PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists
and winners-past and present-and PLANADVISER Top 100 Advisers. And, of
course, many of the recordkeepers in attendance were those supporting the
retirement plans recognized as PLANSPONSOR Best in Class 401(k) Plans or Plan
Sponsors of the Year. It was validating to see the symbiotic relationships across
the industry-and to know there were so many Americans benefiting as a result.
Crafting a retirement plan is an art, not a science. As shown by the wide array of
those recognized in our award programs-and in our editorial coverage-there
is no single " right " way to design a retirement plan. Sure, there are best practices
that are generally recognized over other practices. And generosity from
an employer-in matching or discretionary contributions-can go a long way in
helping employees amass retirement savings. But the approaches we recognized
this year make it clear that the right approach and careful design decisions can
enable success, even without the need for significant company contributions.
In addition, seeing the symbiotic relationships between the award recipients
assures me that there is an amazing network of retirement plan professionals,
programs and companies that have spurred real innovation. They have led the
effort to develop more efficient plan designs and administration, helped to grow
assets and, ultimately, delivered improved participant outcomes.
While I encourage all of you reading to think about those recognized by our
award programs over the years-and to put yourself forward for consideration
in the future-I also realize that simply by giving us your attention you're doing
your part in helping Americans. I know that, for you to be reading a publication
called PLANADVISER, you take your role as a retirement plan adviser
seriously-I appreciate that. After all, the retirement of many Americans is
counting on you.
As an industry, we may have escaped major changes to the employer-sponsored
retirement plan system in the most recent tax reform bill, but that doesn't mean
the industry is safe. It remains under constant scrutiny-as well as pressure to
provide a secure retirement for all American workers. So, I thank those across
the industry that dedicate themselves to improving retirement readiness. For
those at our dinner, and for those reading this now, I hope your passion to
provide those secure retirements will only grow stronger.
-Alison Cooke Mintzer, Editor-in-Chief
Seeing the
symbiotic
relationship
between the
award recipients
assures me
that there is an
amazing network
of retirement plan
professionals,
programs and
companies that
have spurred real
innovation.
2 | planadviser.com march-april 2018
http://www.planadviser.com
PLANADVISER - March/April 2018

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