401k Investment Design Category Shows Strength at 401kTV Awards
401k Investment Design took center-stage during the 401kTV Genie Awards in New York City last week. The topic of 401k Investment Design is one which leaves a lot of room for discussion. In this case, there was no shortage of thought and confidence when describing the effort each panelist puts into designing a 401k Investment lineup. Scott Lanigan, New York Life Investment, Director, DCIO Advisor Consultant, served as Moderator of the panel of 3 investment professionals. (This panel of 3 had in excess of 60 years of combined investment experience.) Each member of the seasoned panel expressed confidence that their hard work in overseeing plan investments and the process they use to monitor results adds measurable value to plan sponsors and for plan participants.
Panelist, Jay Laschinger, Alliant Retirement Consulting opened the panel. He initially emphasized his firm’s independence and some of the benefits of being completely separate from the manufacturing of any investment products. It was obvious that Jay and his firm take pride in not being predisposed to any particular solution, service, product, or vendor. Independence plays an important role in how Alliant Retirement Consulting works with plan sponsors and plan participants.
Stressing flexibility in how their firm works with clients was the primary message from the second panelist, Richard Hepp of WhartonHill Advisors. Mr. Hepp brings vast experience to his firm where he now works with clients by focusing on investments and fiduciary responsibility, plan design features, and employee education. 401k Investment Design starts with plan design. The 401kTV GENIE Awards audience had questions for all panelists. After an exchange with one audience member, Richard shared how their firm always attempts to work with plan sponsors or plan participants. That is, “strive to make things simple.” Refrain from complicating any process. Let the results do the talking.
The third Investment Design panelist, was Bill Peragine, joining from JWRetirement Group. Mr. Peragine.
is responsible for all aspects of investment consulting, including 401k investment design, plan sponsor and plan participant education for the JWL Retirement Group. Coming to his current firm with a wire-house background, he has observed multiple styles of delivering retirement plan services. His feeling is that all styles can work – it is just that some service models are a better fit than others for specific clients.
The winner of the 401kTV GENIE Award for Investment Design was Jay Laschinger. Congratulations Jay – on your winning the 401kTV GENIE Investment Design Award in New York City.
The next 401kTV Genie Awards will be held downtown Chicago at the University of Chicago Gleacher Center on 12/5/19. Stay tuned to 401kTV – where industry professionals will continue to raise the bar on servicing retirement plan sponsors and plan participants.
