Fred Barstein, Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Fred Barstein is Founder and CEO of The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU), a collaboration with UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education, and The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU). Founded in 2010, TRAU has quickly become the industry’s leading training and designation program for focused Defined Contribution (DC) advisors and professionals dedicated to helping them to build a sound and sustainable practice while improving plan outcomes for clients. TPSU trains and certifies employers managing their retirement plan leveraging a standardized curriculum and highly qualified local advisors to deliver on-site programs. In addition, Fred is the Founder of NAPA Net, the Daily newsletter and NAPA Net – The Magazine, all part of the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) for which he serves as Industry Ambassador.
Prior to founding TRAU, Barstein was President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 401kExchange before he left in 2010. Founded in 1996, 401kExchange was a leading business development and market intelligence provider for the 401(k) and retirement industry. Previous experience includes Publisher of Bancroft-Whitney, California’s Official Legal Publisher a division of Thomson/West, and Barclays Law Publishers, where, as Editor-in-Chief, he led the company to the Inc. Magazine 500 list of fastest growing private companies before it was sold to Thomson/West.
Barstein received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Boston College and his Law Degree from Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. He was a member of the NY Bar, held Series 6, 26, 28 and 63 licenses and was named 27th “Most Influential Person in the 401(k) Industry” in 2014 by the 401kWire and has been in the top 50 since the inception of the list in 2007. Fred is a regular speaker before various Retirement Industry and Conferences around the country and internationally.
