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.
Steff C. Chalk, Executive Director
Steff C. Chalk is Executive Director of 401kTV. Steff is also Executive Director of The Retirement Advisor University (TRAU), a collaboration with UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education and he is Executive Director of The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU).
Steff has served on the faculty of the Midwest Trust School, Northern Kentucky University Finance and Business and Plan Sponsor Institute. He graduated The Kentucky School of Banking at the University of Kentucky and The National Trust School at Northwestern University.
Steff is Founder, CEO of Fiduciary Consulting and Governance Group, Inc. and CHALK Advisory Board where he conducted original research for the Chilean Pension System, contributed to the design and architecture of the Turkish Self-funded Retirement System and worked through USAID as social asset consultant to the Arab African International Bank.
He served on the founding Leadership Council of the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) and he is co-author of the book “How to Build a Successful 401(k) Retirement Plan Advisory Business.”
Mr. Chalk holds the Certified 401(k) Professional Designation (C(k)P) from The Retirement Advisor University, the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA) designation from University of Pittsburgh, Katz Graduate School of Business, the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) from the Retirement Plan Academy and The Global Fiduciary Strategist (GFS) designation from the Leadership Academy, West Point.
