One-on-one consultations play a critical role in retirement readiness because they allow advisors to address each employee’s unique financial situation, goals, and concerns. As employees approach retirement, the focus naturally shifts from accumulation to decumulation—how and when to draw income in a way that aligns with their timeline, savings level, and long-term security. Personalized conversations create space for employees to ask questions they may not raise in group settings and help them better understand distribution strategies, trade-offs, and risks. This individualized guidance not only improves retirement outcomes, but also gives employees greater confidence and clarity as they transition into the next phase of their lives.
At the conclusion of a recent TPSU program held on the campus of Villanova University near Philadelphia, Fred Barstein, founder and CEO of The Plan Sponsor University (TPSU), interviewed adjunct lecturer Derek Fiorenza of Summit Group Retirement Planners, Inc. Fiorenza shared that the firm’s sole focus is working with employers and their employees around retirement plans and employee benefits. One-on-one consultations are central to their approach, reflecting an intentional, values-driven philosophy rooted in compassion, consistency, and care. Supporting employees day in and day out is not simply a service offering—it is the core mission of the firm.
Through individualized consultations, advisors take the time to listen, understand concerns, and evaluate strategies that align with each person’s timeframe and level of preparedness. For employees nearing retirement, discussions center on income planning and distribution strategies. For younger employees, the focus is more foundational, including budgeting, managing and consolidating student loan debt, prioritizing high-interest obligations, and building strong financial habits. Across all stages of employment, education remains central—helping employees understand not only their retirement plan, but their broader financial picture beyond the plan as well.
Fred Barstein:
Greetings. This is Fred Barstein, founder and CEO at TPSU, The Plan Sponsor University. Just completed a program here on the campus of Villanova, just outside Philadelphia. And I’m here with our adjunct lecturer, Derek Fiorenza, who was here with his partner, Anthony Fiorenza.
Okay, if we ask you a few questions?
Derek Fiorenza:
Let’s roll, Fred. Yep.
Fred Barstein:
Tell us a little bit about your firm.
So, Summit Retirement Planners is an SEC registered firm, registered with Securities Exchange Commission. We have an affiliation with LPL as well as our back office. And we have spent our entire, um, organization’s focus, vision, has been on retirement plans for employers, um, employee benefits, taking time to meet with employees, and support their needs day in, day out. It’s been our passion. We have a goal.
Fred Barstein:
Great.
Derek Fiorenza:
And a goal, a firm, is to serve with love and serve with compassion and make sure everybody feels appreciated.
Fred Barstein:
Great. So one of your clients, actually here, talked about what you do with people that are getting ready to retire. Tell us a little bit about that program.
Derek Fiorenza:
Absolutely. So what we’d like to offer to the employers that work with us is one-on-one consultations, where we take the time to listen to their concerns.
A lot of times when they’re closer to retirement, the conversation is not so much around accumulation, but decumulation.
Fred Barstein:
Right.
Derek Fiorenza:
Which strategies would be best and most appropriate in their interest, being cognizant, number one, of the time frame, and how much money they’ve saved.
For the younger team members and the employees, that conversation might be a little bit different.
Fred Barstein:
Sure.
Derek Fiorenza:
We’re covering student loan debt, consolidation, the idea of building a budget, getting out of debt, understanding prioritization of which interest rate loans — the higher rates — paying off those faster.
It’s really an opportunity to teach and to educate and inform the employees and organizations of their options, and then understanding, overall, their financial budget outside of the plan.
Fred Barstein:
Great. So final question. Why should our plan sponsor attend a TPSU program? What do you think they get out of it mostly?
Derek Fiorenza:
The number one thing is knowledge. And I think what’s neat about the TPSU, the way it’s set up, it’s not salesy. It’s meant to promote education and learning.
And I think that is something that is truly invaluable, and it’s something that our industry needs. So I’m grateful for the TPSU organization, and for what you’re doing, to educate plan sponsors.
Fred Barstein:
Great. Well, thanks for being a lecturer. Thanks for watching 401KTV, and make sure to go to a TPSU program near you.
