Healthcare is one of the largest—and most overlooked—expenses in retirement, making Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) an increasingly critical tool in long-term financial planning. With unique tax advantages and the ability to bridge health and wealth strategies, HSAs are becoming a central component of retirement readiness.
At the conclusion of a recent TPSU program held in Columbus, Ohio, TPSU Founder and CEO Fred Barstein interviewed Dina, who leads the retirement plan services practice at Oswald Financial.
Dina heighlighted the growing convergence of retirement planning and employee benefits—expanding the conversation beyond wealth accumulation to include healthcare strategy. As medical expenses continue to represent a significant share of retirement costs, she emphasized the need for plan sponsors to address healthcare planning alongside traditional retirement savings. Integrating these conversations earlier enables participants to make more informed, long-term financial decisions.
A key component of this approach is the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Reini underscored their triple tax advantage—pre-tax contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses—positioning HSAs as a highly effective and often underutilized retirement savings tool. Rather than being treated solely as a short-term spending account, HSAs can serve as a strategic bridge between health and wealth planning.
Fred Barstein:
Greetings, this is Fred Barstein, Founder and CEO of TPSU, 401kTV, and TRAU. I’ve just completed a TPSU program here in Columbus, Ohio, and I’m joined by our adjunct lecturer, Dina from Oswald Financial. Dina, welcome—and is it okay if we ask you a few questions?
Dina:
Absolutely.
Fred Barstein:
Great. Before we begin, tell us a bit about yourself and your firm.
Dina:
Thank you, Fred. My name is Dina, and I lead the retirement plan services practice at Oswald Financial. We are a risk management firm that offers comprehensive services across health benefits, property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and retirement planning.
Fred Barstein:
Very good—and a very significant retirement practice. In your presentation today, we heard a lot about the convergence of wealth and retirement in the workplace. Yours went a step further—focusing on how retirement and benefits converge. Can you share a couple of examples of what that means?
Dina:
Absolutely. We take it one step beyond wealth convergence and bring health into the conversation. When you think about retirement, the number one expense for most individuals is healthcare. So, during the planning process, it’s critical to address healthcare costs at the same time you’re discussing retirement savings.
Additionally, the only benefit an employee typically takes with them when they leave an organization is their retirement plan. Because of that, these conversations—health and retirement—should really be integrated.
Fred Barstein:
We also heard a lot of questions today about Health Savings Accounts. Are you seeing increased usage among your clients?
Dina:
Absolutely. Health Savings Accounts are a powerful, additional strategy for saving for retirement. They offer a triple tax advantage that many participants don’t fully understand. A big part of what we do is educate individuals on how to properly leverage HSAs as a long-term savings tool—not just for current healthcare expenses.
Fred Barstein:
And that’s why it’s called a health savings account—not a health spending account, right?
Dina:
Exactly.
Fred Barstein:
Final question—this was your first TPSU, and the first one here in Columbus. What do you think plan sponsors gain by attending a TPSU program?
Dina:
It’s a great, low-pressure opportunity to get a comprehensive understanding of their role as a plan sponsor. What makes it especially valuable is that they’re not just learning from the presenters—they’re learning from each other. That peer-to-peer interaction is incredibly impactful.
It gives them a chance to step away from the office and fully immerse themselves in an educational experience without any pressure.
Fred Barstein:
That peer-to-peer learning is something we hear consistently. Dina, thank you for your time—and thank you for being a lecturer.
Dina:
Thank you, Fred.
Fred Barstein:
And thank you for watching 401kTV.
