Bitcoin & 401(k) Plans: Logical Evolution or Playing With Fire?
Release Date: 06/24/2022
The Future of Investing: Adapting to a New Market Reality
401(k) Roundtable
The future of investing isn't just about numbers—it's about embracing a seismic shift in how markets, macro forces, and innovation like AI reshape the landscape. In this episode, Jean Boivin of BlackRock Investment Institute and Greg Hamilton, CIO of a Financial Holding Corporation, reveal how a “fundamentally different” macro environment is transforming asset allocation, risk management, and the very fabric of portfolios. They unpack the five mega forces driving this change, from AI and energy transition to geopolitical fragmentation, and explain why traditional strategic asset...
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Behind the Scenes: How AI Is Transforming Retirement Plans
401(k) Roundtable
AI is transforming the future of retirement planning — but what does that really mean for plan sponsors and participants today? In a landscape where AI capabilities evolve faster than regulations can keep up, how can financial services stay responsible without falling behind? Rick Unser hosts industry experts Nikki Susman and Brian Cosmano to unveil how AI is already reshaping every facet of retirement plans — from onboarding and fraud detection to personalized participant advice and real-time action. You’ll discover how leading firms are using AI to make security smarter, streamline...
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Behind the Curtain on Mergers & Acquisitions
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of The 401(k) Roundtable, host Rick Unser goes behind the curtain on mergers and acquisitions with two seasoned leaders who live this work every day. Casey Craig, Executive Vice President and Head of the Large, Mega, NfP, and PEO Markets at Empower, and April Bettencourt, Vice President of Global Employee Benefits at VSP Vision, share real‑world insights on M&A across financial services and healthcare. Together, they explore why M&A has become such a powerful growth strategy, how organizations think beyond scale to focus on clients and participants, and what can drive...
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Has the Moment for Retirement Income Finally Arrived?
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of The 401(k) Roundtable, host Rick Unser dives into one of the most talked‑about—and most challenging—topics in retirement: turning savings into sustainable income. Rick is joined by Fiona Greig, Global Head of Investor Research and Policy at Vanguard, and Eric Jackson, Benefit Plan Investment Strategist at Chevron, for a candid discussion on why retirement income has lagged behind accumulation and why the focus on solving it continues to grow. The conversation explores the shift from pensions to 401(k)s, the role of behavior and choice architecture, and why...
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The Resilient Market: What 2025 Taught Us About Long-Term Investing
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of The 401(k) Roundtable, host Rick Unser welcomes Meera Pandit, Global Market Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, to unpack the economic story of 2025 and what it means for retirement plans. From market resilience in the face of geopolitical unrest and sticky inflation to the rise of AI-driven investing and concentrated equity markets, Meera shares her perspective on how long-term investors, especially 401(k) participants, can navigate what’s next. You’ll hear insights on diversification, consumer sentiment, global opportunities, and the importance of staying...
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Behavioral Finance Meets 401(k): What the Data Says About Defaults
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of the 401(k) Roundtable, Rick Unser is joined by John Beshears, Professor at Harvard Business School, and Brad Champagne, VP of Human Resources at Mission Linen Supply, to explore how behavioral finance and thoughtful plan design are reshaping retirement outcomes. They reflect on a decade of data since Mission Linen revamped its 401(k) defaults and discuss the impact of auto-enrollment, investment choices, and employee engagement. The conversation also dives into emerging ideas around emergency savings, personalized defaults, and how employers can better support financial...
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Rethinking Retirement: Is the Crisis as Bad as We Think?
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of 401(k) Roundtable, Rick Unser is joined by Andrew Biggs, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Mina Biggs, Chief People Officer at Hanson Professional Services. Together, they unpack the so-called “retirement crisis,” exploring generational attitudes toward saving, the evolving structure of retirement plans, and how government policies like the SECURE Act 2.0 aim to move the needle. From the role of Social Security to the importance of workplace financial education, this episode offers practical insight for plan sponsors, HR leaders, and anyone...
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Engage, Educate, Evolve: Building Better 401(k) Plans for Today’s Workforce
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode, Rick Unser is joined by Robert Fortin from Amtrak and Kristina Cox from Recology — two HR leaders with deep experience in optimizing employee benefits. They discuss the intricacies of 401(k) plans, particularly focusing on the differences between union and non-union benefits, decision-making processes in benefits offerings, and the importance of employee engagement. They explore the implications of Secure 2.0, the challenges of communicating total rewards to employees, and the future of retirement income options. The discussion emphasizes the need for effective...
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Predicting Market Pricing Perfection: Pain or Performance?
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of 401(k) Roundtable, Rick Unser is joined by Charlie Bilello, Chief Market Strategist at Creative Planning. Known for The Week in Charts on YouTube and as co-host of the Signal or Noise? podcast with Peter Mallouk, Charlie brings a data-driven perspective to today’s markets. The conversation covers market volatility, bear market patterns, and the enduring importance of diversification. They also explore the performance of international vs. U.S. stocks, the strength of the dollar, interest rates, and recent economic policy shifts. A timely and insightful episode for anyone...
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The Future of Private Equity: Growth, Innovation & Investor Access
401(k) Roundtable
In this episode of 401(k) Roundtable™, Rick Unser speaks with Jack Weingart, Chief Financial Officer of TPG, a leading global private equity firm. They examine how macroeconomic shifts, technological advancements like AI, and a declining number of public companies are shaping private equity investment strategies. The discussion also touches on the role of institutional investors and the growing interest in making private equity accessible through workplace retirement plans. Jack offers a thoughtful perspective on long-term capital deployment and the future of private markets.
info_outlineThis week, we tackle a timely topic straight out of the headlines, Bitcoin or Digital assets and 401(k) plans. Joining me is Dave Gray, the Head of Workplace Retirement Platforms & Workplace Investing for Fidelity. We cover all the topics you would expect like why Bitcoin, why 401(k) plans, how can plan sponsors evaluate the whether Bitcoin makes sense for them and a fairly detailed breakdown of the recent DOL Compliance Assistance Release or CAR addressing Bitcoin in workplace retirement plans. We covered a ton of ground, I learned a lot, hoping you do as well. If we missed something, shoot me a note on LinkedIn and we can follow-up. Enjoy!
Guest Bio
Dave Gray is a member of the Workplace Investing Executive Management Team and serves as the Head of Workplace Retirement Platforms, Workplace Investing for Fidelity. Dave leads Fidelity’s defined contribution and multi-product platform and product development teams across sites in the US, India, and Ireland. The teams are responsible for developing and managing market-leading solutions and customer experiences and the continuous modernization of the Workplace Retirement platforms, leveraging cloud technologies. Dave also has principal responsibility for next generation defined contribution plan innovation, notably digital assets and the blockchain. In addition, Dave was appointed to the Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council.
Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked at Charles Schwab where he served as a member of Schwab’s Retirement Plan Services executive leadership team responsible for client experience, product management, and business strategy. Previously, Dave served as a Vice President at Standard Insurance Retirement Services where he built and led the client relationship management organization, and earlier as a member of Invesmart’s executive team responsible for general management of the retirement plan business.
Dave earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tennessee Temple University. He holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 66 licenses.
401(k) Fridays Podcast Overview
Struggling with a fiduciary issue, looking for strategies to improve employee retirement outcomes or curious about the impact of current events on your retirement plan? We've had conversations with retirement industry leaders to address these and other relevant topics! You can easily explore over 225 prior on-demand audio interviews here. Don't forget to subscribe as we release a new episode each Friday!