The Difference Between Good Advice and Effective Advice
In this brief yet insightful interview recorded at the Excel 401k Conference in Las Vegas, John Sullivan of 401k Specialist speaks with Lisa Petronio from Strategic Retirement Partners, a recognized “Top Advisor by Participant Outcomes” award recipient. The conversation centers on how intangible yet crucial elements like company culture and organizational purpose significantly influence participant retirement outcomes.
Petronio explains that the most successful plan sponsors—those who consistently help employees retire on time—tend to foster a strong workplace culture that supports retirement readiness. These employers have created environments where participants are more likely to embrace features like automatic enrollment and auto-escalation, which are proven to improve retirement preparedness.
She emphasizes the importance of meeting plan sponsors where they are—acknowledging that not every company is ready to adopt aggressive savings features immediately. Instead, her firm works incrementally with clients, helping them take “baby steps” toward stronger plan designs over time.
A key part of her approach is explaining the “why” behind these design choices, both to sponsors and participants. Petronio believes that communicating the purpose behind plan changes builds trust and facilitates cultural buy-in. This ultimately leads to more effective implementation and better outcomes.
She also makes an important distinction between “good advice” and “effective advice”—noting that even the most sound recommendations are meaningless if clients are not willing or ready to act on them.
The interview closes with a reflection on the courage it takes to push for high-impact retirement plans and the nuanced role advisors play in guiding clients toward them.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of 401(k) Specialist and Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots. Experienced financial services content executive specializing in creative new media delivery. He joined the American Retirement Association in 2023 as Chief Content Officer, overseeing communications for the organization, as well as its sister organizations.
