Ben Huneke, Head of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, was recently honored as the Insured Retirement Institute’s 2026 Industry Champion of Retirement Security during the association’s annual conference in Tampa.
Huneke was honored for his work in advancing protected lifetime income in workers’ and retirees’ financial planning. The award annually recognizes individuals who work to enhance retirement security in the United States. It is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated leadership to advance IRI-supported public policies through advocacy, communications, education, and other initiatives that help Americans plan for and save for retirement.
“Ben Huneke is a champion for broadening access to retirement solutions and reinforcing the importance of protected lifetime income in workers’ and retirees’ financial planning,” said Wayne Chopus, President and CEO of IRI. “Throughout his career, he has driven innovation, fostered collaboration, and promoted education to help financial professionals deliver stronger retirement results for clients.”
Huneke is a strong advocate for integrating insurance and protected income solutions into comprehensive financial planning. At Morgan Stanley, he helped expand the role of insurance and annuities within advisors’ toolkits, promoting their use as a distinct asset class in portfolio construction and retirement income strategies.
His leadership also supported efforts to digitize insurance solutions and integrate annuities into advisory platforms, helping advisors deliver more comprehensive retirement strategies for clients.
Huneke also played a pivotal leadership role at IRI, serving as a Board member, treasurer, and chairman. He steered IRI through strategic growth and transformation. He worked to enhance IRI’s membership model to better include asset managers and independent marketing organizations, and to strengthen the association’s focus on retirement policy advocacy.
“I’m honored to receive the Industry Champion of Retirement Security Award and grateful to IRI for its leadership on this critical issue,” Huneke said. “Retirement security is about giving people confidence that their savings, investments, and income solutions can work together to support them throughout retirement. Continued collaboration across the industry is essential to expanding access, modernizing retirement solutions and improving outcomes for millions of Americans.”
Earlier in his career, Huneke held a range of leadership positions across Morgan Stanley’s wealth management businesses, including serving as Head of Investment Solutions and Chief Operating Officer of Field Management. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2006, he worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, advising clients in wealth and asset management. He began his career in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.
He also serves on the board and executive committee of the Investment Company Institute and is a board member of The JED Foundation, a nonprofit focused on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults.
“Ben’s leadership has helped bridge the worlds of asset management and insurance, strengthening the system that supports retirement security,” Chopus added. “As IRI Board Chair during my first year leading IRI, he was always available, fully engaged, and a valuable leadership resource. He is truly a champion of our industry, IRI, and the customers we serve, and exemplifies the leadership and dedication that this award recognizes.”
IRI created the Champion of Retirement Security Award in 2013 to recognize policymakers who have contributed significantly to advancing ideas and policies that enhance retirement security for all Americans. Later, IRI expanded the program to acknowledge private-sector leaders who have made valuable contributions to expanding retirement security.
IRI’s 2026 Annual Conference, held April 22-24 at the JW Marriott in Tampa, welcomed a fifth straight year of record-breaking attendance with more than 950 industry leaders convening for the event.
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