The retirement planning industry will be in a Nashville state of mind this weekend as over 2,000 attendees head south for the NAPA 401(k) Summit.
2025 NAPA Summit Information – Don’t Gamble on Waiting to Register for 2025 NAPA 401(k) Summit
Retirement plan advisors will be welcomed to the sound of country music and honky-tonk, as they attend day sessions on leading matters facing the industry, including the convergence of retirement planning and wealth management, “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of pooled employer plans (PEPs), and the 403(b)-plan marketplace.
It all starts with American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff’s annual “From the Summit to the Hill” keynote presentation, where Graff will kick things off with an update on the legislative and regulatory environment in the nation’s capital.
It’s an especially exciting opener this year, as the Department of Labor’s EBSA Assistant Secretary Lisa Gomez will join Graff during his address to speak on current (and potential) regulation, and how it is set to impact advisors and their clients in the near future.
The address will also feature former Employee Benefit Security Administration (EBSA) Head and Gomez predecessor Preston Rutledge, Jamie Cummins, senior tax counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, and Shannon Finley, partner at Capitol Counsel, who will join Graff to break down what was said and what it means for the industry moving forward.
Moving on throughout the day, advisors will have access to a handful of workshops that dive into industry-leading advisor practice insights, the links between artificial intelligence (AI) and personalized participant experiences, how retirement plans evolve amid the landscape of expanding retirement income solutions, and more.
Attendees will also hear from Mike Walsh, CEO of global consultancy firm Tomorrow, who will provide insights into the organizations and leaders that are successfully navigating a post-pandemic environment that engages clients through digital channels, AI, algorithms, and automations, and how advisors can adopt such strategies to better serve clients.
This will all lead attendees to the first night’s big event: The Summit After Dark: Country Music Festival. Expect to see attendees don their finest country wear and dance to live music across Nashville’s famous Broadway establishments, beginning at Tequila Cowboy and moving to other connected venues including Luke’s 32 Bridge and Jason Aldean’s Kitchen.
Monday morning starts bright and early with sponsored breakfast workshops, before moving to general day sessions. Mauro Guillén, professor of Management and vice-dean at the Wharton School, will lead a general session, “The Future of Wealth Management,” that questions whether 401(k) rollovers could create waves of intergenerational wealth transfers.
From there, attendees will have access to an array of afternoon sessions that include a live podcast with former ARA chief content officer Nevin Adams and Faegre, Drinker Biddle & Reath’s Fred Reish, finalist presentation do’s and don’ts with FiduciaryWorks Josh Itzoe and Strategic Retirement Partner’s Jeanne Sutton, enabling lifetime income adoption with Income America’s Matthew Wolniewicz, and more.
Attendees are then led to a blowout Broadway Block Party for the Summit’s main event, where many will line dance around the historic Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Second Fiddle, Layla’s Honky Tonk, Legend’s Corner and The Stage on Broadway, before closing the next day with more sponsored and general sessions.
We’re excited to see what this year’s NAPA 401(k) Summit brings to Music City, U.S.A., and look forward to seeing you all out there!
SEE ALSO:
Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with over six years of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. Amanda received her degree in journalism and government and politics at St. John’s University. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado with her partner. In her free time, Amanda enjoys running, cooking, and watching the latest drama show.
