It’s that time of year again (or at least getting close). The annual 4.01k Race for Financial Fitness is a fun and informative way to link physical health and financial wellness—as well as the importance of 401ks.
Traditionally held on April 1, with a starting time of 4:01 pm and a distance of 4.01 kilometers, it’s appropriate for all ages and features celebrity spokesperson Jean Chatsky, financial journalist, author and motivational speaker.
The brainchild of Chepenik Financial managing partner Jason Chepenik, the race has “franchised” into nine cities, and all proceeds go to Junior Achievement.
However, because April 1 falls on Easter Sunday this year, races will take place on different days in different cities. Go to 401krace.com for more information.
“There’s a synchronicity between what Junior Achievement is doing and the ideas behind financial literacy,” says Steve Glasgow, senior vice president with Avondale Partners, the race affiliate in Nashville. “As they teach kids how to be fiscally responsible and the basics of business, saving and investing, there is a nice tie-in with the need to bring more awareness to financial literacy overall.”
While Glasgow mentions financial literacy, he acknowledges it’s really about financial wellness, of which financial literacy is a component.
“I’m painting it with a broad brush, but financial literacy is really what needs to be understood in order to achieve financial wellness. Obviously, we want people going down the track to financial wellness, but they have to know what that means, as it’s still a bit of industry jargon.”
Plan Sponsor Council of America has joined as a national sponsor, as has Blackrock, Triad Advisors, Empower Retirement and a host of other recognizable names.
Nashville’s 4.01k Race will coincide with the 2018 NAPA 401(k) Summit, to be held April 15 – 17.
“Nashville is kind of a destination spot right now,” Glasgow notes. “The people who were here two years ago for the 401(k) Summit absolutely loved it.”
After a reception the night before, the race will start at 8:30 am on Saturday, April 14 (rather than the more cleverly allotted 4:01 pm), but for a specific reason.
“My suspicion is that people will come in a little early to see Nashville before the conference starts,” Glasgow concludes. “If we can get them out at 8:30 on a Saturday morning, we can knock it out and go drink for the rest of the day.”