Decoding Growth

The retirement industry is entering a new phase of innovation—and the old playbook isn’t working anymore. Technology is changing how retirement platforms are built, how record keepers modernize legacy systems, and how advisors connect retirement planning with wealth management. Instead of massive platform overhauls, the industry is shifting toward modular modernization, orchestration platforms, an...

Plan documents hold more intelligence than most people realize—if you know how to unlock it. In this episode of Decoding Growth, we explore how PlanPort uncovers the hidden logic, rules, and decisions embedded in SPDs, amendments, and other complex plan materials. Founder David Levine breaks down how AI can interpret dense plan language, reduce manual review time, and support TPAs, record keepers,...

How do you bring AI into retirement services without sacrificing accuracy, trust, or compliance? In this episode of Decoding Growth, host Will Press sits down with David Levine, founder of Plan Port and principal at Groom Law Group, to explore how AI can support—not replace—human expertise in the retirement and financial services industry. David shares his journey from tech enthusiast to legal exp...

The retirement industry keeps talking about convergence. Lori Hardwick breaks down what it actually takes to make it real. This conversation cuts straight into the structural issues—America’s savings gap, advisor confidence, platform integrations, valuation pressures, and the technology finally capable of scaling access. Lori brings decades of experience as an operator, board member, and founder t...

Welcome to Decoding Growth, where unfiltered conversations and bold ideas are reshaping retirement. In this episode, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Press sit down with Dan Beck, co-founder and CEO of 401GO, to explore how innovation, empathy, and a customer-first mindset are transforming the small business retirement market. While others talk about serving small employers, Dan and his team are actual...

Welcome to Decoding Growth — where unfiltered conversations and bold ideas are reshaping the future of retirement and benefits. In this episode, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest sit down with Anthony Bunnell and Tom Bishop, co-founders of Peopled, to unpack how their company is building the new front door for employee benefits. With backgrounds as executives and startup founders, Anthony and Tom...

Welcome to Decoding Growth, where unfiltered conversations and bold ideas are reshaping the future of retirement. In this episode, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest sit down with legendary industry voice Nevin Adams to explore how innovation, regulation, and human behavior intersect in retirement—and where the industry must go next. Nevin shares candid insights on fiduciary risk, the evolving role...

Financial wellness pioneer Liz Davidson, founder of Financial Finesse, and president Todd Lacey join Lisa Kottler and Will Prest to decode the most misunderstood category in workplace retirement. With 15 companies on their tech map but countless definitions, they explore what financial wellness really means, why only 4% of people are truly "financially well," and how the industry must shift from p...

In this episode of Decoding Growth, hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest sit down with David Musto, Chair & CEO of Ascensus, to explore the bold moves shaping the future of retirement. With over three decades of leadership across J.P. Morgan, Prudential, Great-West, and now Ascensus, David brings a rare perspective on how big brands can innovate, adapt, and lead at scale.

Join hosts Lisa Kottler and Will Prest as they dive deep into the legal and compliance landscape shaping retirement technology innovation with ERISA attorney Bonnie Treichel. This episode explores practical strategies for navigating the complex regulatory environment while fostering collaboration between legacy firms and emerging RetireTech companies. Bonnie brings a unique perspective as both an...

Join Lisa Kottler and Will Prest as they sit down with Ryan Tiernan from Capital Group's Workplace Strategic Growth team to explore how a nearly century-old asset manager embraces fintech innovation. This "four-wheel drive episode" dives deep into Ryan's unique perspective as both a former founder and current enterprise innovation leader, revealing how Capital Group scouts, partners with, and scal...

Welcome to the premiere episode of Decoding Growth, where industry veterans Lisa Kottler and Will Prest introduce themselves and their mission to transform conversations around retirement technology innovation. In this inaugural episode, discover how two seasoned professionals who've worked at both Fortune 500 companies and scrappy startups are bridging the gap between established retirement plan...