|
The "Good Old Days"Life was much less complicated just a few years ago. Remember the "good old days?" Do you recall, for example, "Retiree Health Benefits?" (Liability? Say what?) Remember when 457 plans had only a handful of proprietary investment options to choose from? Remember too the days of care free 403(b) plans? Worries? Plan sponsors had none. (Surely of the 10,500+ vendors offered by the plan, at least one should have a good selection of funds to choose from). Ah yes, and remember when Consultants and Financial Advisors delivered positive investment return information? (Where to put the surplus? - A problem indeed!) Times have changed. And they continue to change every day, it seems. The market is up 1,000 points one day, down 700 the next. But think of this - couldn’t it be possible that we might all be better off as a result of these changing times? As a result of the wisdom we gain from these challenging days, couldn’t we end up being stronger? Couldn’t the result be that we end up better equipped to deal with tomorrow’s retirement challenges? How can we not emerge from this change and turmoil as better and more seasoned people in our jobs as Administrators, Vendors and/or Consultants and Advisors? How can plan participants go through this difficult period without becoming infinitely more knowledgeable and informed about their own retirement? Perhaps, just perhaps - as a result of what we are going through today, retirement security might just be closer to be being realized ultimately. The NAGDCA organization and its members will lead and grow in ways we can’t even imagine right now. It will be a tough year, no doubt. But we all learn through experience, and as an organization we are, as always, continuing to lead the drive for the very best retirement ideas and policies for the future. I truly believe, as a result of the "gains" from this year’s experience, that someday we will in fact look back, and will refer to this turbulent year as part of the "good old days." I thank you for the opportunity to serve as this year’s Industry Committee President. It’s going to be a great year - really! Janet Kendall, CEBS, ChFC NAGDCA would like to recognize and congratulate the 2008-2009 Industry Committee:
|
