Exploring Auto Portability and the Future of Small Balance Accounts
In the latest Connect Conversation, NAGDCA Executive Director Matt Petersen [...]
A Closer Look at the Gender Gap in Public Sector Retirement Saving
In this Connect Conversation episode, Matt Petersen is joined by [...]
Mind the Confidence Gap: What the Latest Research Reveals About Retirement Readiness
In this Connect Conversation, Matt Petersen talks with Jeri Savage [...]
Driving Participation Without Auto-Enrollment: BART’s Success Story
In this NAGDCA Connect Conversation, Matt Petersen speaks with leaders from Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) about how intentional plan design and effective communication can drive strong retirement outcomes. Winta Berhane, Manager of Benefits at BART, and Marcus Wu, Partner at Pillsbury and outside counsel to BART’s defined contribution plans, discuss how BART strategically uses its 457(b) and 401(a) plans to support employee savings-resulting in a 92% participation rate without auto-enrollment. The conversation explores lesser-known plan features, key compliance considerations, and practical approaches to educating a diverse workforce through strong partnerships and consistent outreach. Click below to view the discussion.
Retirement by the Numbers: The State of Public DC Participants
This closing mainstage session features new research that sheds light on how public sector employees are saving and investing for retirement. Experts from J.P. Morgan, MissionSquare Retirement, and PGIM DC Solutions will present findings from two major studies examining participant behavior, with a focus on savings habits, loan trends, and default investment patterns. The session will offer valuable data-driven insights to help plan sponsors improve plan design and participant outcomes
Economic Outlook & Washington Update
This year’s Washington Update returns with an expanded format to give you a broader view of the forces shaping public sector retirement. The 90-minute session opens with a 30-minute Economic Outlook, featuring expert insights on the current state of the economy, market trends, and the broader financial landscape impacting plan sponsors and participants. Following the outlook, a panel of national policy experts will deliver a 45-minute Washington Update highlighting critical legislative and regulatory developments, including CIT access for 403(b) plans, DOL and SEC guidance on private assets, fiduciary rulemaking, litigation reform, SECURE 3.0, and more.
The Century Club: Redefining Longer Retirement
The traditional three-legged stool for retirement—pensions, Social Security, and personal savings—has become increasingly unsteady. Today, just 11% of Americans have access to a pension, and public confidence in Social Security is declining. This has placed more weight than ever on personal savings, often driven by defined contribution plans. As more Americans live well into their 90s and beyond, including a projected fourfold increase in centenarians over the next 30 years, our concept of retirement must evolve. This session will explore new consumer research from the Nationwide Retirement Institute and The American College of Financial Services, as well as perspective from the National Council on Aging, regarding how public sector plans can adapt to support longer lifespans, changing needs, and financial longevity.
AI and the Future of Public Sector Retirement: Trends, Strategy, and Impact
Artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally shift how public sector retirement plans operate and serve participants. This general session provides a high-level exploration of the transformative potential of AI—what it is, why it matters now, and how it’s beginning to shape the retirement landscape. Speakers from Empower, RVK, and MERS of Michigan will discuss emerging trends, strategic considerations for responsible adoption, and the evolving role of AI in improving outcomes. Real world examples will illustrate how organizations are beginning to integrate AI tools while laying the groundwork for broader implementation.
2025 Annual Keynote Speaker – Mellody Hobson
In a dynamic one-on-one conversation with NAGDCA Executive Director Matt Petersen, Mellody will share insights from her extraordinary career - spanning her leadership at Ariel and her board service with Starbucks and JPMorgan Chase. Recognized as one of Fortune’s “100 Most Powerful People in Business” in 2024, Mellody is known not only for her work in business strategy and management, but also for her advocacy for financial literacy, education, and equity.
Final Catch-Up Contribution Regulations for Government Plans (Secure 2.0)
On September 22, 2025, NAGDCA hosted a special webinar to review the IRS’s final regulations on catch-up contributions under SECURE 2.0. Executive Director Matt Petersen and David Levine (Groom Law Group) discussed key provisions for governmental plans, including: The $145,000 FICA wage threshold and Roth requirement Clarifications on 457(b) special catch-up rules Implementation timelines and transition relief for public plans Correction methods and coordination with payroll providers and recordkeepers Practical next steps for plan sponsors