Don is a Senior Vice President at Raymond James and serves as Head of Institutional Fiduciary Solutions (IFS) at the firm. His leadership drives strategy, product solutions, sales and service for the Firm’s advisors in
the retirement plan, endowment & foundation and institutional business lines. Don’s experience and industry insights make him an invaluable member of the Secure Retirement Institute Board of Directors, the NAPA Leadership Council and the SPARK Advisory Board. Don earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Vermont and his M.B.A. from The College of William & Mary. In 2021, Don was an integral part of the team responsible for the launch of SHRM 401(k) Solutions by Raymond James (shrm.org/401k). Both SHRM and Raymond share a mission that all employers, no matter the size, should have the ability to offer their employees access to a quality retirement plan.
My 30+ year professional career has been dedicated to helping employees get to and through retirement. The long-time formula hasn’t changed very much: save with discipline, invest, repeat. Then, spend time on the beach. However, at a time when we’re competing to retain and recruit key talent, I’m wondering if the traditional view of retirement plans has changed. Is it outdated?
In the year 2022, the word “mandate” elicits strong emotions on both sides of the aisle. So why do retirement plan mandates appear to have bi-partisan support?!
Perhaps, because at its core, this initiative is less about mandating what business should or should not do, and more about offering all Americans an equal opportunity to secure a dignified retirement.
