The Gap

Nathan Helms: Building a People First Retirement Plan That Works

What if the secret to building a truly successful retirement plan wasn’t about plan features at all—but about culture, intention, and the belief that employees deserve more than the bare minimum? In this episode of The Gap, host Shannon Edwards sits down with Nathan Helms, Controller at Balon Corporation, to explore what happens when a company decides that taking care of people is non-negotiable. With over sixty years of employee-first leadership behind them, Balon has created a retirement plan that has grown from 165 participants to more than 1,100—and Nathan shares firsthand how that transformation was built from the inside out. Whether you're an employer, advisor, or benefits manager, this conversation gives you an inspiring, practical look at what it means to create real retirement readiness for real people. You’ll hear how intentional design, thoughtful communication, and a deep respect for a diverse workforce can change not only participation rates, but lives. This episode will challenge you, motivate you, and remind you exactly why your role in closing the retirement savings gap matters more than ever. Tune in—because this is what it looks like when an employer gets it right.  In this episode, Shannon and Nathan Helms discuss:  * Strategic plan design decisions that drive long-term employee retirement readiness * Approaches employers use to boost participation and keep employees engaged * Communication challenges in supporting diverse and multilingual workforces * Policy and compliance barriers that impact employers’ ability to strengthen retirement benefits Key Takeaways: * Implementing automatic enrollment alongside consistent, in-person education sessions significantly increases participation and helps employees understand how to build long-term financial security. * Designing a plan that combines open-architecture investments, a supportive match structure, and thoughtful guardrails reduces leakage, encourages higher contribution rates, and protects employees from self-sabotage. * Providing multilingual materials and trusted, in-house translators ensures employees from diverse backgrounds fully understand the plan, leading to stronger engagement and remarkable individual success stories. * Simplifying compliance correction processes and increasing safe harbor match flexibility would empower more employers to offer meaningful retirement benefits without being overwhelmed by regulatory complexity.  "Do right by the employee, and they’ll do right by you. You’ll see a lot of success." — Nathan Helms Connect with Nathan Helms:  Website: https://www.balon.com/ [https://www.balon.com/] Connect with Shannon:  Website: https://www.tristarpension.com/ [https://www.tristarpension.com/] Email: shannon@tristarpension.com [shannon@tristarpension.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/]

Marjorie Mann: Simplifying Compliance and Empowering Participation in Retirement Plans

What if helping your employees achieve true retirement security came down to communication, clarity, and the courage to simplify? In this episode of The Gap, Shannon Edwards sits down with Marjorie Mann, Senior Counsel at NextEra Energy and current President of the American Retirement Association, for a candid conversation about what’s really working—and what still needs fixing—in America’s private retirement system. With decades of hands-on experience guiding one of the nation’s largest employers through complex plan design, compliance, and fiduciary oversight, Marjorie brings a unique, sponsor-side perspective that every advisor, benefits manager, and business owner can learn from. If you’ve ever wondered how leading employers are navigating SECURE 2.0, boosting participation, and keeping employees engaged in their financial future, this episode will give you a front-row view. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how policy meets practice—and what steps you can take to help your organization close the retirement savings gap once and for all. Because when employers lead with clarity and purpose, everyone wins. In this episode, Shannon and Marjorie Mann discuss:  * Evolving responsibilities of employers in strengthening retirement readiness * Communication challenges in engaging diverse employee populations * Legislative and regulatory changes shaping plan design and administration * Collaboration across the retirement industry to drive education and innovation Key Takeaways: * Implementing automatic enrollment and simplified investment options, such as target-date funds, can significantly increase participation and improve long-term retirement outcomes for employees. * Clear, consistent, and targeted communication across different employee demographics helps build trust, increase plan engagement, and prevent confusion about benefits. * Reducing legislative and regulatory complexity is essential to encourage more small and midsize employers to adopt and maintain retirement plans. * Collaboration between plan sponsors, advisors, and industry associations fosters shared learning, stronger advocacy, and better tools to close both the coverage and savings gaps.  "Communication is what’s really important; if you become a trusted voice with employees, that goes a long way toward helping them recognize the opportunities that they have." — Marjorie Mann Connect with Marjorie Mann:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-mann-26803b1/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-mann-26803b1/] Connect with Shannon:  * Website: https://www.tristarpension.com/ [https://www.tristarpension.com/] * Email: shannon@tristarpension.com [shannon@tristarpension.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/] This podcast contains comments and opinions that are Marjorie Mann’s own viewpoint and do not represent the positions or policies of NextEra Energy.

Beyond the Numbers: How Actuaries Strengthen Retirement Security Through Education, Communication, and Leadership

When most people think of actuaries, they picture spreadsheets and formulas—but behind the math are people who help businesses protect promises made to their employees. In this episode of The Gap, Shannon Edwards sits down with two leaders shaping the future of retirement plan design and administration: Lynn Young, Partner at Pinnacle Plan Design, and Erin Russell, Co-President of Actuaries Unlimited, Inc. Both are seasoned actuaries who specialize in single-employer defined benefit and cash balance plans—and both are passionate about making these plans work better for employers, advisors, and participants alike. Lynn and Erin pull back the curtain on what really drives success in complex retirement plan design: clear communication, proactive education, and collaboration between actuaries, advisors, and plan sponsors. They share how their firms have built strong internal cultures that value mentorship, work-life balance, and “homegrown” expertise—because the more educated and supported your team is, the better they can support clients. Whether you’re an advisor helping your clients evaluate the right retirement strategy or a plan sponsor seeking to strengthen your company’s retirement offering, this episode offers real-world insights you can use immediately to build stronger, more sustainable plans. In this episode, Shannon, Lynn, and Erin explore: * Why strong advisor–actuary communication can make or break plan success * How early, proactive education prevents costly surprises years down the road * What “homegrown actuaries” can teach every firm about developing confident experts * Why balance, flexibility, and mentorship are essential to long-term success in our industry Key Takeaways for Plan Sponsors & Advisors: ✅ Clarity matters. The best-designed plan can still fail if clients and advisors don’t fully understand how contributions and funding rules work from day one. ✅ Partnership is powerful. Actuaries, TPAs, and advisors each bring unique perspectives—when they collaborate, everyone wins, especially participants. ✅ Invest in education. Firms that train and mentor their teams well deliver smoother, more compliant plan administration and better client outcomes. ✅ Culture counts. Supporting work-life balance and purpose-driven leadership helps retain the next generation of professionals who will continue closing America’s retirement gaps. This conversation goes beyond actuarial tables—it’s about building trust, communication, and leadership that improve retirement readiness for every worker your firm touches. "When you’re dealing with six people and one person leaves, that kind of changes things drastically." — Lynn Young "Communication is king when it comes to clients and getting in front of problems and being transparent about things." — Erin Russell Connect with Lynn Young:  Website: https://pinnacle-plan.com/ [https://pinnacle-plan.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnmyoung-ea-fsea/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnmyoung-ea-fsea/] Email: lyoung@pinnacle-plan.com [lyoung@pinnacle-plan.com] Connect with Erin Russell:  Website: https://actuariesunlimited.com/ [https://actuariesunlimited.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinrussellea/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinrussellea/] Email: erussell@actuariesunlimited.com [erussell@actuariesunlimited.com] Connect with Shannon:  * Website: https://www.tristarpension.com/ [https://www.tristarpension.com/] * Email: shannon@tristarpension.com [shannon@tristarpension.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/]

Apryl Pope, CFP: Closing Retirement Gaps Through Education and Empowerment

What if your money weren’t a source of stress, but instead a tool that gave you clarity and confidence about the future? This episode invites you to rethink how you approach financial planning—not as a rigid checklist of savings and investments, but as a way to design the life you want. You’ll hear how simple shifts in perspective can help you uncover overlooked resources, make smarter decisions, and finally take the weight of financial chaos off your shoulders. If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling too much and falling behind on preparing for the future, this conversation will give you practical ways to get back in control. Our guest, Apryl Pope, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who serves as a personal CFO for high-achieving women. With over a decade of experience, she helps clients organize, automate, and simplify their financial lives so they can stop spinning their wheels and start building toward their goals. Her path into financial services was shaped by her own experience of financial disorganization, which gave her a deep empathy for the struggles many people face. Beyond her client work, Apryl has taught financial literacy in schools, served in the Peace Corps in South Africa, and held leadership roles in nonprofits and professional organizations. Her passion is not only about helping individuals secure their futures but also about creating a ripple effect of financial wellness that strengthens families, workplaces, and communities. In this episode, Shannon and Apryl Pope discuss:  * The importance of financial planning and literacy for individuals and families * Challenges and gaps in retirement savings and access to financial resources * The role of service, education, and mentorship in empowering communities * Strategies for creating financial security and designing a meaningful life  Key Takeaways: * Getting organized financially—by securing insurance, estate documents, and a debt payoff plan—before a crisis hits can mean the difference between peace of mind and devastation when life throws unexpected challenges. * Regularly reviewing overlooked assets like stock options or employee benefits can unlock life-changing opportunities, such as eliminating debt and freeing up income to build long-term financial security. * Broadening your perspective on money through service, cultural exposure, or volunteering can reshape how you view wealth, teaching you to reduce stress by focusing on meaningful living instead of chasing arbitrary financial milestones. * Rather than fixating on hitting a retirement number or age, you can design your next chapter around the lifestyle you want—then align your finances to make that vision possible, whether it means starting a business, traveling, or simply reducing expenses.  "What I don’t want to do is send you home with homework. I don’t do that. You’re not gonna get it done." — Apryl Pope Connect with Apryl Pope:  Website: https://www.myretirementplanpartners.com [https://www.myretirementplanpartners.com] & https://www.popefinancialplanning.com/ [https://www.popefinancialplanning.com/] Email: Apryl.Pope@LPL.com [Apryl.Pope@LPL.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprylmpope/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprylmpope/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popefinancialplanning/ [https://www.instagram.com/popefinancialplanning/] Connect with Shannon:  Website: https://www.tristarpension.com/ [https://www.tristarpension.com/] Email: shannon@tristarpension.com [shannon@tristarpension.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/]

Petros Koumantaros: Empowering Financial Futures Through Policy Education and Workplace Innovation

You don’t need to be a finance expert to realize the stakes—your future depends on it. In this compelling episode, we speak with Petros Koumantaros, Managing Director & CEO of Spectrum Pension Consultants, Co-Founder of the fintech company GROUPIRA, Financial Consultant at intellicents, volunteer financial literacy instructor at St. Joseph School, and a governing board member of Washington Saves. He also co-founded the Pano Koumantaros Cancer Research Fund, raising over $1.7 million in honor of his late father to support cancer research, care, and treatment. With over $9.2 billion in retirement assets under advisement and a hands-on approach to teaching the next generation, Petros is uniquely positioned at the intersection of billion-dollar policy advocacy and grassroots financial education. Whether you're trying to improve retirement outcomes at work, teach your kids about money, or simply want more control over your financial future, this conversation will challenge the way you think. You’ll leave feeling inspired, empowered, and more informed about the systems that shape your savings, your security, and your legacy. In this episode, Shannon and Petros Koumantaros discuss: * The role of personal financial literacy in shaping long-term financial security * Systemic challenges and solutions for improving retirement plan access * The intersection of public policy, business, and advocacy in retirement savings * Building a values-based legacy through education and professional service Key Takeaways: * Automated payroll deduction through workplace-based retirement plans significantly improves savings behavior, making it far more effective than voluntary, individual retirement account setup, especially for workers in underserved or small business environments. * Financial literacy education, when made relatable and free from jargon, empowers even middle school students to grasp essential concepts like compound interest, budgeting, debt, and investing, demonstrating that early intervention can shape lifelong financial behaviors. * The disparity in retirement plan access—88% among large employers versus just 58% among small employers—highlights a systemic gap that public programs like Washington Saves are attempting to close through mandatory state-sponsored auto-IRA programs. * The student debt crisis, with average debt hovering around $40,000, compounds financial inequality by delaying asset accumulation and reducing opportunities for early investing, especially when basic financial education is missing from the school system. "Retirement investing, specifically, is really not well-suited for speculation. We're not here to encourage people to be day traders. We're encouraging people to accumulate and save in a disciplined way." — Petros Koumantaros Connect with Petros Koumantaros:  Website: https://petros.us/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://petros.us/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753886511603104%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw130yAnJnKviI45pSLX-Ecy&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753886511611240&usg=AOvVaw2Ph99vKkna2yws45NoEwe5] LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/petrosk [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://linkedin.com/in/petrosk%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753886511603444%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1d_jqhw7iZmwp1XrvHo1YE&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753886511611483&usg=AOvVaw3U6on_xxtNqBxroWLvbCjr] Connect with Shannon: * Website: https://www.tristarpension.com/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.tristarpension.com/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753886511603882%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1PohLE_ksrGhDRgDVzsj0U&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753886511611711&usg=AOvVaw0fCdcXbJ0w3so2QGpBM5S1] * Email: shannon@tristarpension.com [shannon@tristarpension.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/ [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonedwardsplanconsultant/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1753886511604655%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1i9dWLt7JWttmUb7wm6xBG&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753886511611914&usg=AOvVaw2Ia3RJPdzs81fb0KkFxO1I]