Agenda
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
12:30 – 2 p.m.
Executive Committee (Invitation Only)
2:30 – 5 p.m.
Board Meeting (Invitation Only)
Refreshments will be served during the above meetings.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
9 – 11 a.m.
Operations & Technology Steering Committee (Invitation Only)
9:30 a.m. – Noon
Advocacy Steering Committee (Invitation Only)
9:30 a.m. – Noon
Joint Retirement Research & Asset Manager Committee Meeting (Invitation Only)
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Operations & Technology Annuity Data Enablement Task Force (Invitation Only)
Lunch will be served during the above listed committee meetings.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
7:30 – 9 a.m.
Compliance and Implementation Committee Meeting (Invitation Only)
Breakfast will be served.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
2 – 2:15 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks
2:15 – 3 p.m.
CEO Fireside Chat
The past three years have demonstrated the rapid pace of change occurring worldwide and within the insured retirement industry. CEOs and their leadership teams are navigating a constantly changing environment to meet current client, employee, and stakeholder demands while developing strategies to deliver future success. This session convenes some of our industry’s most notable leaders. They will offer insights into how our industry is positioned to deliver on clients’ evolving needs and what opportunities and headwinds they see in the years ahead.
Ellen Cooper
President & CEO
Lincoln Financial Group
Bio
Esfand Dinshaw
Chairman & CEO
Sammons Financial Group
Bio
3 – 3:30 p.m.
IRI Awards Presentations
IRI’s awards program acknowledges leaders who make valuable contributions to the insured retirement industry and champion retirement security for all Americans. During this presentation, IRI will be honoring the recipients of the following awards: Industry Champion of Retirement Security Award, Leadership Award, and Chairman Award.
3:30 – 4 p.m.
Networking Break
Enjoy all your favorite Girl Scout Cookies while networking with attendees and exhibitors at our afternoon break sponsored by Fidelity Investments.
4 – 5 p.m.
The Next 730 Days: What to Expect in Technology, the Economy, and the Future of Work
History has shown that we can only accurately predict two years ahead, or 730 days. So, while many are sharing their 5, 10, 15, 20-year forecasts, often with conflicting ideas and notions, this keynote is your antidote. A clear, narrow-focused exploration of the forces shaping our near future and how leaders and organizations can better prepare for it.
Award-winning business and technology visionary Leonard Brody provides a data and research-driven look at this next critical period in technology, the economy, and the future of work, while also sharing proven best practices. This includes an in-depth exploration and analysis of:
- The secret to an economic and technological pattern that has repeated itself over the last 300 years. Learn how to recognize and manage against it.
- The future of work and retaining talent, including the myth of the Great Resignation and the future of the office.
- The next chapter of AI and blockchain and its immediate applicability.
- The next two years of the economy and the drivers behind it.
Leonard Brody
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Award Winning Techno-Economist, Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, and Innovation Expert
Susan Fiengo
MODERATOR
Managing Director, Digital Customer Experience
Global Atlantic Financial Group
5 p.m.
Closing Remarks
5:30 – 7 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Enjoy the warm Florida weather and join us in the outdoor Palm Court for an opportunity to network with colleagues, mingle with friends, and enjoy fresh seasonal bites and beverages. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or twenty-year veteran, don’t miss this memorable evening sponsored by Corebridge.
Thursday, March 16, 2023
7:30 – 9 a.m.
SPONSORED THOUGHT LEADERSHIP PRESENTATION & LEGAL FORUMS
Making the Annuity Industry Better Together
Guaranteed income and protection solutions play a critical role in the lives of millions. Yet for years, we’ve made it unnecessarily difficult to access, transact, and manage these products. But it doesn’t have to be that way, and the solution is right in front of us. Join FIDx CMO Michael Kazanjian as he digs into how an entire industry can change the way it does business for the better.
Michael Kazanjian
Chief Marketing Officer
FIDx
Breakfast with a Focus! How to Improve Your Sales Experience with Ceding Carrier eSignature and Contact Data Automation … and More
This wake-up discussion reviews industry “Best Practices” surrounding standardized replacement eSignature rules currently used in order entry platforms. This session examines the positive impact of automated eSignature workflow triggers and the negative impact variations to the standardized eSignature rules have on replacement turn-around times. Also, use cases will show how additional 1035YellowPages data and automation triggers can be used in future order entry, to further enhance the Financial Professional & Agent’s experience and cut policy issue turnaround time.
Annuity Product Development and Sales Opportunities after SECURE 2.0
SECURE 2.0 contains several important new provisions that open the door to innovative annuity product concepts within 401(k) plans and IRAs. Join our panel of experts from Groom Law Group for a briefing and interactive breakfast discussion of these important developments.
Mark Carolan
Of Counsel
Groom Law Group
Scott Mayland
Of Counsel
Groom Law Group
Thomas Roberts
Principal
Groom Law Group
7:30 – 9 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
Whatever you need to get your day started, we have it ready for you! Enjoy a hot buffet breakfast, including hearty and healthy options, and complimentary espresso drinks at the Barista Station. Thank you to UBS for sponsoring!
7:30 – 9 a.m.
Social Mural
Stop by the Social Mural to answer the question – What makes a great leader? Watch your responses come to life when captured by a graphic artist. Your responses will play an important role during the Women in Leadership session on Thursday afternoon so don’t miss your chance to participate.
7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Water Infusion Station
Grab a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated all day. Create your own flavored water combination using the fruit infusion bar sponsored by Allianz.
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Headshot Café
Need an updated headshot? Stop by the Headshot Café for your complimentary and professional headshot; no appointment needed. Headshots will be emailed directly to you. Access the Palmetto Foyer using the staircase behind IRI registration.
9 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9 – 10 a.m.
Embracing Change
Inky Johnson, motivation expert, author, and mentor, overcame a career-ending college football injury to become a sought-after speaker. He will discuss being a leader in circumstances we cannot control while staying motivated and having empathy and perspective.
Tim Seifert
MODERATOR
Senior Vice President, Head of Retirement Solutions Distribution
Lincoln Financial Group
10 – 10:45 a.m.
Trends in Annuity Distribution
Once dominating the industry, individual sales of variable annuities with rich living benefits have fallen to a fraction of the market share they once enjoyed. Yet there has arguably never been greater need among consumers for guaranteed income and protection from market downturns. Panelists will discuss current trends in distribution and how the consumer will be served in the future, including thoughts on revitalizing traditional sales paths, cracking the code to the RIA market, and reaching consumers through in-plan annuities.
Greg Masucci
Senior Vice President, Strategic Relationships
Jackson National Life Insurance Company
Suzanne Norman
MODERATOR
CIMA, CPCC, Education Fellow
The Alliance for Lifetime Income and Retirement Income Institute
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Networking Break
Complimentary espresso drinks available at the Barista Station will keep you charged through a busy day of learning and networking. Thank you to UBS for sponsoring!
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Social Mural
Stop by the Social Mural to answer the question – What makes a great leader? Watch your responses come to life when captured by a graphic artist. Your responses will play an important role during the Women in Leadership session on Thursday afternoon so don’t miss your chance to participate.
11:15 a.m. – Noon
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Combined Tracks: Legal & Regulatory and Innovation
From Inception to Implementation: Strategic Planning for the Evolving Regulatory Landscape
This combined session will explore why and how our industry should be actively working to break down barriers and encourage collaboration between the Operations & Technology and Advocacy & Compliance communities. Discussions will include the rulemaking process, from inception to enactment of legislation and regulations all the way through implementation of compliance, operations, and technology solutions. The panel will explore strategic planning and best practices to help these communities work together more effectively before changes become final and effective, as well as techniques and procedures to better prepare for changes that could affect the business, processes, and technology.
Annuity Market Track
Emerging Product Trends
The annuity industry has always been adept at developing products aligned with market conditions and opportunities. Tax deferral post-DEFRA 1988, enhanced death benefits as a differentiator in the 1990s, income benefits to address demographic trends in the 2000s, and fixed indexed annuities and RILAs in a protracted high volatility, low interest rate environment — products and benefits for all seasons. In the current environment of uncertainty and volatility in both stock and bond markets, and significant inflation for the first time in over 40 years, how will the industry continue to innovate, and what can we anticipate in 2023 and beyond?
Andrew Jorg
MODERATOR
Head of Key Accounts & National Sales Manager, Retail Insurance
Goldman Sachs
Noon – 12:15 p.m.
Transition Break
12:15 – 1 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Innovation Track
The Current State of the Consumer and Agent Experience
Panelists will address the different consumer and agent experiences, workflows, and technology in the broker-dealer (BD), registered investment advisor (RIA), and independent channels for annuity sales and back office processes. They will highlight where we have seen successes and where there are technology gaps that impact the experience. The session participants will bring all of the voices of the industry together to paint full-picture view of the market and the ecosystem of technology solutions across channels.
Jeremy Stephenson
MODERATOR
Assistant Vice President, Head
of Business Development
Operations
Sammons Institutional Group
Annuity Market Track
Investment Only Variable Annuities are Managed Accounts — So What’s the Problem?
Investment Only Variable Annuities (IOVAs) offer a multitude of investment options and the ability to build a complete portfolio within the annuity, much like a managed account but with the added benefit of tax deferral. So why aren’t IOVAs as popular and growing as rapidly as managed accounts? This panel will discuss the opportunities and challenges in positioning IOVAs with advisors and clients.
Harlan Wenig
MODERATOR
Director of Insurance and Annuities, Investment Professional
Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC
Legal & Regulatory Track
Too Much, Too Fast? Navigating the SEC’s Colossal Regulatory Agenda
Over the past two years, SEC Chair Gary Gensler has pursued an aggressive and far-reaching rulemaking agenda, moving at a pace and volume rarely seen throughout the agency’s history. The SEC’s agenda seemingly knows no bounds under Chair Gensler’s leadership, ranging from enhancements to the rules for financial professionals (such as the proposed Regulation Best Execution) to expansion of the SEC’s jurisdiction (such as the proposed rules on ESG investing and disclosure of climate-based risks) to vast overhauls of key elements of the securities regulatory framework (such as the swing pricing and hard close proposal). And with the enactment of the Registered Index-Linked Annuities (RILA) Act at the end of 2022, the Commission will have at least one more item to add to the agenda this year as it begins to work on a new registration form for RILAs. This session will feature a panel of securities law experts who will share their thoughts and insights on Chair Gensler’s expansive and growing regulatory agenda and the challenges, risks, and opportunities it presents for IRI’s insurer, distributor, and asset manager members in 2023 and beyond.
Kristen Malinconico
Director, Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1 – 2:30 p.m.
Women in Leadership Symposium
Join us for our second annual Women in Leadership Symposium. Panelists will be discussing a range of topics including working across generations, diversification of leadership and board access, male allyship, and mental health in the workplace. This interactive session will include a graphic artist capturing a visual representation of the conversation in real time. Grab your lunch starting at 1 p.m., the session will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. All attendees are invited to this session.
Prior to the session, visit our artist at the Social Mural located in the general session ballroom foyer and answer the question, “What makes a great leader?” Your responses will be incorporated in the symposium discussion.
Lauren Scott
Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Government Affairs
Global Atlantic Financial Group
Nora Herting
MODERATOR
CEO & Co-Founder
ImageThink
2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Transition Break
2:45 – 3:30 p.m.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Innovation Track
Advancing the Customer and Agent Experiences with Technology, Data, and Innovation
This session is a continuation of the conversations from the current state of the consumer and agent experience session with a focus on advancing the annuity experiences in the BD, RIA, and independent channels. Panelists will bring a full-picture view to explore how we advance the industry to the next level to facilitate sales, make it easier to enter new channels, create better user experiences, and encourage innovation.
The session participants will bring a full-picture view of the market together with voices from BDs, IMOs, and carriers.
Dan Herrick
Vice President, Strategic Relationship Management Retirement and Life Distribution
Prudential Financial
Joe Toledano
Managing Director, Head of Insured Solutions Group
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management & IRI Board of Directors
Dev Ganguly
MODERATOR
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Jackson National Life Insurance Company & IRI Board of Directors
Annuity Market Track
Who Owns the Industry? The Rise of Private Equity and Non-Traditional Partnerships
For most of their existence annuity insurers have either been mutuals or stock companies and existed with or without their own asset management arms. Now, private equity has a significant presence, asset management firms own insurers, and relatively new ideas like “sidecars” expand capacity. This panel will discuss the benefits and challenges presented by these dynamics, the impact on current and future product development and the consumer, and what we can expect in the future as opportunities for capital investment continue to develop.
Legal & Regulatory Track
State Regulatory Priorities for 2023
This session will feature Commissioner Carter Lawrence of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance discussing a wide range of key issues facing the annuity industry today. The dialogue will focus on the NAIC’s current priorities and developments on these issues, including a discussion on the work of the Life and Annuities (A) Committee and the Innovation, Cybersecurity and Technology (H) Committee.
3:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Transition Break
3:45 – 5 p.m.
Say Thanks to Our Deployed Troops
A chance to give back brought to you by Athene.
Join us for a fun and charitable activity supporting our service members abroad. Working together we will assemble military care packages to be distributed to deployed U.S. troops, while networking with colleagues, and enjoying refreshments and Top Gun: Maverick on the big screen. You can even include personal notes of gratitude in the care packages. This activity is a great way to end the afternoon and we hope you feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when you see our completed collaborative donation!
Christopher Grady
SPONSOR HOST
Executive Vice President and Head of Retail
Athene USA & IRI Board of Directors
5 – 6:30 p.m.
SPONSORED THOUGHT LEADERSHIP PRESENTATION & LEGAL FORUMS
Combining SIMON from iCapital and FIDx — When 1 + 1 = 11
The days of Annuity Technology Musical Chairs — going from one platform to do x, another platform to do y and yet another to do z — are about to come to an end. SIMON from iCapital and FIDx are partnering to integrate both of their industry leading platforms. If you are from a B/D, come find out how your advisors will benefit from this marriage. If you are from an insurance company, come find out how you will finally benefit from the cost savings IT companies have promised for years.
Innovation in the Annuity Industry — March Madness Watch and Learn
A winning strategy includes having the right play for every situation. Join Invesco to cheer on your favorite NCAA team and participate in a lively discussion on the latest product and distribution innovations to keep your organization winning across market cycles. Learn about design and distribution strategies in RILA and FIA, hear how buffered funds and structurally defensive strategies may lead to better client outcomes within VA, and explore new ideas including CDAs.
Pete Miller
CFA, FSA, Insurance Research Strategist
Invesco
Chris Mechem
CFA, Senior Strategic Account Manager
Invesco
Ryan Kagy
Senior Strategic Account Manager
Invesco
Increasing Distribution Effectiveness in a Digital Age
RegEd subject matter experts will discuss the current and future state of distribution management. Topics will include managing multi-channel distribution, maintaining producer loyalty, data management and digitization, agent/agency onboarding and credentialing, field services and more. The discussion will cover current industry challenges and opportunities, as well as how the application of advanced technology can automate and streamline the producer experience.
Michael Pouliot
Executive Vice President, Head of Xchange Sales
RegEd
Jacob Spitzley
Director, Product Management
RegEd
Friday, March 17, 2023
8:30 – 9 a.m.
Breakfast and Sammons Smoothie Stand
Start your day with a stop at the smoothie stand sponsored by Sammons. Enjoy one of two delicious options — a St. Paddy’s Day themed Green Smoothie and a refreshing Florida Citrus Smoothie.
9 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9 – 9:45 a.m.
Retirement SECURE-ity for All: Making the Most of SECURE 2.0
The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, which was signed into law in the closing days of 2022, includes 14 of IRI’s 2022 Federal Retirement Security Blueprint priorities and 78 other retirement-related provisions. Building upon the reforms made by the original SECURE Act in 2019, this new law has the potential to help millions of workers and retirees prepare for a secure retirement. Join us to hear a panel of industry experts discuss and explore the opportunities and challenges presented by SECURE 1.0 and SECURE 2.0, the industry’s ongoing efforts to comply with and operationalize the new rules, and how the industry can ensure that American retirement savers enjoy the intended benefits of these transformational legislative achievements.
Aliya Robinson
MODERATOR
Senior Legal Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Inside Politics
Trevor Noah described POLITICO’s Playbook as “the be all and end all of politics and what’s happening in DC.” Stephen Colbert says Playbook is “if not the bible, it’s the daily missalette of Washington.” As the former co-author of Playbook — leading the platform to double in revenue and triple its readership — and current co-founder and CEO of Punchbowl News, Anna Palmer will walk you through what is happening on Capitol Hill that minute and what is likely to happen between Congress. With incomparable access to the highest offices in DC, Palmer is an expert on the issues, players, and personalities driving politics today and how they will impact issues most important to IRI.
Anna Palmer
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Founder & CEO of Punchbowl News, Best-Selling Author, and Former Co-Author of POLITICO Playbook
Rich White
MODERATOR
Senior Vice President, Government Relations
Jackson National Life Insurance Company®
10:45 – 11:30 a.m.
New Congress, the Future for Retirement Security
The results of the 2022 Mid-Term Congressional elections have created a new political dynamic in our nation’s Capital which can impact legislative and regulatory policy. At this session, you will hear from a panel of inside-the-beltway political and industry experts about the challenges and opportunities the industry will have as it seeks to advance retirement security policy amongst other competing policy and political priorities that face Congress, the President, and the Administration. The panel will also discuss policy proposals in IRI’s 2023 Blueprint that seek to expand retirement savings, facilitate lifetime income solutions, preserve access to professional financial guidance, enhance consumer protections, and augment the tax code to promote retirement savings.
Camille Simpson
MODERATOR
Head of Government Relations & Industry Affairs
American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company®
Closing Remarks
Thank You To Our Sponsors
