On March 16, 2020, as I packed up the things I needed to work from home, I, like probably most of you, approached it with a sense not unlike that that once accompanied an unexpected snow day. After all, having lived through a couple of pandemic scares that didn’t actually amount to the “billing,” I had little reason at the time to think this time would be any different.
Had I only known.
The reality is, I have long been more “productive” working from home, and so the prospect of doing so, even for an extended period of time, was no big deal. Quite the contrary. Indeed, all other considerations notwithstanding, the three hours a day I wouldn’t have to spend commuting was, all by itself, reason for considerable enthusiasm.
But as the reality of the pandemic set in, more amazing to me was just how quickly and (apparently) efficiently our entire industry “pivoted” to remote work. Oh, sure, some had already migrated to that model, and many, if not most, had embraced models that allowed that flexibility, at least for some positions, at least occasionally. But many had to scramble, to arrange for equipment deliveries, expanded VPN access, deal with external office configurations, all the while remaining attentive to security protocols and privacy concerns—and did so in remarkable fashion. Zoom became somewhat ubiquitous (and “zooming” became a thing), as did Teams video (depending on your compliance constructs)—and in no time at all the traditional conference call became passé… even for situations where that had been the pre-pandemic “norm.”
However, somewhere along the line those amazing tools became tiresome and exhausting. Turns out, there’s an art (and a science) to video conferencing, and most of us—well, let’s just say most apparently hadn’t learned that. It didn’t help that many had to juggle new home-schooling responsibilities alongside work, that the work that once followed us home now never left, our pets (and kids) demanded what seemed to be constant attention, and wireless internet connections at home that had always been sufficient were now strained to the point of breaking. And sadly—in the midst of this chaos—many of us were forced to watch our loved ones in far-off places suffer, and some pass… alone.
That said, the resiliency of the retirement community throughout has been inspiring, and remains a vital element in our economic recovery, and—for many—in restoring the impact on retirement savings and security. Indeed, our nation’s COVID experience has been about as varied as the locations and individuals involved, and the pace and details of a return to “normal” are as well. And yet while the memories linger and the pain of separation remains, hope and optimism are just over the horizon.
Yes, we’ve been through a lot over the past 15 months—not just COVID, and the adjustments that working from home imposed on many, but throughout that period we had to absorb (and explain) a host of legislative and regulatory changes—SECURE, CARES, record waves of litigation, and Labor Department proposals and regulation on ESG and fiduciary capacity—all of which now seem destined for significant repositioning by the Biden administration.
With all that’s been going on—this year, more than most, you really can’t afford to be without the kinds of insights and information that have long been a mainstay of this nation’s retirement plan advisor convention—the NAPA 401(k) Summit, likely to be the first, and perhaps the only in-person national advisor conference in 2021 (September 12-14 in Las Vegas)!
Among all the things that really set the NAPA 401(k) Summit apart—one thing stands out, this year more than most. Quite simply, it is that—and unlike every other advisor conference out there—your NAPA 401(k) Summit registration helps support the activities of NAPA—your advocacy, information and education organization—not the bottom line of some corporate media organization or some private equity firm. Yes, it’s an investment in yourself and your practice. But in addition to that—and to the insights, and information that you might be able to scrap together from some other events, your attendance at the NAPA 401(k) Summit is a unique investment in your future—and the future of your profession.
It is, quite simply, a great way—perhaps the best way—to not only put your money where your mouth is—but where your mind is—and where your practice needs to be.
And this year, more than most, won’t it be good to be together again– to acknowledge what’s been lost, but more importantly to acknowledge what’s been gained—a new appreciation for life, and for being part of a profession that has such a profound impact on people’s lives.
After all—we are #bettertogether.
Join us. It’s going to be special. https://napasummit.org.
