2 years 5 days ago
I only knew John via reading his case histories, and his contributions answering tough retirement related questions. Never shook his hand, but I agree with Nevin, John WILL be sorely missed.
It is with deep sorrow that we share today the sad news of the untimely death of John Carl, Founder and President of the Retirement Learning Center.
Just 54, he passed quietly at his home in Pound Ridge, NY on Saturday from an apparent heart attack, according to Jenny Kiffmeyer, Chief Operating Officer of the firm.
I’ve known John for nearly two decades now—partnered with him on the development and delivery of the PLANSPONSOR Retirement Professional credential at a time when such things were still pretty rare. John was a force of nature—an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. He built the Retirement Learning Center and established it as a powerful resource for advisors. Indeed, through that platform he and his colleagues in Brainerd, MN have contributed the much-valued “Case of the Week” column to NAPA Net since its launch in 2013.
I last saw John just two weeks ago at the NAPA 401(k) Summit. We didn’t have long to catch up—there was going to be time for that later. Just quick pleasantries about families and business—and John, being John, asked if I’d be willing to be part of a podcast series he’d just launched. I was excited at the prospect of having that kind of time to reconnect, to continue what had always been a creative and engaging, if sporadic, collaboration.
I’ll miss John—but my heart aches for those who won’t just miss seeing him at industry conferences, but who saw and talked to him every day—his wife Viveka and sons Jack and Harrison—his colleagues at RLC—and the rest of us who won’t have the ongoing benefit of his counsel and expertise.
Safe travels, my friend. You’ll be missed.
