Virtual Realities

Perhaps as with many of you, the echoes of this year’s 2020 NAPA 401(k) “Cyber” Summit are still reverberating in my head. Like so many other aspects of our lives this year, it didn’t happen the way it was “supposed” to, not to mention when—or where—it was planned.

Now, I don’t care how marvelously produced and skillfully executed an online conference is, it can’t possibly replicate the entirety of the networking aspects that have long been an integral part of “the Summit”—and yet, as I chatted with friends (and strangers) during the various chats, bumped into folks in the virtual exhibit hall, relished the online assistance of fellow attendees with colleagues who were experiencing trouble with their individual video or audio connections—and read through dozens of complimentary emails from attendees—well, it might not have been quite the same as “normal,” but it sure felt special.

It didn’t happen by accident. It happened because we start by building the agenda based on feedback—and voting—by advisors. It happened because that agenda is further refined and polished by a steering committee[i] that gives generously and graciously of their time and expertise—and even more than normal this year—both in developing the topics, in selecting speakers, and ultimately by “owning” the execution of individual workshops. And this year, that meant keeping it all together six months longer than “normal,” rejiggering panels when speakers had to drop out, revising presentations for a rapidly changing environment, and coordinating a whole new agenda schedule. It happened because the size and quality of the event (and its audience) draw the support and engagement of the very best advisors, industry experts and thought leaders—most of whom stayed with us throughout all the uncertainty, and who ultimately and generously shared their experience and expertise with the rest of us. 

And of course it happened—this year more than ever—because of the tireless, dedicated, and incredibly hard-working conference staff that keep everything—and I do mean everything—going no matter what. Trust me, this event would never have happened—certainly not as well as it did—without the commitment, energy, and creativity of Erika Goodwin, Caroline Mihm, Victoria Backer, and most especially Matt Scanlon. 

While the “Cyber” Summit has only just concluded, we’re already working on 2021. We’ve got a lot to work with—an array of new legislation and guidance to go with it, an array of regulations and proposed rules that are still undergoing refinement and commentary, and an election whose outcome(s) are still unknown—and whose outcome could have a dramatic effect on all of the foregoing. We’ve had to absorb all this amidst a global pandemic, with extraordinary, unprecedented economic and financial volatility—during which the retirement plans and participants we support have been a critical bulwark against ruin for many, and an important security cushion for many more.

More importantly, ours is a vibrant and ever-changing field, with a critical mission that is nothing less than the financial future of working Americans, and we’re (still) looking at millions of working Americans who don’t even have access to a plan at work.

As we head into the fourth quarter of this year—and make preparations for 2021, I’d like to thank all of you—for your support of the NAPA 401(k) Summit, for sticking with the “cyber” version, for your interest in, and on-going participation at NAPA events like the NQDC Conference, the NAPA DC Fly-in Forum, the Women in Retirement Conference, and—the 2021 NAPA 401(k) Summit! 

See you there!