The retirement landscape is evolving. How are high-growth practices responding? A growing focus on retirement income. Evolving approaches to investment selection. The emergence of AI. And new opportunities for practice growth. BlackRock's new Read on Retirement: Plan Advisor Edition introduces the DC Practice Index, benchmarking what sets high-growth practices apart, while uncovering trends shaping how plan advisors grow their businesses, serve clients, and deliver better retirement outcomes. Explore the research:

Employees with 401(k)s want to maximize their retirement income, so they often invest in higher risk/higher return assets such as stocks. Employers who manage traditional defined benefit pensions want to ensure they can fulfill their obligations to former employees, so they tend to invest in lower risk/lower return assets such as bonds. To see which strategy has performed better, check the FRED Blog

Tortoise and the Hare: DB vs. DC Pensions 401(k)s are defined contribution (DC) pensions managed by the employees themselves, who tend to select riskier investments to maximize retirement income. Traditional pensions that pay a fixed income after retirement are defined benefit (DB) pensions managed by employers, who tend to choose safer investments to ensure they can meet their obligations. From 2021 to 2026, DC pension assets grew from $9.20 trillion to $12.27 trillion, while DB assets fell from $3.68 trillion to $3.07 trillion. But riskier investments are more exposed to downturns. In the Great Recession, DC pension assets fell 30%, from $3.73 trillion to $2.60 trillion, while the safer investments in DB pensions actually grew 5%, from $2.46 trillion to $2.58 trillion. Check the FRED Blog for all the data

BAD NEWS: History has ARRIVED. 1974 was a future changing year. 1974 marked two massive changes in our world’s future. Our problem is….in 2026, our future is here. The two 1974 future changing events were: 1974 the US dollar became the Petro dollar. Rather than backed by gold, the US dollar was backed by oil. Today, in 2026 the world stands on the edge of world war over oil. Inflation is going through the roof. In 1974 ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Acr) was passed. Up until 1974 most employees had guaranteed retirements income for life. After ERISSA millions of employees went on to 401k, RRSPs, IRA which guaranteed nothing. Millions of baby-boomers will soon find out they have no income once they stop working. Adding to the mess, social security and Medicare are broke. Millions of Boomers will be homeless or living in RVs as rising oil prices cause the price of food and fuel to rise. This is occuring simultaneously as the world, whole countries and people are deeply in debt. America is today one of the biggest debtor nations in world history. Again I ask, as I have been asking for years since writing Rich Dad Poor Dad in 1997, “Why do our schools not teach the subject of money to students? Don’t we all use money?” I continue to recommend saving real money….gold, silver, and Bitcoin….and keep investing in your personal financial education. There are many great teachers on YouTube….as well as flakes and conmen…. So be aware. THE FUTURE created in 1974….has arrived. Do not allow losers to determine your financial future. Only you can determine your future. Make your future a rich future. Please take care.