D.C. Pension Geeks

Hosted by Brian Graff

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Latest episode

Mar 2025

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About the show

Welcome to DC Pension Geeks, a conversation with top retirement-related policymakers and regulators in and around Washington. Hosted by Brian Graff, an attorney, accountant, former Capitol Hill staffer, and now CEO of the American Retirement Association, it’s an inside view of the ups and downs, ins and outs and sometimes surprising turns Washington takes on the road to ensuring a secure retirement for millions of hard-working Americans.

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25 recent

March 23, 202534 min

Barbara Marder - What's Happening in the Washington Retirement Policy Debate?

American Retirement Association Brian Graff routinely argues that no one grows up wanting to be a D.C. Pension Geek—it just sorta happens.But Barb Marder actually DID want to be a D.C. Pension Geek at a relatively young age.The president and CEO of the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) joins Graff for a fascinating discussion about EBRI's mission, its role in the Washington policy debate, and why the current retirement system is constantly attacked.

February 3, 202536 min

Brad Campbell - The Trump Administration’s Priorities for Retirement Plans

“There’s a little bit going on here in [Washington] D.C.,” American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff quipped at the outset of the latest episode of D.C. Pension Geeks. “We have a great guest to help us figure out what’s going on.”Indeed. Brad Campbell, former Assistant Labor Secretary for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and currently a Partner with legal powerhouse Faegre Drinker, joined Graff for a frank discussion of what’s ahead for retirement plans in the second Trump Administration, and where we are withy the fiduciary rule, ESG, litigation reform, alternative investments, and more.

December 2, 202445 min

Preston Rutledge - What the Election Means for Retirement Plan Policy

Oh, what an election it was. It determined not only the presidency but control of both houses of Congress. Now that it’s settled, people rightly wonder what it means for retirement planning and saving policy.“It was kind of a big deal,” American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff understatedly said. “And given the fact that it’s a big deal. We need a big deal to help us sort out what happened and what it means.”That “big deal” is none other than Preston Rutledge, former head of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). The Founder and Principal of Rutledge Policy Group joined Graff to discuss the fate of the fiduciary rule, Social Security’s future, and much, much more.

November 5, 202434 min

Debra Whitman - How to Make it Easier to ‘Age Well’ in America

How long will we live in retirement? Will we be healthy? How long will we work? Will we have enough money? These are common, and heavy, questions we’d all like answered.Self-described “Pension Geek” Debra Whitman, EVP and Chief Public Policy Officer with the 30 million-member strong AARP, joins ARA CEO Brian Graff for a discussion of her new book, The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond.She describes all the things that need to happen to make it easier for people to age well in America and the AARP-supported policies and programs to make it happen.

August 12, 2024Episode 2139 min

Michael Kreps - Entire Tax Code ‘Up for Grabs'

The 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is rapidly approaching, a law that “affects real people every day,” according to Michael Kreps, a principal with Groom Law and chair of its Retirement Services Group.Kreps, a former Senate HELP Committee retirement policy staffer, joins American Retirement Association (ARA) CEO Brian Graff to discuss recent Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary setbacks, why it keeps happening, and the value of incremental change in regulatory policy.They also note the coming tax policy debate in light of the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and what may or may not happen. It’s an important and timely conversation at a critical juncture for the retirement plan industry.

July 22, 2024Episode 2045 min

Preston Rutledge - ERISA’s Massive Impact on the Retirement Plan Space

ERISA turns 50 on Labor Day. It’s older, wiser, and still looks great. What has been its most significant impact on the ability of America’s workers to save?Preston Rutledge joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a comprehensive look back and ahead. Rutledge, founder and principal of Rutledge Policy Group, knows the subject well. Prior to founding Rutledge Policy Group, Preston was the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA led the US Delegation on private pension policy at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, and led oversight of the Federal Thrift Savings Plan, the world’s largest defined contribution plan.

July 15, 2024Episode 191 hr 6 min

Andrew Biggs - Lies and Statistics—What the 401(k) Data Actually Says

Former high-ranking Social Security Administration official and retirement policy gadfly Andrew Biggs joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a frank discussion about the data fueling the 401(k) debate. Biggs, a frequent financial media critic of ‘retirement crisis’ sensationalism, explains the retirement readiness disconnect—and why we get it so wrong.

July 8, 2024Episode 1840 min

James Klein - ERISA at 50! Where We Are, Where We’re Going

The bipartisan nature of retirement plan legislation is key to its success. American Benefits Council President Jim Klein, the “OG” of retirement plan policy, joins Brian Graff for an in-depth discussion of retirement saving, healthcare and how ERISA—which turns 50 this year—has impacted both.

May 13, 2024Episode 171 hr 38 min

Tim Hauser - The Final Fiduciary Rule’s Myths and Controversies

Department of Labor Chief Operating Officer and senior staff member Tim Hauser joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a comprehensive discussion of the myths, controversies and questions surrounding the final fiduciary rule, officially called the Retirement Security Rule.This frank and factual conversation between two fiduciary rule veterans tackles any questions or criticisms about the rule head-on.

May 6, 2024Episode 1646 min

Aron Szapiro - The Data, Empirical Information Fueling the Final Fiduciary Rule

Research and consulting giant Morningstar was cited over 40 times in the final fiduciary rule release, officially called the Retirement Security Rule. The reason was largely due to the data and information for which the company is known. Aron Szapiro, Head of Government Affairs with Morningstar, joins American Retirement Association CEO Brian Graff for a wide-ranging discussion about the rule and its future implications, as well as recent attacks on the country’s private retirement savings system. This is an episode not to miss.