Decoding Growth takes you inside the evolving world of retirement, uncovering the business models, go-to-market strategies, and unexpected partnerships transforming the industry. Each episode features candid, no-nonsense conversations with the leaders who are driving change and delivering practical solutions to challenges in access, participation, engagement, and outcomes.From innovation heads at major recordkeepers to CEOs of digital-first retirement platforms, from strategic investors to policy influencers, Decoding Growth brings together retirement heavyweights, tech disruptors, and industry insiders sharing real-world insights and actionable advice. Whether you’re in asset management, fintech, consulting, or benefits technology, this podcast provides the knowledge you need to navigate the future of retirement.Featured Guests Include:Heads of Innovation and Product at major recordkeepersCEOs, COOs, CPOs, CGO/CROs of digital-forward retirement platformsManaging Directors and Heads of...
Decoding Growth
Claim This Podcastby Will Prest
Podcast Overview
Decoding Growth takes you inside the evolving world of retirement, uncovering the business models, go-to-market strategies, and unexpected partnerships transforming the industry. Each episode features candid, no-nonsense conversations with the leaders who are driving change and delivering practical solutions to challenges in access, participation, engagement, and outcomes.From innovation heads at major recordkeepers to CEOs of digital-first retirement platforms, from strategic investors to policy influencers, Decoding Growth brings together retirement heavyweights, tech disruptors, and industry insiders sharing real-world insights and actionable advice. Whether you’re in asset management, fintech, consulting, or benefits technology, this podcast provides the knowledge you need to navigate the future of retirement.Featured Guests Include:Heads of Innovation and Product at major recordkeepersCEOs, COOs, CPOs, CGO/CROs of digital-forward retirement platformsManaging Directors and Heads of...
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/28/1993
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Recent Episodes
March 18, 2026
Modernizing Retirement: Tech, Data, and Wealth Convergence
The retirement industry is entering a new phase of innovation—and the old playbook isn’t working anymore. Technology is changing how retirement platforms are built, how record keepers modernize legacy systems, and how advisors connect retirement planning with wealth management. Instead of massive platform overhauls, the industry is shifting toward modular modernization, orchestration platforms, and embedded retirement infrastructure. In this conversation, Will Prest sits down with Mahesh Natarajan, Chief Revenue Officer at Congruent Solutions, to unpack the forces reshaping the retirement ecosystem—from the rise of retire-tech startups to the role AI will play in operational efficiency and participant outcomes. They explore how record keepers are modernizing without replacing legacy systems, why retirement and wealth management are converging faster than expected, and what embedded finance means for the future of retirement platforms. The discussion also dives into retirement income solutions, enterprise technology strategy, and the growing role of AI in improving plan administration, data workflows, and participant experiences. For founders, advisors, and retirement industry leaders, this conversation offers a clear view of where the industry is heading—and how to position for the next wave of growth. Key Discussion Points 00:55 – Mahesh Natarajan’s background and industry perspective02:11 – What it means to be a “techno-business leader”03:49 – Congruent Solutions and its role in the retirement ecosystem05:07 – The rise of orchestration platforms in retirement technology07:36 – Why record keepers are shifting to modular modernization10:00 – How firms prioritize modernization initiatives13:03 – Micro-transformation strategies for large enterprises14:40 – Retirement income and the decumulation opportunity18:33 – The convergence of retirement and wealth management21:20 – Why data ownership will shape advisor relationships26:00 – Build vs. buy vs. partner in enterprise technology strategy29:00 – Why large enterprises struggle to innovate quickly31:40 – The growth of retire-tech startups and partnerships35:00 – Embedded retirement and new growth rails39:26 – How TPAs and record keepers are evolving43:00 – Where AI will actually impact retirement operations47:00 – Enterprise AI, infrastructure, and industry implications50:00 – Personalization at scale and the future of financial wellness55:12 – Advice for retirement-tech founders56:16 – Industry risks and opportunities ahead When you watch the episode: 👍 Follow the show if you enjoy conversations about how innovation is reshaping financial services💬 Share your biggest takeaway in the comments🔁 Pass this along to someone thinking about the future of retirement technology #RetirementIndustry #Fintech #RetirementPlanning #AIinFinance #WealthManagement #FintechInnovation #RetirementTech #EmbeddedFinance #FinancialServices #DecodingGrowth
February 21, 2026
The Hidden Intelligence in Plan Documents: Inside PlanPort
Plan documents hold more intelligence than most people realize—if you know how to unlock it. In this episode of Decoding Growth, we explore how PlanPort uncovers the hidden logic, rules, and decisions embedded in SPDs, amendments, and other complex plan materials. Founder David Levine breaks down how AI can interpret dense plan language, reduce manual review time, and support TPAs, record keepers, and advisors with greater accuracy and consistency. We dive into the role of responsible AI, why human oversight still matters, and how PlanPort blends automation with expert judgment to support retirement service professionals at scale. From legacy system challenges to real operational use cases, this conversation reveals how AI can transform workflows without replacing the people behind them. Listen to learn how PlanPort is redefining intelligence within plan documents—and why it matters for the future of retirement services. Key Discussion Points 00:00 Introduction00:23 Meet Your Host: Will Press01:09 Guest Introduction: David Levine02:28 The Origin of PlanPort03:54 Innovations in the Retirement Industry05:46 Real Use Cases of PlanPort14:14 Accuracy and Flexibility in AI25:34 Industry Staffing Challenges29:26 Why Human Oversight Matters33:17 PlanPort’s Middleware Approach36:41 Advice for New Ventures45:36 Customer Feedback & Iteration50:47 Future Trends & Final Thoughts54:19 Closing Remarks #PlanPort #FinTech #RetirementServices #AI #ArtificialIntelligence#DocumentAutomation #TPA #Recordkeepers #FinancialAdvisors#B2BTech #RetirementTech #HumanInTheLoop #DecodingGrowth #Podcast
November 11, 2025
Bridging the Gap: Lori Hardwick on Connecting Wealth and Retirement
The retirement industry keeps talking about convergence.Lori Hardwick breaks down what it actually takes to make it real.This conversation cuts straight into the structural issues—America’s savings gap, advisor confidence, platform integrations, valuation pressures, and the technology finally capable of scaling access. Lori brings decades of experience as an operator, board member, and founder to explain why this moment is different, what’s newly possible, and where firms are still holding themselves back.You will hear what most leaders learn only after expensive trial and error:00:00 — The real retirement access crisis in America04:20 — The savings gap, Social Security challenges & bipartisan urgency08:45 — Why wealth advisors hesitate: risk, regulation & confidence12:30 — The time-management dilemma: 25 employees, one advisor15:50 — The Sater model: specialists, referrals & shared revenue20:55 — Swell’s turnkey infrastructure & chatbot-powered onboarding25:10 — Tech rails: the new path from payroll → recordkeeper → asset mgmt29:35 — Emergency savings, student-loan matching & plan design innovation34:18 — What retirement can learn from wealth—and vice versa37:45 — Where retire-tech platforms can plug in41:20 — Early-stage founders vs. enterprise due diligence reality45:12 — Riding the rails: integrations with Orion, InvestNet, Pershing49:05 — Founder traits: execution vs. ideas53:25 — Build, buy, or partner? Lori’s framework from inside the big firms56:12 — The legacy tech debt problem nobody wants to talk about01:00:40 — How firms can modernize without breaking the enterprise01:03:50 — Final challenge: who will actually bridge the gap?This isn’t industry commentary.It’s a strategic field guide for enterprises, advisors, founders, and retirement innovators who want to bridge the gap without burning years—or budgets—doing it the hard way.If this episode gave you a new lens on convergence and growth:👍 Hit like🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that cut through the noise💬 Tell us the insight that hit home for you🔗 Share this with someone who needs a clearer view of where the industry is headed#RetirementTech #WealthManagement #Fintech #FinancialInnovation #AdvisorGrowth #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfFinance #401k #RetirementPlans #SaaS
12 total episodes available
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- What is Decoding Growth?
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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