What role have managed accounts (including advisor managed accounts) played in the participant shift in how they approach retirement planning? What’s driving increased interest in personalized retirement solutions? Are there any innovations within managed accounts that we can look forward to?

We’re joined by Nathan Voris, Head of Go To Market with Morningstar, to answer these questions and more.

Disclosures:

© 2025 Morningstar Investment Management LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Morningstar name and logo are registered marks of Morningstar, Inc. Morningstar Retirement offers research- and technology-driven products and services to individuals, workplace retirement plans, and other industry players. Associated advisory services are provided by Morningstar Investment Management LLC, a registered investment adviser and subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc.

The information contained in this document is the proprietary material of Morningstar. Reproduction, transcription, or other use, by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Morningstar, is prohibited. Opinions expressed are as of the current date; such opinions are subject to change without notice. Morningstar or its subsidiaries shall not be responsible for any trading decisions, damages, or other losses resulting from, or related to, the information, data, analyses or opinions or their use.

This commentary is for informational purposes only. The information, data, analyses, and opinions presented herein do not constitute investment advice, are provided solely for informational purposes and therefore are not an offer to buy or sell a security. Please note that references to specific securities or other investment options within this piece should not be considered an offer (as defined by the Securities and Exchange Act) to purchase or sell that specific investment. The performance data shown represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This commentary contains certain forward-looking statements. We use words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially and/or substantially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those projected in the forward-looking statements for any reason.

Research on The Impact of Managed Accounts on Participant Savings and Investment Decisions

A total of 84,875 retirement plan participants were included in Morningstar Investment Management’s study, “The Impact of Managed Accounts on Participant Savings and Investment Decisions”. Participants were selected for use based on available information and various filters and include those participants that used the Morningstar Retirement Manager Managed Accounts service between the dates of January 5, 2007 and December 31, 2024.

In no way should any performance shown be considered indicative or a guarantee of the future performance of an actual DC plan participant's portfolio with the same investment option or viewed as a substitute for an investment option recommended to an individual participant. Actual results of an individual participant may differ substantially from the historical performance shown for an investment option and may include an individual participant incurring a loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Performance returns were calculated using a time weighted, geometrically linked rate of return formula. Returns for periods over one year are annualized.

Morningstar Investment Management does not guarantee that the results of their advice, recommendations, or the objectives of an inves

Jeff Acheson often speaks about retirement planning as an “elegantly integrated ecosystem,” of which life income is a key part.

But what, specifically, is it and how can it help members of the American Retirement Association and its affiliate organizations?

Acheson, CEO of Advanced Strategies Group and ARA Immediate Past-President, joins the Executive Interview to answer these questions, and more, about the Association Life Income Plan.

But we begin with an intriguing discussion about the damaging effects of cholesterol, and another one to worry about—tax cholesterol.

What is it, and how can it negatively affect a person’s retirement health?

One of the key challenges plan fiduciaries may encounter is terminating a retirement plan because of a merger or acquisition. What happens in this situation, why is it such a common issue, and how can advisors help?

Pete Welsh, Managing Director of Retirement and Wealth at Inspira Financial, joins American Retirement Association Chief Content Officer John Sullivan to answer these questions and more.

Sponsored by: Inspira Financial Trust, LLC

*Inspira Financial Trust, LLC and its affiliates perform the duties of a directed custodian and/or an administrator of consumer directed benefits and, as such, do not provide due diligence to third parties on prospective investments, platforms, sponsors, or service providers, and do not offer or sell investments or provide investment, tax, or legal advice.