John Ortman
By John Ortman 10/23/2019
Speakers at an Oct. 22 workshop session at the ASPPA Annual Conference provided an early “deep dive” into the final hardship distribution rules issued last month.
Robert M. Richter, Retirement Education Counsel at the American Retirement Association, and Michael F. Smith, Vice President...
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By John Ortman 10/8/2015
Economist Robert Litan has responded on Forbes.com to accusations of conflicts of interest leveled the last week of September by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) that cost him his position at the Brookings Institution.BackgroundIn a letter to Brookings president Strobe Talbot, Warren had claimed...
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By John Ortman 1/7/2015
The popularity of annuities featuring guaranteed minimum income benefit riders, or GMIBs, tends to surge following market downturns like in 2000 and 2008. Conversely, during market advances like we’re seeing today, buyer’s remorse can set in as annuitants eyeball alternative investments with much...
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By John Ortman 1/5/2015
The popularity of annuities featuring guaranteed minimum income benefit riders, or GMIBs, tends to surge following market downturns like in 2000 and 2008. Conversely, during market advances like we’re seeing today, buyer’s remorse can set in as annuitants eyeball alternative investments with much...
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By John Ortman 7/23/2014
Retirement-sector veteran Nevin Adams will join ASPPA next month to head its rapidly expanding media and marketing businesses, including NTSA Net. Adams, who was most recently Director of Education and External Relations at the Employee Benefit Research Institute and co-director of EBRI’s Center...
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By John Ortman 7/16/2014
Are graft and fraud the next big thing for state pension plans? An industry segment already beset by massive underfunding, bankruptcy court proceedings and other litigation, politics and pension envy doesn’t need any more bad news. But that may be exactly what it gets. The former chief executive...
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By John Ortman 6/25/2014
The 2014 NTSA 403(b) Summit, held this week in Washington, D.C., got rave reviews from attendees, speakers and exhibitors alike. You can get a taste of the six general sessions and 18 workshop sessions at this year's Summit from our onsite coverage of the event: Staying a Step Ahead...
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By John Ortman 6/24/2014
What do you do that keeps you a step ahead of your competition? Four recipients of NTSA’s inaugural Elite Advisor Award revealed their secret sauce and perspectives on maintaining a high level of success at a special workshop at the 403(b) Summit in Washington, D.C. “If you have better answers...
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By John Ortman 6/23/2014
Tulane University’s Peter Ricchuiti, the world’s only stand-up comedian currently employed as a professor of economics, paints an optimistic picture of the current and future economy and the resulting impact on the financial markets. Delivering the keynote address of the NTSA 403(b) Summit to a...
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By John Ortman 6/20/2014
The National Tax-deferred Savings Association (NTSA) recognized eight 403(b) plan advisors as recipients of the inaugural “NTSA Elite Advisors Award” at the annual NTSA 403(b) Summit June 22. The award recognizes plan advisors who have done the most to help individual plan participants accumulate...
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By John Ortman 6/20/2014
Asset International, the company that owns PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER, was acquired June 20 by Genstar Capital, a leading middle market private equity firm that focuses on investments in targeted segments of the financial services, software, healthcare, and industrial technology industries....
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By John Ortman 6/11/2014
The Millennial generation views benefits, especially retirement plans, very differently than older generations do — a trend that will reshape key aspects of the relationships among participants, plan sponsors and advisors. In a fascinating article in the latest issue of Benefits Quarterly magazine...
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By John Ortman 2/18/2014
Over the last 30 years we have seen unprecedented changes in retirement choices in the 403(b) marketplace. There have also been enhancements to help advisors communicate with clients and prospects. Are these changes helping or hurting you? How can you adapt your practice to utilize these...
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By John Ortman, Kristine Coffey 6/25/2013
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of 403(b) Advisor Magazine. To view a PDF version of this article, please click HERE. Gathering in the energy-filled Chicago Loop in June, 403(b) professionals from around the country networked, learned about timely industry initiatives and...
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