In this insightful episode of The Wave Strength, host Jim Breen welcomes Pacific Life’s Karen Neeley, vice president, and head of Institutional Retirement Solutions Group (IRSG), and Chris Stout, AVP and head of IRSG’s National Markets function, to share their thoughts on the evolving retirement landscape and current developments surrounding retirement planning. 

Listen in as they delve into Pacific Life's innovative approaches to retirement solutions. Discover how the team’s expertise and passion are driving new strategies to address the growing need for guaranteed income in retirement.

From strategic partnerships to pioneering industry insights, this episode is packed with valuable information for financial professionals and anyone interested in the future of retirement planning.

Catch the wave!

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About Karen Neeley:

Karen Neeley is vice president of the Institutional Retirement Solutions Group. She has an extensive financial services background, previously holding leadership positions at three Fortune 500 companies. A proven innovator, Karen was named a 2023 Twin Cities Business Notable Leader in Banking & Finance and was previously recognized as LIMRA's Top 25 Rising Stars of Innovation under 40. At Pacific Life, Karen leads the Defined Contribution Lifetime Income (DCLI) and Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) business lines, including go-to-market strategy, product development, distribution, operations, and customer and partner engagement. Karen joined Pacific Life in 2023.

About Chris Stout:

Chris Stout is Pacific Life’s Assistant Vice President and Head of National Markets for the Institutional Retirement Solutions Group (IRSG). With over three decades of experience in financial services, Chris is responsible for expanding the IRSG distribution force and Pacific Life’s national footprint. Chris leads IRSG’s National Markets function and plays a vital role in the growth and long-term success of the Pension Risk Transfer (PRT) and Defined Contribution (DC) businesses, in addition to partnering with advisors and consultants to connect plan sponsors with innovative lifetime income solutions. Chris joined Pacific Life in 2024.

In This Episode:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Meet Chris Stout: Head of National Markets

01:45 The Importance of Guaranteed Income

03:08 Chris Stout's Career Journey

08:27 Pacific Life's Strategic Partnerships

09:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#retirementsolutions #financialplanning #guaranteedincome #retirementsecuirty #financialsecurity

How are health-related challenges, including chronic diseases, impacting quality of life in retirement?

In this thought-provoking episode of The Wave Strength, Pacific Life’s Dr. Qi Sun and Jim Breen discuss the latest issue of Qi’s newsletter: Hidden Hurdle to The Golden Age: The Financial Impact of Chronic Disease on Older Americans. Qi explains how multimorbidity and medical expenses can jeopardize financial security in retirement, the role of gender and other demographics, and strategies for managing risk.

This eye-opening episode connects the dots and explores the link between physical well-being and financial well-being. Catch it now, on The Wave Strength.

About Dr. Qi Sun:

Dr. Qi Sun is the Financial Economist for Pacific Life’s Institutional Division. Her research focuses on longevity insurance, household asset allocation decisions, and financial well-being. Qi holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Donghua University, a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and a doctorate in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University.

In This Episode:

00:00 Introduction

00:31 Welcome to The Wave Strength Podcast

01:51 Unpacking the Newest Newsletter: Financial iQ with Dr. Qi

02:36 The Impact of Chronic Diseases on Retirement Spending

07:25 Strategies for Managing Medical Expenses in Retirement

10:09 The Importance of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

14:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

#retirementplanning #finanicalliteracy #financialwellness #financialeducation #personalfinance #chronicdiseaseawareness

President and CEO of Stock-Trak, Mark Brookshire joins Pacific Life’s The Wave Strength for a thought-provoking discussion about financial literacy, and the innovative efforts underway to promote money management and financial wellness among students and adults with gamification.

When students graduate from high school and even college with little or no financial education, they begin their careers without a strategy, or the tools needed for financial well-being. Unfortunately, these circumstances can set the stage for financial difficulties throughout their careers, and into retirement. In this episode, we explore the pioneering ways that Stock-Trak and Pacific Life are changing the game.

Catch it now, on The Wave Strength! And be sure to follow us to see future episodes; previous episodes are available to stream on Audible, Spotify, and YouTube.