The National Institute on Retirement Security recently held its 17th Annual Retirement Policy Conference on March 2-3, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and pension plan executives to discuss important issues facing retirement security in America. I had the pleasure of attending this conference.

The conference began with a keynote from Honorable Martin O’Malley, former Social Security Commissioner and Governor of Maryland. He spoke about how Social Security is at a crossroads, and why it’s important for Americans to have a program they can trust and rely on for retirement. This was followed by a discussion of how rising living and housing costs, along with inflation, are making retirement planning more challenging for everyone.

Christian Weller, Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, addressed the uncertainty many feel about retirement today. A panel discussion followed about Generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980) and their unique retirement saving challenges, featuring author Kerry Hannon and Jason Fichtner from the LIMRA Alliance for Lifetime Income.

A panel, referencing Kerry Hannon’s book ‘Retirement Bites,’ focused on Generation X’s retirement preparation and offered practical advice to improve savings and planning.

Key Highlights from the Conference Panel:

1. Many Gen Xers currently struggle with financial stress, primarily due to stagnant wages, high housing prices, and limited retirement savings. The panel explored how these specific factors impact their ability to retire comfortably.
2. Financial Literacy and Education: Kerry Hannon stressed that understanding basic financial concepts and planning can help people prepare better for retirement. She shared simple, practical tips for improving savings and making informed decisions.
3. Speakers discussed how events such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have made it harder for many people to save for retirement.
4. The panel presented different ways to save for retirement, including workplace plans, IRAs, and health savings accounts (HSAs).
5. Experts suggested making it easier to join retirement savings plans and providing more financial education to help more people save for the future. They also discussed the need to address the rising cost of living.

The conference underscored that planning ahead and using available resources are essential for financial security in retirement.

U.S. Representative Thomas Suozzi concluded the conference by discussing ways to make long-term care more affordable for seniors through new policy ideas.

Experts and leaders in retirement planning attended the event and worked together to improve retirement security for everyone.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the NEA-Alaska Board for the trust and confidence in nominating me again for the Alaska Retirement Management Board (ARMB). Since there has been no appointment by this administration, I will unfortunately not be continuing in this role and will not be submitting further updates on the ARMB work. It has been an honor to serve on the ARMB for the past four years and to keep you updated.

~ Sandi Ryan