Press Release
401k Industry Leaders To Address SPARK Members At Annual Forum In November
Against a backdrop of increasing competition, slowing growth and provider consolidation in the 401k market, members of the Society of Professional Administrators and Recordkeepers (SPARK) will get valuable insight from some of the industry's leading executives at the Society's annual Forum in November.
The agenda includes presentations by Walter Bettinger, head of Charles Schwab Corporate Services, discussing corporate strategy; Scott Peterson, a principal of Hewitt Associates, outlining prospects for the industry; James Walsh, Client Services Officer of DST Systems and Joe Ready, senior vice president of Wachovia Retirement Services, discussing outsourcing; and the presidents of Financial Engines and the Scarborough Group, Jeff Maggioncalda and J. Michael Scarborough, presenting different approaches to delivering investment advice to participants.
"Our general sessions will focus on the critical issues facing our members in today's marketplace," said Bob Wuelfing, president of SPARK. "In addition, we'll have breakout sessions on increasing sales, understanding participant behavior, and on securities laws for recordkeepers."
The SPARK National Forum, which will be held November 2-4 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL, typically attracts several hundred representatives from the more than 250 banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, third party administrators and benefits consulting firms that make up its membership.
SPARK was founded in 1989 as an inter-industry group of investment managers and service providers, particularly in the defined contribution retirement plan market. Current membership includes over 250 companies representing a broad cross-section of banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, third party administrators and benefits consultants. Its member companies provide services to approximately 95 percent of the 41 million 401k participants in the U.S.
NOTE: Details of the conference may be accessed at: www.rgwuelfing.com/spark2003/spark2003.pdf or, by calling SPARK executive director, Frank Bermani, at 860-658-5161
