Women in Retirement: Third Thursdays

Women in Retirement
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The “Third Thursdays” podcast is powered by the American Retirement Association (ARA), which champions women’s initiatives. Through its ARA Council for Women, ARA is a comprehensive resource for women working in the retirement plan industry. These 60-to-90-minute podcasts have a unique vibe and feature industry presentations and attendee interaction. Each Third Thursday’s experience focuses on one of the four core topic areas: leadership, marketing, practice management, or personal growth.

  1. 12/02/2025

    Care Costs, Career Costs: The Hidden Price Women Pay As Caregivers

    Decisions made throughout your lifetime can have a big impact on your future financial security. Women especially face unique challenges that put them at greater financial risk, including longevity, lower lifetime earnings, out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and unpaid caregiving. From navigating savings options to managing debt, caregiving responsibilities, and long-term care, this session will highlight common retirement planning “pitfalls” and specific actions you can take at every stage of your life to build greater financial security. Information and resources provided can also be shared and incorporated into workplace aging and wellness programs to help underserved and under-resourced women and families improve their financial outcomes.

    1h 3m

  2. 08/28/2025

    The Gang's All Here

    Think you know the ARA sisters? Join us for an interactive panel discussion featuring representatives from the five powerhouse organizations under the ARA umbrella—ASPPA, ASEA, NAPA, NTSA, and PSCA. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow within the retirement industry, this engaging session will spotlight what each group does, how they collaborate, who they serve, and how you can get involved. Explore career-advancing certifications, volunteer opportunities, and real-world insights from leaders in the field. With opportunities to ask questions, connect in breakout rooms, and reflect on your career goals, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and clear next steps to elevate your future.

    1h 2m

  3. 02/24/2025

    Unlocking the Potential of Women-Led Mentorship

    Get Involved: Thrive Mentoring Program Get Involved: NOW Mentoring Program Looking to take your career to the next level while building connections that matter? Join us for a dynamic virtual event on the importance of mentoring in shaping successful careers for women in the retirement industry. A panel of three accomplished women professionals will share their personal experiences with mentoring—both as mentors and mentees. They’ll discuss how mentoring has influenced their career trajectories, strategies for making the most of these relationships, and the unique challenges and opportunities women face in the industry. Whether you’re seeking insights from another corner of the industry, looking to give ack as a mentor, or simply craving a bigger, brighter network, this event is for you. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive—together! Learning Objectives: Understand the Impact of Mentoring: Gain insights into how mentoring can accelerate career growth, build confidence, and navigate the unique challenges women face in the retirement industry.Learn Best Practices for Mentoring Relationships: Discover practical strategies for fostering meaningful and productive mentor-mentee connections, including setting goals, effective communication, and managing expectations.Explore Opportunities to Get Involved: Learn about the available mentoring programs through ARA and how to participate as a mentor or mentee, including actionable steps to sign up and maximize the program’s benefits. Speakers: Kirsten Curry, APM, Attorney, CEO & Founder, Leading Retirement SolutionsColleen Windham, CPC, QPA, CBS, QKC, QKA, TGPC, Relationship Manager & CPA, RPSI-Retirement Plan Solutions IncMargaret Younis, CPC, QPA, QKA, TGPC, Vice President, Head of Consultant Relations, Lincoln Financial Group

    55 min

  4. 11/25/2024

    Crush it on LinkedIn: Attract More Prospects & Win More Business

    Discover the revolutionary strategies to elevate your LinkedIn presence and unlock new professional opportunities with insights from LinkedIn Lindsay, a renowned global speaker and credibility consultant. Hosted by Melissa Hoffman and Donna Kaluuya, this episode is a treasure trove for women in the retirement industry, featuring actionable advice for actuaries, service providers, HR, and financial professionals. We promise you'll walk away with the tools to stand out and make meaningful connections that can transform your career. Dive into the art of maintaining a compelling LinkedIn profile picture and the strategic art of communication. Learn how real-life examples, like Mike's and Randolph's success stories, can guide you in transitioning online connections to meaningful offline engagements. We'll explore targeted networking techniques, emphasizing the power of personal touches, like customized audio messages that can set you apart in the vast digital space of LinkedIn. Unlock the secrets to LinkedIn success as retirement nears and beyond. Whether you're looking to maintain connections, explore new ventures, or empower your professional journey, our discussion covers it all. Our conversation with Lindsay McMillian-Steeman underscores the importance of mindset, discipline, and consistency. With over a billion users, LinkedIn can be overwhelming, but with our guidance, you'll learn how to navigate it effectively to build a dynamic network, ensuring your professional story shines brightly.

    1h 4m

  5. 09/25/2024

    Not Just a Pretty Face

    Sponsored by: Commonwealth Financial Network In this episode of Women in Retirement: Third Thursdays, the vital role of how branding plays in both personal and corporate success. Featuring insights from Jennifer Lawrence, Director of Retirement Operations at Element Financial, Kelli Beckstrom, Brand Manager at Legacy Planning, Valerie McClendon, Financial Advisor with Boston Wealth Strategies, and the dynamic team from Commonwealth Financial Network—Angela Streba, Patricia Marcel, and host Kara Tierney—this episode is packed with strategies to help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. From creating emotional connections to building consistent, authentic brands, our panelists share actionable advice on strengthening your brand presence and ensuring it reflects your values. Discover how branding can transform your business and career. Featuring: Jennifer Lawrence, Director of Retirement Operations, Element FinancialKelli Beckstrom, Brand Manager, Legacy PlanningValerie McClendon, Financial Advisor, Boston Wealth StrategiesAngela Streba, Director, Advisor Brands - Marketing, Commonwealth Financial NetworkPatricia Marcel, Director, Marketing Client Services, Commonwealth Financial NetworkKara Tierney, Manager, Marketing & Communications, Strategic Retirement Solutions Hosted by: ARA. Third Thursday Committee

    1 hr

  6. 07/09/2024

    Retirement Reality Check: Gender & Wellbeing

    When it comes to saving for retirement, women face a different set of challenges. In this fireside chat with Carrie Schroen, BlackRock’s Head of the US DC Intermediary Business, and KC Boas, BlackRock’s Head of Retirement Marketing and Thought Leadership, we unpack the retirement gender wealth gap. Part- retirement content, part- career development convo, we’ll cover a range of topics in this Third Thursday session. Speaker Bios Carrie Schroen Head of the US DC Intermediary Business BlackRock Carrie Schroen, Managing Director, is the Head of the US DC Intermediary Business within BlackRock’s Retirement Group. Carrie and her team develop and execute strategy to accelerate the defined contribution client business in partnership with plan advisors, recordkeepers, and insurance platforms in the US and Canada Previously, Carrie was the National Sales Manager of the Independent Broker Dealer business at BlackRock and led the Southern Region across the broader USWA Segmented Sales client teams. Carrie was integral in the founding of our BlackRock Model Portfolios for Women, our innovative model portfolios built on the core factors that may alter long-term portfolio construction for women investors. She is passionate about financial literacy and closing investment access and educational gaps. Carrie received her undergraduate degree from Boston College, where she was a Captain of the Varsity Swim Team. She received her MBA from the University of Phoenix and participated in the InvestmentNews Women to Watch Think Tank. KC Boas Head of Retirement Marketing and Thought Leadership BlackRock KC Boas is Head of Retirement Marketing for BlackRock. In this role, she oversees thought leadership, content strategy, and execution to differentiate BlackRock within the industry and amplify our brand. Within BlackRock, KC serves on the Financial Inclusion Network’s Leadership Team. Outside the firm, she serves on the Advisory Board for the American Savings Education Council.

    54 min

  7. 03/28/2024

    The Evolving Workscape

    With the aging population growing so rapidly and birth rates declining, many industries could be up against labor shortages. As many employers face a coming wave of baby-boomer retirements, the resulting gaps in unique skills, experience, and institutional knowledge may be difficult to fill. Keeping mature workers engaged may help ensure that your company retains the employee knowledge necessary to compete. Going forward, successful workplaces will not only leverage the skills and institutional knowledge of mature workers, but also appeal to those whose talent they are looking to replace. And if younger workers are going to fill the shoes of those who will be transitioning out of the workforce, they’re going to rely on older generations to pass on their knowledge and expertise.

    57 min

  8. 11/17/2023

    Sometimes You Have to Slow Down to Speed Up

    PenChecks COO Alexandra Gerritsen has been a hard charger her entire career, delivering exceptional performance for her employers. Her journey was full of eye-opening “Oh S@%$” moments that impacted her growth as a manager and leader. What started out as a metrics and performance-driven mindset evolved into one that builds relationships and team alignment to deliver outstanding business results. Sometimes hard-driving leaders may move fast to get results, but in the process, they can alienate the team and build resentment. She learned that if you take a step back and slow down just a little, you can still get the desired results without sacrificing speed. Ali will share her journey and highlight moments that provided key inflection points in her career so you can understand how they helped her become a better and more effective leader. There are a variety of approaches to growing your organization, driving change, and delivering results, many of which can yield success. But there is one approach that will deliver results while building a positive culture and greater engagement–even during difficult times. Sponsored by PenChecks.

    46 min
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About

The “Third Thursdays” podcast is powered by the American Retirement Association (ARA), which champions women’s initiatives. Through its ARA Council for Women, ARA is a comprehensive resource for women working in the retirement plan industry. These 60-to-90-minute podcasts have a unique vibe and feature industry presentations and attendee interaction. Each Third Thursday’s experience focuses on one of the four core topic areas: leadership, marketing, practice management, or personal growth.

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