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Andrew Crawford
Digital Assets thought leader and innovator.
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September 10, 2021
The second tranche of the #secureact  that comes into effect on January 1st, 2022 contains several provisions that will impact retirement planning, and boost the inclusion of #annuities in #401k plans. The “Safe Harbor” provision that removes fiduciary liability for sponsors wanting to offer post-retirement #annuities ‘in plan’ will reduce sponsor hesitancy to make them available to participants. This will be a boon for annuity providers who offer participants the ability to mitigate investment and longevity risk by locking-in guaranteed retirement income. Which is now more relevant than ever as the mainstay source of guaranteed income from Social Security Administration benefits isn’t looking so certain with the recent announcement it may be reduced by 24% after 2034. Building an appropriate retirement income strategy presents several issues for participants that annuities can resolve. The rational retiree’s aim should be to match essential/ living expenses and financial commitments with guaranteed income sources throughout each stage of retirement. And fund discretionary expenses, unexpected expenses, and bequest goals with variable income sources. Determining the right level of annuities to include is complicated by tax considerations, liquidity, and the timing of life events for the retiree, such as illnesses. Fortunately, technology is making developing the right strategy easier for future retirees and their advisors. Pivotal to the succesful inclusion of annuities and tontines inside workplace plans will be providing digital tools to get this mix right so participants improve their retirement outcomes. Lincoln Financial Group TIAA AIG Voya Financial Nationwide MetLife Eric J. Thomes Wade Pfau Michael Kitces Robert Powell, CFP® American Retirement Association #pulse #innovation #fintech
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September 10, 2021
Blockchain based technologies and wallet-based systems are causing a paradigm shift in asset management because they redefine how assets are created, managed, and transferred—ushering in a new era of transparency, efficiency, and accessibility. Digital Money, ie stablecoins and tokenized deposits integrated into digital wallets, will establish the beachhead. Key settlement, liquidity, collateral, trade finance, insurance, distribution, cross-border payment, and identity infrastructure will then be integrated or developed around this new mechanism to transfer value peer-to-peer. Then the assets held in traditional custodial structures, like funds, will migrate rapidly and digital assets will enter their growth phase. There are 6 key elements that will drive driving, namely: 1. Disintermediation Traditional asset management relies on layers of intermediaries (custodians, transfer agents, administrators) and multiple ledgers. Blockchain replaces these with a single decentralized ledgers, wallets and smart contracts, reducing costs and friction 2. Transparency Every transaction is delivered simultaneously to all stakeholder, recorded immutably and can be audited in real time. This builds trust among investors and regulators, especially in complex fund structures. 3. Automation Fund operations like NAV calculation, investor onboarding, and compliance checks can be automated. This reduces human error and accelerates settlement cycles. 4. Liquidity and Accessibility Tokenized assets can be traded 24/7 on global platforms, improving liquidity for traditionally illiquid investments - no more ‘9-to-5’. Fractional ownership and wallet-based infrastructure opens access to retail and underserved markets. 5. Security and Resilience Advanced encryption and decentralized architecture reduce single points of failure. Enable investors to retain self sovereignty of their data. Establish trust without disclosing your personal details. Blockchain mitigates risks of fraud and cyberattacks through tamper-proof records. 6. Interoperability Blockchain enables cross-border asset flows without relying on siloed infrastructure. Wallets composable financial products that can interact across jurisdictions and platforms In the near future, assets will be increasingly recorded on blockchain technologies. The trajectory is clear. Making the most of this paradigm shift, like when share trading went from voice to electronic, will create new market leaders who position themselves strategically today.
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August 15, 2025