The Future of Advice: Going from Fragmented Help to Person-Centered Guidance

<div class="header alignfull header--article header--min-height-full has-background has-blue-diagonal-gradient-background"> <div class="header__layout"> <div class="header__content"> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-category"> <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/category/publications/">Publications</a></div></div></div> <h1 class="header__title has-h2-variant">Archives</h1> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="favorite-block"> <button class="favorite" data-id="207427" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" /></svg></button></div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-program_tax"> <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/financial-security-program/">Financial Security Program</a></div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--date"> May 12, 2026</div></div></div> </div> </div> <figure class="header__media" role="presentation"> </figure> </div> <div class="wp-block-group alignwide is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"> <div class="wp-block-columns alignfull is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1b7b6a2b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex" style="margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium)"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="border-top-width:4px;border-right-style:none;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-style:none;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-style:none;border-left-width:0px;flex-basis:33.33%"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-h3-variant" id="h-in-this-brief" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:0">In This Brief</h2> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:66.66%"> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d970354f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained" style="border-top-width:1px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-left:0"> <p class="">At our recent <strong>Refinery on the Future of Financial &amp; Retirement Advice,</strong> leaders across the retirement industry, fintech, policy, and research gathered to grapple with a fundamental question: What would it take to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, personalized, holistic financial and retirement advice that is affordable and accessible?</p> <p class="">One thing became clear: This is not a single innovation challenge—it is a system design challenge.</p> <p class="">To build advice solutions that work across the full spectrum of household needs, participants converged on a layered approach:</p> <ol style="padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium)" class="wp-block-list"> <li class=""><strong>Policy infrastructure</strong>—a regulatory framework that enables secure, seamless data portability controlled by the retirement saver</li> <li class=""><strong>The technology interface</strong>—AI-enabled tools that translate data into usable guidance</li> <li class=""><strong>The delivery model</strong>—a broadly accessible “public option” for advice, ideally incorporating both digital and human elements</li> </ol> <p class="">To learn more about each of these layers, read the brief.</p> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Pontera-Brief-2.pdf">Download the Brief<span class="wp-block-button__effect"></span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <div class="wp-block-group has-primary-wash-background-color has-background is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-70aa6bb8 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex" style="margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--medium);margin-bottom:0"> <div class="wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <p class="has-text-align-left" style="padding-right:0;padding-left:0"><em>We are grateful to <a href="https://www.pontera.com/">Pontera</a> for their generous support of this brief and the Refinery. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this brief—as well as any errors—are Aspen FSP’s alone and do not necessarily represent the views of its funders.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="card-slider alignfull has-grid-spacing-small"><div class="card-slider__nav"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-h4-variant" id="h-related">Related</h2> <button type="button" class="card-slider__go card-slider__go--back" aria-label="Previous"> <svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-left" role="img" focusable="false" height="0" width="0"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-left"/></svg> </button> <button type="button" class="card-slider__go card-slider__go--forward" aria-label="Next"> <svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-right" role="img" focusable="false" height="0" width="0"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-right"/></svg> </button> </div> <div class="card-slider__content"><div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2026-aspen-leadership-forum-on-retirement-savings/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="422" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/KC-and-Karen-at-26-ALFRS-1500x422.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="2026 Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings" style="object-position:23% 46%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Event</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2026-aspen-leadership-forum-on-retirement-savings/">2026 Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">If the U.S. were to move toward a national approach to retirement savings access, what should it actually look like—and what would it take to make it actually work for the low-to-moderate income workers who need it most?</div><p class="dyn-card__meta"><time>Apr 8 &#8211; 10, 2026</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/trump-iras-retirement-executive-order/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Aspen-Leadership-Forum-Retirement-Savings-2026_527_web-1500x1000.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="A wideshot of a room with several tables and dozens of people, watching a presentation at the front of the room." style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/trump-iras-retirement-executive-order/">Trump IRAs Are Coming. Let’s Make Them Work for Those Who Need Them Most.</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">President Trump has just signed an executive order designed to expand retirement savings access. Here&#8217;s what this news means for low-income savers.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="200021" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>May 1, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/karen-andres/">Karen Biddle Andres</a></li><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/kc-boas/">KC Boas</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/lab-notes-2025-workers-wealth-lab/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="645" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Aspen-Institute-Workers-Wealth-Lab-Nov2025_160-e1771612061849-1500x645.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Lab Notes: 2025 Workers’ Wealth Lab" style="object-position: 63% 28%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/lab-notes-2025-workers-wealth-lab/">Lab Notes: 2025 Workers’ Wealth Lab</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Leveraging a first-of-its-kind database, the Workers&#8217; Wealth Lab uses retirement plan data to identify the tools and design features that can improve our retirement savings system. Read the report from the 2025 Lab.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="167260" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>February 20, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/kc-boas/">KC Boas</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2025-workers-wealth-lab/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="422" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Website-Hero-Images-3-1500x422.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Two women stand on stage" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Event</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2025-workers-wealth-lab/">2025 Workers’ Wealth Lab</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">The Lab brings together innovators across sectors to test bold ideas that help workers build financial stability and long-term wealth.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta"><time>Wed Nov 19, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/guardrails-without-roadblocks-how-to-close-the-consumer-choice-gap-in-retirement-planning/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="600" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Aspen-Institute-Workers-Wealth-Lab-Nov2024_247-2-1500x600.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Guardrails Without Roadblocks: How to Close the Consumer Choice Gap in Retirement Planning" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/guardrails-without-roadblocks-how-to-close-the-consumer-choice-gap-in-retirement-planning/">Guardrails Without Roadblocks: How to Close the Consumer Choice Gap in Retirement Planning</a></h2><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="158754" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>November 10, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/the-future-of-retirement-savings-aspen-leadership-forum-on-retirement-savings-2025/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Aspen_2190-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="What’s the Future of Retirement Savings? We Get to Choose" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Publications</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/the-future-of-retirement-savings-aspen-leadership-forum-on-retirement-savings-2025/">What’s the Future of Retirement Savings? We Get to Choose</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Retirement is the ultimate financial report card—for individuals and for America. Learn how leaders are working to make the retirement savings system work for everyone.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="153203" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>September 19, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/karen-andres/">Karen Biddle Andres</a></li><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/kc-boas/">KC Boas</a></li><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/mack-wallace/">Mack Wallace</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/auto-enrollment-trump-accounts/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="827" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Aspen-Institute-FSP-231205-Event_344-scaled-e1754488957293-1500x827.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="A person writing notes on a piece of paper" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/auto-enrollment-trump-accounts/">How Auto-Enrollment Could Help Trump Accounts Work For Everyone</a></h2><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="147850" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>August 6, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person">John Scott</li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/americas-babies-are-now-retirement-investors-now-what/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Aspen-Institute-FSP-231205-Event_341-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="America’s Babies Are Now Retirement Investors—Now What?" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/americas-babies-are-now-retirement-investors-now-what/">America’s Babies Are Now Retirement Investors—Now What?</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Trump Accounts could offer an 18-year head start on saving for retirement. How do we ensure that they work for everyone?</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="145652" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>July 28, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/karen-andres/">Karen Biddle Andres</a></li><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/kc-boas/">KC Boas</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2025-aspen-leadership-forum-on-retirement-savings/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="422" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ALFRS-Hero-1500x422.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="2025 Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Event</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/2025-aspen-leadership-forum-on-retirement-savings/">2025 Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Cross-sector leaders who attended the 9th annual Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings in April 2025 explored what it would take for all workers in America to meaningfully participate in a retirement savings system that builds financial security. </div><p class="dyn-card__meta"><time>Apr 21 &#8211; 23, 2025</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/why-kc-boas-is-honored-to-join-aspen-fsp/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Aspen_1516-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="three people sit at a table in discussion" style="object-position: 48% 66%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/why-kc-boas-is-honored-to-join-aspen-fsp/">Long-Time Listener, First-Time Caller: Why KC Boas Is Honored to Join Aspen FSP</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">KC Boas will join Aspen FSP as the Retirement Savings Initiative Lead.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="76168" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>April 21, 2025</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/kc-boas/">KC Boas</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/the-future-of-advice-person-centered-guidance/">The Future of Advice: Going from Fragmented Help to Person-Centered Guidance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org">Aspen Institute</a>.</p>