The Future of Retirement Savings in California: Implementing Secure Choice

Discussions on state-mandated retirement plans for the private sector

The Future of Retirement Savings in California: Implementing Secure Choice

Live in Sacramento: Join California State Controller Betty Yee as she kicks off a series of expert panels about California Secure Choice, the state’s new retirement savings program.  

Most Americans are not saving enough to pay for their retirement, and more than a third of private sector workers do not have access to a workplace retirement plan. To address this challenge in California, the state legislature and Governor Jerry Brown recently enacted a law creating California Secure Choice, a state-mandated retirement plan to help more of these workers save.

Nationwide, the federal government and a growing number of states are looking at ways to increase retirement savings. Join The Pew Charitable Trusts and the California Budget & Policy Center on Nov. 17 to explore California’s plan, key implementation questions, and how the state’s retirement savings challenge compares with that in other states.

Featuring a keynote address from

California State Controller Betty T. Yee

Get expert insights on …

  • What Secure Choice is and how it will work.
  • What Secure Choice means for employees and employers.
  • Retirement savings challenges in California and across the nation.

This event is open to the public and will also be streamed live on this page.

Register to Attend in Person

Join the conversation @PewStates and @CalBudgetCenter using #SecureChoiceCA.

Agenda

8:30 a.m. Light Breakfast
9 a.m. Welcome Remarks

Travis Plunkett, senior director, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Introductory Remarks

Chris Hoene, executive director, California Budget & Policy Center

Keynote Address:

California State Controller Betty T. Yee
Audience Q&A moderated by Chris Hoene

9:30 a.m.

Discussion: The Retirement Savings Challenge in California and Across the Nation

Nari Rhee, manager, Retirement Security Program, University of California, Berkeley, Center for Labor Research and Education

John Scott, director, Retirement Savings, The Pew Charitable Trusts

10 a.m.

Discussion: Secure Choice: What Is It and How Will It Work?

Ruth Holton-Hodson, senior policy adviser, Health and Retirement Initiatives, California Office of the Treasurer

Chris Hoene

10:45 a.m.

Coffee Break

11 a.m.

Panel Discussion: What Does Secure Choice Mean for Employers?

Marti Fisher, policy advocate, California Chamber of Commerce

Mark Herbert, California director, Small Business Majority

Nancy Berlin, policy director, California Association of Nonprofits

Marisa Lagos, reporter, KQED (moderator)

12 p.m.

Panel Discussion: What Does Secure Choice Mean for Employees?

Gustavo Herrera, West Coast director, Young Invincibles

David John, senior strategic policy adviser, AARP

Marisabel Torres, senior policy analyst, Wealth-Building Initiative, National Council of La Raza

Sarah Zimmerman, program director, Retirement Security for All, Service Employees International Union California

Marisa Lagos, reporter, KQED (moderator)

1 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Chris Hoene

Travis Plunkett