Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin
Editor’s note, Feb. 24: Due to weather and travel safety concerns, Financial Security Day has been canceled.
Tax season is a time when personal finances are top-of-mind for many, including whether you are saving enough to secure a decent retirement. To help individuals, families and small-business owners understand and improve their finances, the University of Notre Dame is bringing together national experts from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the financial wellness industry for Financial Security Day on Feb. 25 (Thursday) at the McKenna Conference Center on the Notre Dame campus. The program is co-sponsored by the United Way of St. Joseph County.
The day’s events begin with a keynote conversation between Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg about federal and local programs targeted at educating and assisting individual investors. The conversation will be followed by breakout sessions focusing on employee wellness and investing initiatives, money management and college and youth savings.
“This conference is part of Notre Dame’s commitment to enhance the vitality of our community through our existing federal, local and nonprofit partnerships and research assets,” said John A. Sejdinaj, vice president for finance at Notre Dame. “We encourage individuals to learn more about making good choices for themselves, their future and their families. This event will offer a number of resources to help explain some of the many savings options that are available.”
South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Raskin was confirmed as deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury by the U.S. Senate on March 12, 2014. Prior to her confirmation as deputy secretary, Raskin served as a governor of the Federal Reserve Board. Along with Raskin and Buttigieg, Notre Dame faculty, administrators and industry experts will take part in the program.
Karen Richman, cultural anthropologist at the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame, will also release her interdisciplinary team’s latest research on the significance of gender on Latina/o retirement savings. Ted Beck, president of the National Endowment for Financial Education, will participate in the research announcement.
The full schedule of events follows:
11:30 a.m.
Lunch and keynote conversation with Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg
12:30 p.m.
Research announcement: “Significance of Gender on Latina/o Retirement Savings” presented by Karen Richman, associate professional specialist and director of Undergraduate Studies of the Notre Dame Institute for Latino Studies
1:15 p.m.
Panel discussion on Employer Financial Wellness Initiatives
This session will cover how financial security and financial wellness efforts could be supported through small-business employers. Panelists:
- Ted Beck, president of the National Endowment for Financial Education
- Meaghan Muldoon, counselor to the secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Sarah Bassler Millar, partner and vice chair of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
- Kristen Komara, vice president of financial wellness at the Resurrection Project
- Roman Ruiz, Second Federal Savings Little Village branch manager
2:15 p.m.
Training Session 1: myRA
This session will cover barriers to saving and introduce the myRA program, an easy-to-implement retirement option for employers. Panelists:
- Karen Richman, faculty, University of Notre Dame
- Ken Milani, faculty, University of Notre Dame
- Nick Catanzaro, relationship manager, myRA Employer Engagement and Outreach at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3:10 p.m.
Training Session 2: Managing My Money
This session will cover an ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report for St. Joseph County, and practical examples of managing money including debt and credit card management. Panelists:
- Matt Harrington, president, United Way of St. Joseph County
- Ken Milani, faculty, University of Notre Dame
4:10 p.m.
Training Session 3: College and Youth Savings
This session will cover federal youth savings initiatives and how youth savings accounts are transformative in building financial security and increasing college access, along with state college savings initiatives including the Indiana Promise and Private College 529 plans. Panelists:
- John Sejdinaj, vice president for finance, University of Notre Dame, and chair, Tuition Plan Consortium
- Nitesh Chawla, faculty, University of Notre Dame
- Maxeme Tuchman, strategic policy adviser, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Troy Montigney, executive director, Indiana Education Savings Authority
- Nancy Farmer, president, Private College 529 Plan, and former treasurer of Missouri
There is no cost to attend the program, and registration is required. For more information and to register, visit financialsecurityday.nd.edu.