PLANADVISER: Where do you hope to take your career in the retirement industry in the coming years?

Weedman: The easy answer is that I would love to continue to expand and diversify my book of business in the coming years. This would entail continuing to serve clients of all sizes in different industries, but it also means working on different types of retirement plans beyond 401(k) plans. Additionally, I am incredibly passionate about introducing young professionals to the opportunities available to them in the retirement industry. This industry is a hidden gem—with an emphasis on hidden. Unless you are in the trade, younger generations do not generally understand the depth of the business and the many roles it takes to keep a retirement plan moving daily. Currently, a colleague in Denver and I are working to establish a young professional employee resource group at SageView to meet the needs of those who are new to the industry. In the next few years, it would be incredibly fulfilling to see this group’s effort branch out into a recruiting capacity as well. I’d personally love to meet with college students and introduce them to the retirement industry as an exciting and plausible career path so that we can continue to usher in emerging talent to the industry.

PLANADVISER: What steps do you think will help improve the retirement industry and participant outcomes in the future (particularly ways in which your firm can help with that progress)?

Weedman: Making financial education accessible, understandable and relevant to a participant’s unique financial goals and everyday lifestyle is key to improving the retirement industry and participant outcomes. Studies show that almost half of American adults lack financial literacy, which means they likely do not understand the implications of their own financial habits. These individuals may not even know where to start, and to do so without guidance can be overwhelming. This can mean the endeavor continuously gets kicked down the road until it may be too late. SageView’s commitment to participant education is a theme that goes back to its beginning; caring about participants’ successful financial outcomes is a cornerstone of who we are. In the last two years, the firm has dedicated significant resources to further expanding these initiatives to meet participants where they are via webinars, one-on-one financial coaching and a plethora of online resources to explore. This makes otherwise intimidating information digestible, and participants walk away comfortable with achieving their financial goals, knowing that SageView has their back the entire way.

PLANADVISER: What are you most passionate about outside of the office?

Weedman: Outside of the office, I am passionate about living to honor my late grandfather’s legacy. Having held different executive roles throughout his career, it was always evident Bob Wahlstrom took pride in his work and cared deeply for his employees. It was through his career that he exemplified to me what hard work and genuine leadership is. Rarely taking time off, my grandfather planned on using his retirement to make it to every possible sports event in which his grandchildren participated, read his beloved mysteries and see the world, as he had always intended. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in September 2019, two years into his retirement, and he succumbed to the disease only a few weeks after diagnosis. It served as a reminder to everyone who loved him that tomorrow is never promised and how we choose to spend the time we are given each day matters. Because of this, I prioritize doing things I love as much as I can—like catching a sunset at the beach, going to book club with my friends and watching movies with my boyfriend. I live my life to the fullest every day to honor him and take pride in my personal and professional achievements.