From First Dollar to Last Payout: Inside the 2026 SPARK Forum

Michael Henaghan, Managing Editor at Wolters Kluwer, breaks down the projected 2027 federal tax brackets—how they're calculated, why "bracket creep" quietly pushes taxpayers higher even when real income hasn't grown, and what's changing with 2027 retirement contribution limits (including the 401(k) jump to $25,500).

Dr. Stephanie Zepeda, PhD, LMFT, founder of Financial Therapy Texas, joins Broadcast Retirement Network to reveal the hidden toll of financial anxiety. She explains how it differs from everyday money stress, why we often spend more when finances are tight, and how money becomes a leading source of conflict in relationships, plus why one-size-fits-all money advice can do more harm than good.

What can a 192-year-old tortoise teach us about living longer, healthier lives? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Stephen W. Clark, MD, PhD, MSCI from the Kallel Foundation to explore the science behind healthspan. From Jonathan the tortoise's remarkably young mitochondrial genetics to FDA-approved drugs that could reshape how we age, discover why adding years to your life means nothing without quality to match, and what cutting-edge research on cellular reprogramming means for the future of human longevity.

Tim Rouse, Executive Director of the SPARK Institute, Rachel Weker, Retirement Strategist at T. Rowe Price , and Chris Weirath, Head of Client Success at Morningstar Retirement, preview the 2026 SPARK Forum, the industry's final major gathering of the year, covering a member-built agenda that spans the full arc of retirement, from first dollar to last payout, including AI, alternative investments, regulation, and retirement income.

Healthcare in America is reaching a breaking point. In this episode, we sit down with Katherine Hempstead, Senior Policy Adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to unpack the forces driving the affordability crisis — from skyrocketing premiums and a medical debt explosion hitting insured Americans hardest, to new Medicaid work requirements that could leave up to 5 million people without coverage and an estimated 700 rural hospitals at risk of closure.

Bridget Bearden, PhD, of the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) discusses Caregiving @ Work: A National Inflection. Bridget explains why caregiving has become a defining workplace issue, the tools employers already have to help, the enormous financial stakes of long-term and child care, and how cross-sector collaboration among employers, financial services, and policymakers can ease the stress on caregivers, ahead of EBRI's Caregiving at Work Forum on October 22 in Washington, DC.

In this conversation with David Cohen—Head of US Retirement Investment Product, Portfolio Manager, and Global Head of Stable Value & Guaranteed Product at Manulife John Hancock Investment Management—we explore the rising role of alternative investments and private markets in 401(k) and retirement plans, a topic that's quickly gone from niche to mainstream.

Term life insurance, open enrollment, and the scams that target families when they are most vulnerable, this episode breaks down how to make sure your coverage actually protects the people you love. Guest Phillip Snyder, CLU of The Warner Companies joins us to explain how to review your full benefits menu, calculate the right amount of life insurance for your family, spot open enrollment scams before they cost you, and take advantage of the help built into good benefits plans.

With average car payments nearing $800, replacing your vehicle can have a major impact on your monthly budget and retirement savings. Automobile enthusiast Ray McGrath examines the true costs of buying new versus repairing your current car, including financing, depreciation, maintenance, reliability and long-term value.

What options do you have at the end of life if you're diagnosed with Alzheimer's? For author and advocate Laura Carroll, the question became personal after she watched her mother live with the disease for seven years, declining until she no longer recognized her own family.