Information on the America Saves 2015 National Savings Forum

Breakfast & Networking

8:30am - 9:00am 

Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00am - 9:30am

Workplace Savings  

9:30am -10:45am

Workplace savings has been a focus of America Saves since the launch of the campaign over ten years ago.  There are compelling reasons for this.  Research from a variety of sources as well as information from individual savers shows that employers who offer direct deposit and facilitate automatic savings substantially improve the financial health and well being of their employees.  This panel will explore how employers are supporting successful saving with products and services that assist workplace saving for non-retirement goals, and promising innovations that provide the opportunity for young workers to create a life-long habit of saving in the workplace.

Moderator:

George Barany, Director of Financial Education

Consumer Federation of America

Panelists:

Tim Flacke, Executive Director

Doorways to Dreams (D2D) Fund

Leigh Brady, EVP, Organizational Development

State Employees’ Credit Union (NC)

Laura Scherler, Director of Income Capacity Building

United Way

Jacob Dumez, Manager, Policy and Partnerships

San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment

Sarah Newcomb, Behavioral Researcher

HelloWallet

Break

10:45am - 11:00am

Homeownership Savings & Affordable Housing

11:00am - 12:15pm 

For more than 70 years, homeownership was considered the cornerstone of the American Dream. Not only did it provide a sense of accomplishment, self-esteem, and pride, it was the most substantial and reliable source of savings for the typical American family. Since the Great Recession and collapse of housing market, however, the value of owning a home has come into question, particularly within the public policy area. Yet, in spite of increased skepticism about the value of owning, the overwhelming majority of adults continue to view homeownership as a worthwhile goal.  This panel will discuss several aspects of the role that savings plays in owning a home and more specifically the Millenials’ view of homeownership. 

Moderator:

James H. Carr, Senior Fellow

Center for American Progress

Panelists:

Patricia A. McCoy, Liberty Mutual Insurance Professor

Boston College Law School

Marietta Rodriguez, Vice President, National Homeownership Programs

NeighborWorks

Andrew Downin, Innovation Director

Filene Research Institute
 

Gary Acosta, Co-Founder & CEO

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals

Don Graves, Executive Director of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness

White House

Luncheon & Keynote

12:15pm - 1:30pm 

Speaker:

Honorable Thomas Curry, Comptroller

Comptroller of the Currency

Retirement Savings 

1:30pm - 2:45pm 

More and more Americans are challenged to effectively and efficiently save for retirement and have to navigate an increasingly complex financial services field.  The panel will discuss products, programs, policies, and services to meet these challenges, ones that are particularly difficult for low to moderate income households.  Panelists from government and the private sector will share their solutions for dealing with these complex issues.  The discussion will also focus on how to specifically encourage retirement savings by Millennials. 

Moderator:

Dallas Salisbury, President and CEO

Employee Benefit Research Institute

Panelists:

Melissa Koide, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consumer Policy

U.S. Department of Treasury

Ida Rademacher, Executive Director, Initiative on Financial Security 

Aspen Institute

Courtney Eccles, Policy Director

Woodstock Institute

Bennett Kleinberg, Vice President

Prudential Retirement

Wrap-Up & Call to Action 

2:45pm - 3:00pm