Nationwide Retirement Solutions and California Savings Plus Win 2026 Eddy Awards

Nationwide Retirement Solutions, in collaboration with the State of California Savings Plus and SchoolsFirst Retirement Planning, received top honors at the Pension & Investments’ 2026 Eddy Awards held in Fort Lauderdale, FL. These awards, which have been recognizing excellence in investment education for defined contribution plan participants for over 25 years, celebrated the innovative efforts of these organizations.

The State of California Savings Plus Program earned accolades in the Financial Wellness and Special Projects categories for public plans with a participant base exceeding 5,000. SchoolsFirst Retirement Planning secured a first-place finish in the Special Projects category for not-for-profits with a similar participant count.

Kevin Jestice, president of Nationwide Retirement Solutions, remarked on the recognition, stating that the awards demonstrate the significance of prioritizing participant needs and using data effectively to make a positive impact. The winning initiatives were noted for their creativity in engaging participants and encouraging actionable steps.

Innovative Engagement Strategies

SchoolsFirst Retirement Planning's RetireU Virtual Campus, a notable project in the Special Projects category, offered an interactive retirement education experience, including resources in Spanish. This program achieved substantial engagement, welcoming nearly 6,000 unique visitors and leading to over 35,000 participant actions, boosting enrollments and contributions significantly.

Cristian Lopez of SchoolsFirst Retirement Planning expressed appreciation for the collaboration with Nationwide, emphasizing the importance of their partnership in driving participant engagement.

Success in Financial Wellness Initiatives

In the Financial Wellness category, the State of California Savings Plus Program's "Roadmap to Retirement Readiness" campaign successfully increased participant interaction and contributions through personalized and engaging education. Enhancements in plan participation rates and the re-engagement of former participants marked the success of this initiative.

Another achievement for California Savings Plus was their streamlined Online Enrollment project, which simplified the enrollment process. This resulted in record enrollment increases and substantial improvements in participant engagement through digital platforms.

Sandy Blair, plan administrator for California Savings Plus, highlighted the constructive outcomes achieved through their collaboration with Nationwide, attributing the success to personalized and accessible financial education.

Commitment to Retirement Solutions

Nationwide Retirement Solutions, a key player within Nationwide, manages retirement security for approximately three million participants across 30,000 plans, holding $250 billion in assets. Nationwide remains a leader in public 457 plans and maintains a robust presence in various retirement markets, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to enhancing retirement solutions and services for its participants.

For more information on Nationwide's retirement offerings, visit nrsforu.com.