Introducing Me and My Substack
Retirement Translator: Offering clarity at the intersection of policy, behavior, and retirement security
I’m the director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (CRR), a small but robust policy think tank that focuses on lifelong financial security, with an emphasis on where people end up in retirement. The director role is still new for me (just since 2025) but I’ve been at the CRR for nearly three decades.
My background is rooted in public policy and communication, and includes an early career stint as a federal budget analyst. Somewhat accidentally, my focus has always been on the social, economic, and policy implications of an aging population.
I am neither an economist nor a finance expert – nor did I ever aspire to be – but I have worked closely with many of them. So I do aspire to be a translator of sorts – helping to explain the research and findings of my professional colleagues to a variety of lay audiences: policymakers, financial services professionals, the media, and the general public.
The goal has always been simple: help improve the financial security of all Americans by informing decisionmakers at all levels: from Capitol Hill to corporate boardrooms to kitchen tables.
A few personal facts: I grew up in a small town in Michigan, I love reading and outdoor recreation, and I am fond of both dogs and cats. Age-wise, I’m what the research community likes to call a pre-retiree!
Finally, this blog is my debut as a regular writer under a byline. My goal is not to provide in-depth analysis of economic, financial, or policy issues, but to spotlight what I see as successes, failures, challenges, and shortcomings and – most importantly to help push toward further progress so that all people can enjoy a better life.