Former U.S. DOL benefits pro, Hassler, appointed as executive director of N.J.’s IRA plan

Todd Hassler has been selected to lead and implement a state-sponsored retirement plan designed to help private-sector employees save for the future, according to a Friday announcement from New Jersey’s Secure Choice Savings Board.

As the first executive director of the Secure Choice Savings Program, Hassler will oversee the creation and operation of the New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program, an initiative created by a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in his first term that will provide a low-cost retirement plan for private-sector employees across New Jersey.

Once fully operational, the program could be responsible for receiving and investing more than $10 billion for the benefit of approximately 1.7 million workers.

“Everyone, regardless of their place of employment, deserves the opportunity to securely plan for retirement,” Murphy said. “Secure Choice was designed to harness the collective investment power of a mutual fund, while making it more easily accessible for the average New Jerseyan to save. Under Todd’s leadership, we will make that a reality for nearly 2 million New Jerseyans.”

“Todd’s vast knowledge and wealth of experience in responsible oversight of employee benefit plans will be valuable assets in launching the Secure Choice Savings Program,” Andrea Spalla, assistant state treasurer and chair of the Secure Choice Savings Board. “We’re excited to have him on board to lead this exciting new program that will help so many New Jerseyans save for retirement and plan for the future.”

Todd Hassler.

Most recently, Hassler served as senior investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefit Security Administration, where he analyzed benefit plan designs and investigated operational failures. Prior to this, Hassler spent 15 years in the private sector in various roles overseeing retirement plans and human resources.