“I don’t think I want to know a six-year old who isn’t a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don’t want to know one who takes their student career seriously ”
– Uncle Buck (John Candy)
Welcome to the October Edition of Ryan’s Retirement Ramblings – The monthly newsletter that will bring you the latest developments from the qualified plan space & provide updates for the retirement team at Wheeler Retirement Plans.
On A Personal Note…
Ok, this might be very Gen Z, but I felt compelled to post a picture of probably the best pancake I’ve had in some time. For those that don’t know, I am a HUGE breakfast person. In fact about 20 years ago I went to the Lion’s Pancake Day in Duluth for not only 7:30 breakfast but took my young children for lunch/dinner. As a new Dad it made fiscal sense, HAHA.
You are looking at Pillow Pancakes with Cream Cheese Maple Syrup from Hope Breakfast in Minneapolis. I’d never heard of the establishment until I stayed in a hotel next door. I wanted something quick before going to the rink. Suffice to say, I was ABSOLUTELY STUFFED.
Enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and realish in “falling back” this weekend.
Rising Markets Don’t Lift All Participants
Markets have been flirting with record highs on a regular basis, but not all employees are riding the wave toward retirement readiness. According to Vanguard’s How America Saves 2025, participation and/or balances still lag for low-income workers, young employees, women, and those with short tenure. These segments face unique hurdles that statistical averages may conceal….
PEPs Gaining Ground, But one Size May Not Fit All
The Department of Labor (DOL) is asking for public input on how to support small businesses that want to adopt pooled employer plans (PEPs), a signal that regulators see these arrangements as one way to help close the coverage gap. PEPs have gained significant traction since they first became effective in 2021….
Other Benefit Developments
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are also under the microscope. Their practices often feel like a black box, and related executive orders highlight a push for clearer reporting and oversight. Plan sponsors may soon need to demonstrate they understand the cost structures behind their PBM contracts. Even before regulations arrive, it’s smart to ask tough questions now: how are rebates handled, where are savings going, and is the arrangement aligned with participants’ best interests?….
Participant Corner
Retirement May Be Your Next Adventure
Retirement could often be seen as the “end of the road,” but that idea may not fit everyone. Your retirement could be a new chapter than a closing one.
While some may choose to move into semi-retirement, mixing part-time work with more free time for their family, hobbies, or travel. Others could explore second careers, sometimes in completely different fields they’ve always been curious about. And many may use the time to volunteer, start passion projects, or dive into creative pursuits they didn’t have time for before…..
Mr. C’s Movie (Show) Review
A Documentary that Feels Like a Warm Hug
If you grew up quoting Uncle Buck or still tear up when Del Griffith says, “I like me,” buckle up — this documentary is a gut punch right to the nostalgia button. The Movie is basically a love letter to one of my favorite comedic actors, John Candy. I Like Me doesn’t try to portray John Candy as something he was not — instead, it reminded me I adored him as a boy in my teens. I felt a connection with John Candy as a kid as I too was a “Husky” child. I related to his humor and affable personality. I never missed a John Candy movie. The movie doesn’t shy away from the heavier items— the pressure, the physical grind of Hollywood life, and the way fame can slowly destroy a human being.
From Uncle Buck to Planes, Trains and Automobiles. From The Great Outdoors to Who’s Harry Crumb; he was a star. He was every man’s comedian. The doc blends clips, castmate reflections, and family insight to paint a picture not of a star, but of a person who wanted to lift everyone around him.
And yes — that famous line, “I like me,” hits different here. In Planes, Trains and Automobiles, it was a punchline but during this documentary, it produced a tear. Del’s monologue struck a new chord with me as an adult. I saw myself in that line. By the end, I was smiling, a little misty-eyed, and itching to rewatch the hits.
On a scale of: “Like It”, “Love It”, or “Gotta Have It”; I Like Me is gem. If there was a rating above Gotta Have It, John Candy earned it. You’ll laugh, you’ll mist up, and you’ll probably text someone, “Hey… we should rewatch Planes, Trains… right now.”