Who We Are

The Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA) is a non-profit association dedicated to enhancing the retirement security of America’s workers.

We bring together forward-thinking minds to tackle the challenges shaping the industry. By fostering collaboration at the right time—through research, engagement, and exclusive member-driven discussions—we empower leaders to drive meaningful progress.
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DCIIA’s diverse group of members include investment managers, consultants and advisors, law firms, recordkeepers, insurance companies, plan sponsors and other thought leaders who are collectively committed to the best interests of plan participants.

Themes

Core Beliefs & Activities

Our work at DCIIA is organized around three core themes that guide our research, conversations, and industry impact.

Two people reviewing and pointing at printed documents with charts and text on a wooden table.

Design Matters

We believe design choices matter in every corner of the industry.

Thoughtful design is essential across the retirement industry—from plan sponsors shaping effective plans, to asset managers and consultants developing solutions and frameworks, to recordkeepers building participant‑focused platforms that drive better outcomes.

Man in a blue suit with glasses speaking into a microphone in front of a blurred American flag.

Closing The Gap

We believe that closing the retirement savings gap demands collective action.

The retirement savings gap remains a critical industry challenge: many workers lack access to payroll‑deduction savings, and many of those with access face financial, educational, and plan‑design barriers. DCIIA unites the industry around innovative solutions and needed policy changes to improve outcomes, while ensuring our work reflects the diversity of the participants and retirees we serve.

Man with gray hair and beard standing and reading from a yellow folder in a bright office with white brick walls and a laptop on a table.

The Fiduciary Puzzle

We believe that clarifying fiduciary responsibility is essential to support better decision‑making.

Exploring and solving for who in the retirement system is best positioned to handle fiduciary responsibility. Related discussions include MEPs, OCIO, ESG investing, and other emerging trends, as many industry participants look to shift fiduciary duties to support better decision‑making. We are also monitoring how ongoing litigation is influencing these developments.

Design Matters

We believe design choices matter in every corner of the industry.

Man in a blue suit and glasses speaking into a microphone with an American flag in the background.

Closing The Gap

We believe that closing the retirement savings gap demands collective action.

The retirement savings gap remains a critical industry challenge: many workers lack access to payroll‑deduction savings, and even those with access face financial, educational, and plan‑design barriers. DCIIA encourages the industry to unite around innovative solutions and needed policy changes to improve outcomes, while ensuring our work reflects the diversity of the participants and retirees we serve.

Man with gray hair and beard standing at desk, reading from a yellow folder with laptop and papers on the desk, speaking to people.

The Fiduciary Puzzle

We believe that clarifying fiduciary responsibility is essential for better decision‑making.

This theme explores who in the retirement system is best positioned to handle fiduciary responsibility. Related discussions include MEPs, OCIO, ESG investing, and other emerging trends, as many industry participants look to shift fiduciary duties to support better decision‑making. We are also monitoring how ongoing litigation is influencing these developments.

Our Vision

Bringing together constituents across the financial ecosystem to help America’s workforce save for retirement and achieve broader financial security.

Member Organizations

Meet the 400+ firms powering DCIIA’s collective impact.

Your Leadership Team

The people who make DCIIA work every day.

Lew Minsky

President & CEO

Nikki Pirrello

Chief Operating Officer (DCIIA), Executive Director (PSI)

Katie Selenski

Chief Strategy Officer (DCIIA), Executive Director (RRC)

Amanda McCormick

Vice President of Operations & Finance

Kaleena Fong

Vice President of Membership

Karen Witham

Vice President of Committees and Programming

Drew Maresca

Vice President of Research

Bailey Epperson

Research Manager

Marianne Sullivan

Senior Advisor, Research

Tamy Allen

Director of Projects (DCIIA), Director of Operations (RRC)

Liza Enneking

Member Engagement Specialist

Toni London

Communications Coordinator (DCIIA)

Dominika Türkcan

Senior Advisor, Research

Ethan Jarmush

Analyst

Warren Cormier

Director Emeritus

James Watt, PhD

Vice President of Advanced Analytics

Erin Northrop

Director of Marketing

Leadership

Meet the Executive Committee

DCIIA’s Executive Committee is the primary advisory body for the organization. The Executive Committee includes representatives from our standing committees and several at-large members. The Executive Committee helps set DCIIA’s strategic direction and priorities for thought leadership.

Full Committee

How DCIIA Came To Be

Founded to unite the defined contribution community, DCIIA has grown from a small gathering of industry leaders into a vital force shaping retirement policy and practice.
We've built something real here, something that matters.

2010

DCIIA launched by 42 founding members. Inaugural Public Policy Forum.

2011

Inaugural Academic Forum.

2012

Launch of the Innovator Awards with Pensions & Investments, later known as the Excellence & Innovation Awards.

2015

DCIIA’s Ambassador program begins hosting regional events.

2016

Inaugural Investment Forum (now Innovation Forum).

2019

Inaugural Diversity & Inclusion event celebrating Leaders and Rising Stars.

2020

Formal launch of the Retirement Research Center with 19 founding members. Plan Sponsor Institute forms.

2022

DCIIA hosts Advisor Institute Forum in Kohler, WI for the first time. Plan Sponsor Institute grows to 100+ members. Inaugural RRC Summits held in the Spring and Fall.

2023

Launch of the Collaborative for Equitable Retirement Savings (CFERS) initiative with The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program and Morningstar.

2024

DCIIA recognized as PLANADVISER Vision Award winner. Membership grows to 450+ with over 275 PSI members.

2025

Launch of the Workers’ Wealth Lab initiative with Morningstar and The Aspen Institute Financial Security Program.

2026

Leadership Development Exchange inaugural class for next generation talent.

Join the Conversation Today

DCIIA consistently draws senior leaders into high-impact dialogue through intimate gatherings paired with substantive research presentations. Explore how you can get involved by choosing one of the options below.

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