About Anne Lester
Anne Lester is a retirement expert, highly sought-after speaker, and media commentator with over two decades of experience in all aspects of retirement.
She spent 29 years as a portfolio manager and Head of Retirement Solutions for JPMorgan Asset Management’s Solutions group, holding patents for her progressive design to simplify and automate the retirement planning process.
According to Anne, retirement is a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of years of hard work, but it also requires careful planning to ensure a comfortable and secure future.
Financial stability is paramount, as retirees must account for living expenses, healthcare costs, and potential emergencies over an extended period. Health considerations become increasingly important, necessitating regular check-ups and a proactive approach to maintaining wellness. Social connections play a crucial role in mental and emotional well-being, so staying engaged with family, friends, and community activities is essential.
Housing choices, including the potential need for assisted living, should be evaluated to match changing needs and ensure a safe and supportive environment. Assisted living facilities offer a range of services, from help with daily activities to medical care, and selecting the right one requires thorough research to find a place that feels like home.
Finally, legal and estate planning, such as updating wills and designating power of attorney, provides peace of mind that one’s wishes will be honored. By considering these factors, retirees can enjoy a fulfilling and worry-free retirement.
Anne is a regular commentator on an array of retirement issues for industry, for the rank-and-file, and with public policy through traditional media outlets and social media, including CNBC, Bloomberg TV, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Lester’s policy-related work includes testifying for the U.S. DOL and the SEC. In partnership with AARP, she founded the Aspen Leadership Forum on Retirement Savings. Its goal is to find breakthrough solutions to Americans’ far-reaching problem of inadequate savings. Before beginning her career with JPMorgan, Lester spent a year in Tokyo as a Fulbright Scholar working for a member of the Japanese Parliament. Previously, she worked as a staff assistant for the U.S Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, John Glenn, Chairman.
Lester is now on a mission to help Americans—particularly those in their 20s and 30s—understand that it is possible to achieve a happy retirement, on their time and target. She is currently working on a book that will help younger savers understand how to overcome their own behavioral biases and set out on the path to long-term savings success.
Lester’s acknowledgments include Morningstar’s Fund Manager of the Year Award and Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)’s Lillywhite Award, which honors employee benefits professionals for extraordinary contributions to Americans’ economic security. She is a frequent contributor at industry, academic, and public policy conferences in the U.S. and abroad and is a Non-Executive Director Smart USA and volunteers on the board of Trenton Music Makers, an El Sistema-inspired after school program in Trenton, NJ. Anne earned an MA in International Economics and Japan studies from the Johns Hopkins University’s School for Advanced International Studies and received a BA in Politics from Princeton University.