Podcast: What Advisors Need to Know as Gen Z Becomes the Newest Plan Participants | Kristine Meyer

In this episode of Gray to Great, host Dan Dal Degan speaks with Kristine Meyer of Stiles Financial Services, Inc. about communication, advocacy, and the realities shaping today’s workforce. Kristine shares how her firm’s philosophy of “fierce independence’’ guides every part of her work, from assessing providers to engaging with participants. She explains how qualities like adaptability, curiosity, and strong listening skills can strengthen an advisor’s effectiveness and participant outcomes. Her episode provides listeners with a detailed look at how the retirement industry can evolve to meet the needs of a changing workforce.

A defining theme in Kristine’s approach is the belief that fiduciary duty is practiced, not merely stated. She explains that stewardship is most effective when advisors put plan and participant needs ahead of convenience or convention. For her, this means being thorough, transparent, and willing to challenge assumptions so decisions truly serve the intended audience. This kind of detail-driven, participant-centered mindset is essential for sustaining trust at scale.

Kristine also brings a distinct perspective on communication, built on years of direct participant engagement. She emphasizes that listening is the foundation of effective advising. Participants come with different fears, experiences, and expectations, especially younger professionals who may feel disconnected from the retirement system. Kristine emphasizes the importance of taking these concerns seriously and reflecting them back in a way that signals understanding. When advisors acknowledge what participants are expressing, they create the conditions for honest dialogue and practical next steps.

Episode #13 explores how generational change is reshaping the future of retirement plans. Kristine encourages advisors to move past traditional one-size-fits-all thinking and instead connect with participants based on their lived experiences and comfort levels. This, she notes, requires genuine curiosity and flexibility in plan design. Whether the industry is prepared or not, new generations will continue to enter the workforce, and advisors must adapt to deliver outcomes that matter.

Kristine closes by offering guidance to early-career professionals. She encourages them to seek out advocates who will champion their growth and to offer that same support to others. Her leadership and perspective provide meaningful value to advisors navigating an industry where continued shifts create opportunities to shape participants’ financial futures in constructive and lasting ways.

More About Kristine Meyer

Kristine Meyer is a Retirement Plan Specialist at Stiles Financial Services, where she has delivered tailored guidance to employers and participants for more than six years. She began her career at a small trust company as a Trust Operations Specialist and later became Operations Supervisor as the firm expanded. Her work has focused on high-quality service and helping plan sponsors maintain compliant, well-designed plans that support both organizations and employees.

Kristine is known for building strong client relationships and her dedication to improving financial literacy through participant education. Beyond her client work, she serves as Chair of the Minneapolis Pension Council and leads a study group for industry professionals that encourages collaboration and shared learning across ERISA attorneys, actuaries, accountants, and advisors. Kristine has always called the Twin Cities home and enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new recipes and restaurants, and spending quality time with her husband and daughter.