Have you heard that AFS 401(k)'s very own Lead Advisor, Alex Assaley has been named to NAPA-Net magazine's 2014 list of "Top 50 Plan Advisors Under 40"? Alex says of this achievement: "It is an honor to be recognized as one of the top young practitioners in the retirement plan industry. As employer retirement plans mature, I am proud and excited to be working alongside so many specialized advisors, consultants, and other professionals striving to make a difference for American workers."

One of our lead advisors, Alex Assaley is featured in this month's Benefits Magazine. Along with one of our AFS 401(k) clients, Calibre CPA Group LLC, he discusses how to improve upon a company's 401(k) plan.

Earlier this month, AFS 401(k) hosted one of our favorite client appreciation events, the annual luncheon and golf tournament! With the perfect weather and great turnout, Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana, MD offered us a wonderful environment for a day on the course and a little healthy competition.

One of our advisors, Alex Assaley was honored to be invited to the first NAPA DC Fly-In Forum held on Capitol Hill last week. Hundreds of advisors flocked to DC to meet with policymakers and discuss the critical role of employer-retirement plans in helping American workers save for retirement. It's not every day that plan advisors are invited to contribute to the legislative process so this was truly a unique experience. There is a small, but vocal group of academic professors and legislators who wonder if the current 401(k) retirement plan system is "broken." Others opine for a government-run program akin to social security. There is also the larger Tax Reform debate which puts the tax incentives currently in place for qualified retirement plans in focus (and maybe on the chopping block). The Forum allowed retirement advisors, who are working each day to help workers save for their future, discuss these and other issues with leading Senators, Congressional leaders, and their staff.

Giving back to the local community is important to everyone on the AFS 401(k) team, and what better way to do that than by participating in an activity that directly helps those in need? On Monday, August 26, we held our annual community service event in which we joined with SOME (So Others Might Eat) in Northeast Washington, DC to help with their daily lunch service. This opportunity was a great team activity that brought our clients and us together and was a wonderful way we could lend a helping hand to those in need.

Daniel Haverkos is one of only 50 financial advisors nationally who have earned the Certified Behavioral Finance Analyst designation, created by Allianz Global Investors Center for Behavioral Finance.