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Basic Capital makes LinkedIn's Top startup list; Matt Humphrey joins Carson Group executive team: corporate roundup. Plus, Corebridge Financial, Allianz Life, RetirePath Virginia October 16, 2026 Basic Capital earns LinkedIn Top startup honors. Tech-driven 401(k) platform Basic Capital has earned a spot on LinkedIn's Top Startups list for 2026, the only provider in the 401(k) space included on this year's list. The company was ranked 20th overall on the list of 50 U.S. companies, and was fourth among those based in New York. The LinkedIn list measures companies on a variety of factors, including employee headcount growth over the last year, jobseeker interest in open roles, plus engagement with the company's LinkedIn account and its success in recruiting employees from LinkedIn Top Companies. Basic Capital joins a wide group of tech-related employers on this year's list, including Anthropic, Mercor, Perplexity and Harvey. Basic Capital's platform combines recordkeeping and plan administration with an open-architecture investment lineup, allowing plan sponsors to choose from a wide variety of funds and managers. AI-enabled compliance monitoring and an optional brokerage window for participants are also included. "We're thrilled to be included among so many great companies, many of which are customers of Basic Capital," said Abdul Al-Asaad, co-founder and CEO of Basic Capital. "Retirement is one of the most important financial systems we have, and for too long it's' been underserved by technology. We're proud to help change that." In August, Basic Capital announced its partnership with global HR platform Deel, to provide services to its Deel Retirement system, which runs on a payroll platform. Matt Humphrey joins Carson Group's executive team. Omaha, Neb.-based Carson Group has announced the appointment of Matt Humphrey as divisional president of its integrated advisor channel, and as a member of the RIA's executive leadership team. Humphrey will lead Carson Wealth's W-2 advisor channel, working with other teams in the organization to drive growth, improve the employee advisor experience and better connect the capabilities and resources supporting Carson Wealth's offices. Humphrey most recently served as executive VP and head of Wealth & Investment Management at United Bank and CEO of United Brokerage Services, Inc. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Humphrey spent eight years as an Army Aviation Officer, leading teams around the world. In civilian life, he earned an MBA in finance and strategy from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management, and started work as a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs. "Matt brings the combination of leadership, operating experience and advisor perspective we were looking for as we continue to build the next chapter of Carson Wealth," said Burt White, Carson Group CEO. "His leadership experience has been built around bringing people together around a shared mission, and that's exactly the kind of leader we want helping us take Carson Wealth forward." Humphrey said it was the company's people and culture that attracted him to the new role. "I met a team that is smart, driven, collaborative and genuinely excited about what they're building together," Humphrey said. "Having been an advisor myself and having led a large wealth management business, I understand both sides of that equation. I'm energized by what's ahead and excited to get started." Corebridge introduces Progressive index annuity strategy. Corebridge Financial has announced the launch of Progressive Trigger, a first-of-its-kind index annuity interest-crediting strategy that's designed to help customers preserve their future growth potential, even in down years in the market. Progressive Trigger's built-in Memory feature is designed to deal with market fluctuations, allowing eligible interest percentages to accumulate following periods of negative index performance. If the trigger condition is met later in the strategy's five-year term, the percentages retained in Memory will be combined with the current year's percentage to determine the interest credit. "Protection from market downturns has always been one of the defining benefits of index annuities," said Bryan Pinsky, president of Individual Retirement and Life Insurance at Corebridge Financial. "Progressive Trigger builds on that strength by turning negative years into future potential and helping customers benefit when market recoveries take time. This is a new way to think about growth within an index annuity." Progressive Trigger is available exclusively through the Power Select Builder index annuity, distributed by Market Synergy Group. Its new strategy complements the annuity's existing performance-triggered option and other interest-crediting components. Traditional trigger options credit a declared rate when index performance is flat or positive over a single year, with the starting value resetting at each contract anniversary. Progressive Trigger instead establishes a starting value that remains in place for up to five years. The index is evaluated annually, providing yearly opportunities to meet or exceed that value. If the index meets or exceeds the starting value at a contract anniversary, the current year's percentage is added to the eligible percentages retained in Memory to determine the interest credit. Customers can then start a new five-year term, or opt to re-allocate their funds. If the trigger condition is never met during the five-year term, the principal remains protected from market losses. "We are proud to work with Corebridge to bring continued innovation to financial professionals and their clients," said Lance Sparks, president of Market Synergy Group. Allianz Life adds legacy benefit to RILA market. Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has announced a one-of-a-kind retirement benefit in the registered index-linked annuity (RILA) market, one that will continue to provide a death benefit even if the contract value falls to $0 from income payments. Allianz Life's new Legacy+ Income Benefit, an optional rider available for an additional cost, offers both a protected financial legacy and lifetime income benefits. The product helps address the growing desire among Americans to leave a financial legacy, despite concerns about reducing that amount through retirement living expenses. According to the 2026 Annual Retirement Study from the Allianz Center for the Future of Retirement, 56% of Americans would rather allocate significant money for their family or specific causes rather than spend down their retirement savings themselves. The protected Legacy Value for beneficiaries is locked in at 50% of the accumulated contract value when income payments star and will not change, regardless of how long the retiree receives income payments. The guaranteed Legacy Value can also be accessed earlier if circumstances change. "Too many retirees may sacrifice their enjoyment of retirement and underspend to ensure that they have money to pass on to their loved ones as a legacy," said Corey Walther, president of Allianz Life Financial Services, LLC. "The Legacy+ Income Benefit offers a permission to spend and assurance that legacy will not be depleted." The income benefit is available on two Allianz Life RILAs, Index Advantage+ Select Income Annuity and Income Advantage ADV Annuity. RetirePath Virginia registration deadline is October 30. In celebration of October's National Retirement Security Month, RetirePath Virginia is encouraging more small employers to register to take part in Virginia's expanded, state-facilitated retirement savings program, before an October 30 deadline. Eligible businesses with between five to nine employees now qualify to participate. New provisions which took effect July 1 extend program access to 350,000 additional Virginia residents, including part-time workers. As of September 30, the RetirePath program had more than 30,000 accounts holding nearly $40 million, a huge jump from 2024, when only 8,900 accounts and $4 million were held. State law lowered the program eligibility from employers with 25 or more full-time employees to those with five or more employees, including part-time workers. RetirePath enables workers to contribute directly from their paycheck to a Roth IRA through automatic payroll deduction to an account they own, even if they move or change jobs. Virginia businesses must register and facilitate RetirePath if they have five or more employees, have been in business for at least two years and do not offer a qualified employer-sponsored retirement plan of their own. The Oct. 30 deadline is the most recent phase of expansion, applicable to smaller businesses with between five and nine eligible employees. The system has been designed to help employees save for their future with no employer fees, no fiduciary responsibility and minimal ongoing support. Those who are self-employed can also open an account independently. "We have been encouraged by the positive reception to this expansion from employers who appreciate at simple, easy way to support their teams and from employees who have an easy entry point into saving for their future," said Peter Thompson, RetirePath Program Director. October also marks the 30th anniversary of Commonwealth Savers, an independent state agency that administers RetirePath Virginia, as well as the state's Invest529 education savings program and its disability savings program, ABLEnow. Keep up with the news, trends, products, and policy shaping the retirement plan industry.

Basic Capital has partnered with Check to offer embedded 401(k) plans through Check's payroll API. Companies using Check's payroll infrastructure can now add Basic Capital's retirement platform directly into their existing products without separate integration. The partnership connects Basic Capital's retirement infrastructure to Check's API layer, allowing contributions, deductions, and recordkeeping to run on the same data as payroll. This eliminates the need for separate file-based feeds or third-party referrals. "Payroll platforms are increasingly the place where employers expect to manage every part of compensation, and retirement shouldn't be the exception," said Brandon Angelini, Head of Partnerships at Basic Capital. The solution is designed to make retirement benefits more accessible to small and mid-sized businesses. Basic Capital's platform includes expanded investment options, self-directed brokerage windows, and advanced tax strategies integrated into existing payroll systems.