Behind the Curtain on Mergers & Acquisitions

In this episode of The 401(k) Roundtable, host Rick Unser goes behind the curtain on mergers and acquisitions with two seasoned leaders who live this work every day. Casey Craig, Executive Vice President and Head of the Large, Mega, NfP, and PEO Markets at Empower, and April Bettencourt, Vice President of Global Employee Benefits at VSP Vision, share real‑world insights on M&A across financial services and healthcare. Together, they explore why M&A has become such a powerful growth strategy, how organizations think beyond scale to focus on clients and participants, and what can drive sellers to the table. The conversation dives into culture, due diligence, and integration—especially when it comes to people, benefits, and 401(k) plans. From navigating multiple plan structures to communicating change transparently, this episode highlights practical considerations for employers, HR leaders, and retirement professionals working through—or preparing for—M&A.