Jackson, Grant opens applications for 401(k) Champion competition

Jackson, Grant Investment Advisers is taking applications through Aug. 28 for its 2026 401(k) Champion competition, which rewards workplace savers who help coworkers understand retirement plans. Three winners will be named Sept. 11 and each will receive $1,000.

Why it matters: - The competition is aimed at closing a persistent workplace financial-literacy gap. - Only 19% of Americans say they have ever taken formal financial education at school, college or work, according to FINRA’s 2024 National Financial Capability Study. - Only 9% of workers report participating in workplace-based financial programs, according to EBRI Issue Brief No. 660, "From the Break Room to the Bank," published in July 2026. - The contest spotlights employees who help coworkers understand 401(k) plans and make better savings decisions.

What happened: - Jackson, Grant Investment Advisers is accepting applications through Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, for the 401(k) Champion Competition. - The Stamford, Connecticut-based firm is sponsoring the program pro bono. - Three winners will each receive the title of 401(k) Champion and a $1,000 cash award. - Winners will be announced Sept. 11, 2026, on National 401(k) Day. - The 2026 competition is advised by Jack Towarnicky, an ERISA and employee benefits attorney and a 2021 401(k) Champion, and Dave Wray, retired president of the Plan Sponsor Council of America. - Applications are available online at 401kchampion.com. - The competition is open to U.S.-based 401(k) participants. - An independent panel of judges will review entries anonymously.

The details: - The contest asks participants to describe, in their own words, how they maximize their 401(k) opportunities. - The format is built around peer-to-peer sharing and practical workplace conversation. - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified peer-to-peer support as a promising practice for improving financial habits at work in its 2014 "Financial Wellness at Work" report. - The U.S. Government Accountability Office said in 2015 that employers are well-suited to help promote financial literacy. - The TIAA Institute-GFLEC 2026 Personal Finance Index found financial literacy at its lowest level in the survey’s 10-year history, with Americans answering 47% of the 28 questions correctly on average. - Vanguard said in "How America Saves 2025" that 45% of 401(k) participants increased their deferral rates in 2024, an all-time high. - Vytas Kisielius, director of the competition, said friendly communication is the shortest distance between a plan document and a confident decision. - Dave Wray said the essays put a human face on retirement readiness and surface practical lessons other workers can use. - Jack Towarnicky said the competition recognizes people who make thoughtful retirement-saving decisions and inspire colleagues to do the same. - Julie Jason, the competition’s creator, said the goal is to encourage people to share what they have learned about using 401(k) benefits. - Jason said the essay is short, the deadline is real and retirement readiness spreads fastest person to person. - The competition includes a conversation about its rationale with former 401(k) Champion Robert Brokamp of The Motley Fool at 401kchampion.com.

Between the lines: - The competition is trying to turn informal workplace advice into a financial-education tool. - The timing lines up with rising 401(k) participation activity and weak financial literacy, which gives the program a timely hook. - The contest also gives Jackson, Grant a public-facing way to promote financial literacy without a sales pitch.

What’s next: - Applications remain open until Aug. 28, 2026. - The judging panel will review submissions anonymously before the Sept. 11 announcement. - The selected winners will be recognized as workplace peers who help other savers navigate retirement plans. - More information is available at 401kchampion.com.