Retirement plans have long been seen as expensive, complex, and difficult to manage—especially for small businesses. But that perception is changing.

In this episode of the Planning Perspectives Podcast, Jackie Reeves joins Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy to explore what’s different today, the opportunities many employers may be overlooking, and why taking a fresh look at your current plan could deliver meaningful value for both your business and your employees.

Key Takeaways:

• Why no business is “too small” to offer a retirement plan—and how accessibility has improved
• How modern plans have become more affordable, streamlined, and easier to manage
• Why retirement benefits are now a powerful differentiator for attracting and retaining talent
• How features like automatic enrollment—and a simple plan review—can significantly improve outcomes
• And more.

This conversation makes a compelling case for revisiting your approach—because today’s retirement plans aren’t just easier, they’re a strategic advantage.

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust:

• 833-973-7633
• LinkedIn: Bryn Mawr Trust
• Website: Bryn Mawr Trust

Connect with Kate Duffy:

• LinkedIn: Kate Duffy

Connect with Jamie Hopkins:

• LinkedIn: Jamie Hopkins

Connect with Jacqueline Reeves:

• LinkedIn: Jacqueline Reeves

About our Guest:

Jacqueline (Jackie) Reeves leads Retirement Plan Services at Bryn Mawr Trust, a WSFS company. She works with business owners to design, evaluate, and optimize retirement plans that align with company goals, employee needs, and evolving regulatory requirements. Jackie specializes in helping organizations navigate plan design, fiduciary oversight, retirement plan benchmarking, participant engagement, and long-term retirement readiness strategies. Throughout this conversation, she shares practical insights on how business owners can simplify retirement plan decisions while creating meaningful benefits for their employees.

Roth accounts can shape how and when taxes are paid, but the right choice depends on timing, income, and long-term goals.

How can savers use Roth planning to create more flexibility before and during retirement?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy explain how Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, conversions, and backdoor Roth contributions fit into a broader financial plan. They compare Roth and traditional accounts, explain income limits, cover required distributions, and share why high earners may still benefit from Roth strategies. The conversation also clears up common myths and highlights why tax diversification matters.

Key takeaways:

• How Roth IRAs differ from traditional IRAs when it comes to taxes, timing, and withdrawals
• Why high-income years may not be ideal for Roth contributions, but Roth planning can still fit
• How Roth conversions can help retirees use lower-income years to shift money strategically
• Why Roth 401(k)s may offer higher contribution room without Roth IRA income restrictions
• How backdoor Roth contributions work and why existing IRA balances can create tax issues

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust:

• 833-973-7633
• LinkedIn: Bryn Mawr Trust
• Website: Bryn Mawr Trust

Connect with Kate Duffy:

• LinkedIn: Kate Duffy

Connect with Jamie Hopkins:

• LinkedIn: Jamie Hopkins

Growth can look exciting from the outside—but behind every new location, partnership, or expansion are tough calls, people challenges, and the constant pressure to get it right.

So how do you scale a business without losing the culture that made it successful in the first place? And what does it really take to build a company people want to grow with?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy sit down with Sydney Grims, Director of Business Development at Fearless Restaurants, to unpack what it takes to expand a hospitality brand while staying true to its roots. Sydney shares how her family’s restaurant background shaped her leadership approach, why building the right operational systems became essential, and how Fearless navigates hiring, real estate decisions, branding, and thoughtful growth.

They also dive into women in leadership, community-building through the Fearless Femmes initiative, and why sometimes the smartest growth strategy is slowing down.

Key takeaways:

• Why protecting culture—not just chasing growth—is the foundation of long-term success
• How stronger systems and faster response times unlocked new operational opportunities
• What to look for in new markets, from real estate strategy to local demand signals
• How intentional, measured growth helps avoid burnout and build a company people want to be part of

Resources:

• Website: Alpha Bravo Canine

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust:

• 833-973-7633
• LinkedIn: Bryn Mawr Trust
• Website: Bryn Mawr Trust

Connect with Kate Duffy:

• LinkedIn: Kate Duffy

Connect with Jamie Hopkins:

• LinkedIn: Jamie Hopkins

Connect with Sydney Grims:

• LinkedIn: Sydney Grims
• Website: Fearless Restaurants
• Instagram: @fearlessrestaurants
• Instagram: @sydneygrims

About our Guest:

Sydney Grims serves as Director of Development for Fearless Restaurants, where she oversees the strategic growth and evolution of the company’s 14-property hospitality portfolio. Working directly with the Founder and CEO of the family-owned business, she helps advance both vision and execution across the organization.

Her role spans all divisions of Fearless, including capital projects, talent acquisition, sales and marketing, operations, and culinary. She leads cross-functional teams to bring new concepts to life, strengthen existing properties, and align each initiative with the company’s standards for hospitality, culture, and long-term value.

From guiding major capital investments and development initiatives to building teams and refining operational performance, Sydney focuses on sustainable growth rooted in people, place, and purpose. She works closely with leaders across the organization to translate strategy into action, balancing creativity with discipline and innovation with operational excellence.

At the core of her work is a commitment to preserving the integrity of a family business while thoughtfully expanding its impact. She takes pride in building environments where teams thrive, guests feel genuinely welcomed, and Fearless continues to set the standard for distinctive dining and hospitality experiences.

Sydney attended Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration to prepare for her role in the family business and has worked with several premier hospitality organizations, including Hillstone Restaurant Group.