Before I built companies in retirement plan technology, I was an aerospace engineer. My early businesses developed battery systems for drones, built special-purpose unmanned aircraft, and even designed helicopter training systems for the Air Force and Navy. Aviation was my first love, and it shaped the way I think about technology and automation.

One of the most fascinating things I learned in that world is how autopilots transformed aviation. They reduced the workload on crews, improved safety, and changed the economics of flying.

But they also created a surprising paradox: even as planes became easier to fly, the demand for pilots only grew. Autopilots made it so that instead of 3 or 4 pilots in the cockpit, you only need 2. And yet, there is a global pilot shortage.

That’s the exact parallel I see today in retirement plan administration. I promise, this isn't that far of a stretch. Stick with me here...

The Miracle on the Hudson

You probably already know this story...

On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 took off from LaGuardia Airport. Within minutes, a flock of geese struck both engines, shutting them down. The plane was powerless. In those terrifying moments, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and his crew leaned on their training, the aircraft’s automation, and sheer human judgment.

Together, they pulled off the impossible: a water landing on the Hudson River. Every single passenger survived.

The story became a symbol of what happens when automation and human expertise work in harmony. The Airbus A320’s systems provided critical stability and information, but it was the pilot’s decision-making that saved lives.

A decade later, Ural Airlines Flight 178 faced a similar nightmare. Moments after takeoff, both engines were crippled by a bird strike. The pilots worked with the aircraft’s automated systems to stabilize the jet and put it down in a cornfield outside Moscow. Again, all on board survived.

Two very different flights, one message: automation doesn’t eliminate the need for humans. It makes them more effective when it matters most.

The Safety Revolution

The numbers prove it.

In 2024, airlines operated more than 40 million flights around the world, yet only seven ended in fatal accidents. The FAA reports that U.S. airline passenger fatalities have dropped by 95 percent in the last two decades. The risk of dying in a commercial crash is nearly forty times lower than it was in the 1970s.

This leap is thanks to technology like autopilots, which trim, correct, and fly with extraordinary consistency. By handling routine tasks, they allow pilots to focus on judgment and crisis.

The skies are safer than ever — but here’s the twist: the world still faces a global pilot shortage.

Why? Because safer, cheaper, more scalable aviation encouraged more people to fly.

More flights meant more pilots.

The Parallel for Plan Consultants

That same paradox is now unfolding in retirement plan administration.

For decades, plan consultants have lived in the world pilots once knew: full manual control. Census data to scrub, payrolls to reconcile, compliance checks to chase down, emails stacked a mile high. No autopilot, no relief.

AI is changing that.

It’s becoming the autopilot for retirement plans. It catches census errors, integrates payroll data, drafts compliance documents, manages e-signatures, and automates client reminders.

Consultants aren’t removed from the process — they’re elevated.

Just like pilots, they’re freed from routine tasks so they can focus on judgment, relationships, and strategy.

The Growth Paradox

This shift doesn’t shrink the industry; it expands it. Right now, the U.S. has around 850,000 retirement plans. But more than 15 million businesses still don’t offer one.

As AI makes consultants more efficient, firms can handle far more plans without collapsing under the weight of manual work. Margins go up, growth accelerates, and new opportunities open.

And that’s where the paradox kicks in. Even though fewer consultants may be needed per plan, the industry will need more consultants overall, because the total number of plans will grow. Just as autopilots created more demand for pilots, AI will create more demand for skilled plan consultants.

Why Humans Remain Indispensable

Plan sponsors don’t trust a dashboard to interpret complex regulations or explain trade-offs. They trust people. Plan consultants don't just push paper or key in numbers; they are problem solvers and relationship builders.

Automation can crunch numbers, but only consultants can navigate nuance, handle exceptions, and build relationships.

In aviation, passengers still want a pilot in the cockpit. In retirement, plan sponsors still want a consultant they know and rely on.

You Are the Pilot

This is why I believe the retirement industry is standing at its “aviation moment.”

AI isn’t replacing you. It’s your autopilot — there to catch errors, reduce fatigue, and make your work safer and more scalable.

And just as aviation grew massively once it became safer, retirement plan administration will grow massively as automation takes root.

The lesson from the skies is clear: autopilots made aviation safer, bigger, and more profitable, and pilots became more essential than ever.

The same will be true for plan consultants. The industry needs you. The businesses without plans need you. And with AI as your autopilot, you’re not flying less — you’re about to fly farther than ever.