Ray Lillywhite Award
The 2022 Lillywhite Award Winner
EBRI is pleased to recognize Principal Financial Group® Chairman, President & CEO Dan Houston as the organization’s 2022 winner of the annual Lillywhite Award. Named after Ray Lillywhite, a pioneer in the pension field, the award
honors employee benefits professionals for extraordinary lifetime contributions to Americans’ economic security.
“For nearly four decades, Dan has tirelessly shown a true dedication to industry growth, innovation and financial security for all Americans. His strong sense for community support has permeated into the overall business philosophy for Principal globally — and that’s part of its success today. The Employee Benefit Research Institute recognizes Dan with the 2023 Ray Lillywhite Award because of his longtime focus on advanced financial security and retirement programs for employees and employers,” said Barb Marder, president & CEO, EBRI.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this year’s Lillywhite Award,” said Dan Houston, Principal chairman, president, and CEO. “Financial security is not just a personal achievement but a societal imperative. It is our collective responsibility to help ensure that everyone has access to the tools and knowledge needed to secure their own financial future.”
About the Ray Lillywhite Award
The Ray Lillywhite Award celebrates contributions by people who have had distinguished careers in the retirement and investment management fields and whose outstanding service has enhanced Americans' economic security.
The award is presented by EBRI as merited by individual and group excellence and is named after Ray Lillywhite, a pioneer in the pension field who for decades guided state employee pension plans. Award winners are honored at EBRI Board Meeting dinners and at Pensions & Investments Defined Contribution conferences.
In 2021, the award went to Sens. Portman and Cardin.
Other recipients include Anne Lester (2020); Howard Fluhr, Segal (2019); Anna Rappaport, Anna Rappaport Consulting (2018); Karin Brodbeck, Nestle USA (2017); Olivia S. Mitchell, executive director of the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (2016); Christine C. Marcks, president of Prudential Retirement (2015); Mary Nell Billings, director of Global Retirement Programs for Hilton Worldwide (2014); William F. Sharpe, Stanford University (2012); and Keith Ambachtsheer, president of KPA Advisory Services (2010).
Ray Lillywhite
Mr. Lillywhite helped found numerous professional organizations and educational programs. He retired from Alliance Capital in 1992 at age 80 after a 55-year career in the pension and investment field.
Ray Lillywhite exemplified not only excellence but also innovation in lifelong achievements, teaching, and learning.