Happy Late January! The year’s off to a fast start, and there’s plenty happening in retirement savings. Warm up with a hot drink (Jan. 31 is National Hot Chocolate Day!) and dive into Illinois Secure Choice at five, updates from California, Connecticut, and Maine, a hot take on SECURE 2.0’s Saver’s Match, Hot Sauce, and Pix of the Week. Enjoy!

It is the dog days of August. Just for you, at the end of this edition, we’re going on a road trip together. And for now, snag yourself something icy and a comfortable chair, possibly in front of a fan. It’s time to catch up on the world of retirement savings innovation:

• Is retirement savings the ultimate ledger for personal financial wellness? This and four more hot topics from Aspen’s Ida Rademacher and Karen Andres

• We are BLOWING UP the state metrics this edition, check it out

• Updates from California, Colorado, Connecticut, and New Jersey

• Anchors Away! Duke’s Perry Wright on these, and defaults

• Hot Sauce! Cool stuff just for you

• Whew! Pix of the week, possibly from your state …

Farewell June, you’re leaving us too soon! You’ve been eventful, though. Everybody’s active – the states, the federal legislature, the Supreme Court, the activists. We think it’s going to be a hot hot summer. Let’s start with a cool moment catching up on retirement security and celebrating some recent successes. Grab something cold and read on:

• David Bell, Sabra Purifoy and Renzo Meza on OregonSaves at Five – my, you’re looking so good!

• State metrics –May figures are in.

• Updates from California, Colorado and /New Mexico, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Delaware.

• Could innovation in housing help with retirement and financial security? Joel Metlen opines.

• Hot Sauce! … what 10 state Auto IRAs mean in the US, NEST insight’s annual conference returns this summer, and much more.

• PIX of the Week! – we’re taking you outdoors in the Pacific Northwest.