>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, FORMER ARIZONA SENATOR JEFF BLAKE ABOUT AS AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY AND HIS THOUGHTS ON ARIZONA POLITICS AND TONIGHT, NEW PHOENIX ENTER POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL SULLIVAN JOINS US AND EMPLOYEES AND SAVINGS.

THIS IS NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ANOTHER DAY AND ANOTHER REPORT OF CLASSIFIED GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS FOUND WHERE THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND IN TIME MIKE PENCE AND A SPOKESPERSON THEY WERE CONFIDENT THEYHE HAD NO CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SAID ENCOUNTERS THE BORDER DROPPED BY HALF COMPARED TO LAST MONTH WHICH SAW A SPIKE THAT AVERAGED 7,000 A DAY AND THERE WAS TITLE 42 AND LEGALLY MIGRANT TO THE U.S. AS THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE NUMBERS AND DAILY ARRESTS DROPPED AND NOT CLEAR HOW LONG THAT TREND WILL LAST.

>>> FORMER ARIZONA SENATOR JEFF FLAKE AND FLAKE IS THE U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY AND AN IMPORTANT COUNTRY ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

EARLIER TODAY, WE SPOKE WITH AMBASSADOR FLAKE WHO JOINED US FROM TURKEY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> Ted: I KNOW IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU HOW THINGS WERE GOING AND THE AMBASSADORSHIP AND HOW IS IT GOING OVER THERE?

>> WE'VE BEEN HERE NOW A YEAR AND IT'S BEEN A QUICK YEAR.

AND I FOUND OUT THAT BEING A DIPLOMAT IS DIFFERENT THAN HOLDING ELECTED OFFICE AND I LIKE BOTH.

>> Ted: TALK TO US ABOUT WHY YOU DECIDED TO BECOME AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY.

>> WELL, I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED THOSE IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE AND OUR DIPLOMATS AND BEING ON THE SENATE FLOOR IN RELATION'S COMMITTEE AND FOREIGN AFFAIR'S COMMITTEE AND DEALT WITH INDICES OVERSEAS AND WHEN I WAS ASKED DURING MY TIME IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE, IF YOU WEREN'T DOING IN, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING, I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

I TOOK A DIFFERENT ROUTE AND THE WHITE HOUSE ASKED IF I WOULD CONSIDER A POST ABROAD, I SAID, YEAH, HOW ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA WHEN I'M 75?

[ Laughter ] >> I WASN'T SERIOUS ABOUT IT AS MUCH.

BUT I SAID IF THERE WERE A REALLY CONSEQUENTIAL POST, I WOULD CONSIDER IT.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT TURKEY AND THE POSITION IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, SPECIFICALLY THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND SOUNDS LIKE TURKEY IS FRIENDLY TO BOTH IN THIS CONFLICT AND HOW ARE THEY SQUARING THAT CIRCLE THERE?

>> THE INVASION HAPPENED SIX WEEKS AFTER WE GOT HERE, FEBRUARY 24th OF LAST YEAR AND THAT HAS FRAMED A LOT OF WHAT I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH HERE AND TURKEY HAS KIND OF STRADDLED BOTH SIDES AS THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, SEPARATES ASIA AND AND EUROPE.

WITH REGARD TO UKRAINE, INITIALLY, VERY EARLY ON, THEY INVOKED THE MONTRO TREAT CREEY AND I THINK RUSSIA INITIALLY THOUGHT, WE WON'T NEED ASSETS THERE AND THIS WILL BE A QUICK WAR.

BUT AS IT'S TURNED OUT, THAT WAS A CRITICAL DECISION.

THEY'VE ALSO DONE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY HELPED.

THEY'VE BEEN STEDFAST SUPPORTERS AND THEY DO A LOT OF TRADE WITH THE RUSSIANS AND THEY HAVEN'T IMPOSED THE SAME SANCTIONS THAT THE EU HAVE DONE.

SO IT'S QUITE A COMPLICATED PICTURE OVER HERE.

>> Ted: HAS THE WAR CHANGED THE UNITED STATES' RELATIONSHIP WITH TURKEY IN MEASURABLE WAYS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

TURKEY IS A NATO ALLY AND CELEBRATED 70 YEARS IN NATO AND A VALUABLE ALLY AND SO, WE'VE ASKED A LOT OF TURKEY AND THEY'VE COME THROUGH ON MANY OF THE THINGS WE'VE ASKED FOR.

BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY STILL ARE DEPENDENT ON RUSSIA FOR NATURAL GAS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE MUCH OF EUROPE IS, FOR TOURISM AND MUCH OF THEIR ECONOMY.

SO THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE SOME MEASURES.

BUT WE'RE ALWAYS PUBBING THEM PUSHING THEM TO DO MORE AND WE GO INFREQUENTLY TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO MORE WITH REGARD TO SANCTIONS AGAINST EUROPE OR A IRKIDE TO UKRAINE AND WE'RE PLEASED OF WHAT THEY DO AND ALWAYS WANT THEM DO MORE.

RIGHT NOW AS WE ALL KNOW, WE WANT FINLAND AND SWEDEN TO BE A PART OF NATO AND TURKEY STANDS IN THE WAY OF THAT.

THEY HAVE GENUINE SECURITY CONCERNS AND THEY WOULD LIKE SWEDEN TO ADDRESS.

SWEDEN ADDRESSED MOST OF THOSE AND WE HOPE TO SEE SWEDEN AND FINLAND TO JOIN NATO SOON.

>> Ted: I ASKED IF THE WAR CHANGED THAT WITH TURKEY AND HAS THIS JOB CHANGED HOW YOU SEE FOREIGN AFFAIRS?

>> WELL, IT JUST TIGHTENS THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

WHAT REPRESENTED THE UNITED STATES OVERSEAS IS A REAL HONOR AND COUNTRIES LIKE THIS, IN PARTICULAR, TURKEY, ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I WOULD LIKE TO ROW REMIND MY FORMER EMPLOYEES, COUNTRIES MIGHT CHANGE BUT GEOGRAPHIC DOESN'T AND TURKEY WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE MIDDLE AND THEIR RELATION WITH THE WEST AND RUSSIA MAY BE COMPLICATED AND DIFFERENT AND CHALLENGING AND FRUSTRATING AT TIMES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO, WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH HOW THE UKRAINIANS HAVE FOUGHT, NORTH OF US HERE.

WE WORK A LOT I THE UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR HERE IN TURKIA AND JUST AN IMPORTANT THING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT ARIZONA AND HOW MUCH DID YOU FOLLOW THE ELECTIONS HERE IN ARIZONA AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE RESULTS?

>> WELL, SOMETIMES IT'S NICE TO BE 7,000 MILES AWAY FROM ARIZONA POLITICS.

[ Laughter ] >> I THINK THIS ELECTION WAS NO EXCEPTION.

YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT I FOUND HEARTENING PARTICULARLY AFTER WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6th.

AN EVENT LIKE THAT, JANUARY 6th, 2021 WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING.

AROUND THE WORLD FOR COUNTRIES THAT WE HAVE PRODDED AND COAXED THIS IS A WAY DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO RUN AND WHAT WE SEE ON JANUARY 6th AND THAT'S A TOUGH DEAL.

I CAN TILL, TELL YOU DURING THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AND THE ELECTIONS THAT JUST HAPPENED, IT WAS HEARTENING TO SEE THAT IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, WIT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MAYBE ARIZONA, THOSE WHO LOST ELECTIONS, ACCEPTED IT AND SAID NEXT TIME WE'LL DO BETTER AND DIDN'T CHALLENGE THE PROCESS.

AND THAT'S GOOD AND IT'S NEEDED FOR COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING TURKEY.

WE HAVE IMPORTANT ELECTIONS COMING UP HERE.

I THINK THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE AND OTHERS LABELED IT THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS WILL HAPPEN IN TURKEY AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE U.S. TO MODEL BEHAVIOR THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE REST OF THE WORLD ADOPT.

AND SO BY AND LARGE, IT WAS NICE TO SEE THAT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE AND I THINK IT'S A LITTLE UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THE ELECTION RESULTS.

>> Ted: SENATOR SINEMA HAS GONE INDEPENDENT AND IT MAKES ME ABOUT YOU AND YOUR DECISION NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION AND SHE HASN'T DECIDED TO RUN FOR REELECTION AND THE THOUGHT THAT SHE LIKELY WILL AND LIKE LITTLE WILLLIKELY WILLAS AN INDEPENDENT AND WHAT TO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> I I THINK THE SENATE WOULD BENEFIT WITH FIGURES REGISTERED INDEPENDENT.

WE HAVE A FEW AND THEY CAUCUS WITH THE INDEPENDENT PARTY, BUT I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE ROOM IN THE FUTURE AND I HOPE THERE'S A BIG ENOUGH LANE RIGHT NOW FOR AN INDEPENDENT TO WIN IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD FOR POLITICS AND NOT JUST IN ARIZONA BUT ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I'VE BEEN PROUD TO SEE HOW SHE'S TO PROTECT THE INSTITUTION AND SENATE.

AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE FILIBUSTER, WHICH, FRANKLY, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND ONE OF THE FEW LEFT THAT BRINGS THE PARTIES TOGETHER AND FORCES POLITICIANS TO WORK TOGETHER AS WE SHOULD.

AND SO I WAS PLEASED TO SEE HER PROTECT THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK WHEN I WOULD HAVE RUN FOR REELECTION, I DON'T THINK THAT LANE WAS BIG ENOUGH AND I HOPE IT IT IS FOR HER AND OTHERS.

>> Ted: AND YOU, AS WELL?

[ Laughter ] >> NO, NO, I DID 8 YEARS 18 YEARS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND ENJOYED MY TIME IMMENSITY AND THAT'S SUFFICIENT.

>> Ted: LAST YES AND THANK QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU PUT YOURSELF ON A LIMB WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS AT HIS HEIGHT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND YOU TOLD ME YOU CONSIDERED IT A FEVER, THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS SUFFERING FROM A FEVER AND IS THAT FEVER STARTING TO BREAK?

LAST QUESTION.

>> I THINK IT IS.

I THINK IT IS AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE QUESTION.

IT'S LASTED LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD AND I THINK IT IS BREAKING AND NOT JUST IN ARIZONA, BUT ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, AS WELL.

>> Ted: SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

>> Ted: UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE NEW INTERIM POLICE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF PHOENIX.

>> Ted: MIKE SULLIVAN HAVING SUCCEEDED JERI WILLIAMS WHO STEPPED DOWN IN SEPTEMBER AND SULLIVAN TAKES OVER AMID A U.S. INVESTIGATION OF THE PHOENIX PD BY OFFICERS AND WE WELCOME CHIEF MICHAEL SULLIVAN AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS, TED.

>> Ted: YOU LEFT A PERMANENT JOB FOR THIS INTERIM JOB.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY I COULDN'T PASS UP.

YOU KNOW, MY SKILLSET, IT'S WHAT THE CITY OF PHOENIX WAS LOOKING FOR AND SOMEBODY WITH CHIEF EXPERIENCE AND SOMEBODY I HAD WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION, CIVIL RIGHT'S' INVESTIGATION AND THAT'S WHAT I CAME FROM FROM THE LAST CITY OF BALTIMORE.

MY SKILLSET SET ME UP FOR SUCCESS HERE.

>> Ted: HIRED TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THIS INVESTIGATION.

>> I WAS.

>> Ted: COMPARE WHAT HAPPENED IN BALTIMORE WITH THE DESCENT DECREE UNDER THE INVESTIGATION STATUS.

>> CERTAINLY.

YOU KNOW, HERE IN PHOENIX, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION AND WE'VE BEEN UNDER A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PATTERN AND PRACTICE INVESTIGATION SINCE LAST AUGUST AND SO WE'RE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR INTO THE INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT.

AND THE INVESTIGATION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL IT'S CONCLUDED AND TYPICALLY AT THE END OF THE INVESTIGATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL ISSUE A FINDINGS REPORT AND THE FINDINGS REPORT WILL, YOU KNOW, LET US KNOW WHAT THEY FOUND DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION AND ANY CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS BY THE MEMBERS AND THE DEPARTMENT.

>> Ted: AND THE CITY LOOKS OVER WHAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOUND AND THE INVESTIGATION FOUND AND DOES WHAT?

AGREES TO SOME AND DOESN'T AGREE TO OTHERS?

>> THERE CAN BE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OR WHAT'S CALLED A CONSENT DECREE WHERE THE PARTIES NEGOTIATE CERTAIN REFORMS AND BOTH AGREE AND ENTERED INTO COURT AS A COURT ENFORCEABLE REFORM DOCUMENT.

>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY, IT LOOKS AT USE OF FORCE INCLUDING DEADLY FORCE AND UNLAWFULLY DISPOSING OF THINGS AND HOW MUCH CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT HOW MUCH REFORM IS NEEDED IN THOSE AREAS?

>> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, EVACUEE WE'VE GIVEN THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PAGES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

WE'LL DO EVERYTHING TO BE THE BEST DEPARTMENT WE CAN.

WE TALK ABOUT REFORM AND I TALK ABOUT BEING A SELF-CORRECTING AGENCY.

SO IN THOSE AREAS AND THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, I WANT TO PUT US IN A POSITION THAT WE'RE FINDING THINGS BEFORE THEIR PROBLEM.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON IN YOUR DEPARTMENT WHILE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING, AS WELL?

>> I'VE SPENT MY FIRST FIVE MONTHS, YOU KNOW, REALLY ASSESSING OUR STRENGTHS AND SOME AREAS WE COULD IMPROVE IN.

ONE OF THE YEARS AREAS WAS USE OF FORCE POLICY AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ACTUALLY OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW AND SO I'M ENCOURAGING BY THIS WATCHING IT TO GO ON A WEBSITE, TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS THEY HAVE ON THE USE OF FORCE POLICY.

IT'S OUT THERE IN DRAFT FORM AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR PHOENIX, BUT SOMETHING THEY SHOULD COME TO EXPECT WHEN WE HAVE THESE MAJOR POLICY CHANGES THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY ASK FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

>> Ted: UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Ted: THAT SAID, WE TALK ABOUT REFORM AND WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ON THIS PROGRAM REGARDING PHOENIX PD AND THE PROBLEMS AND LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT REFORM AND ALSO KEEP THE PEACE?

>> YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXECUTIVE.

YOU CAN CONSTITUTIONALLY POLICE AND IMPLEMENT THE REFORMS THAT ARE EXPECTING.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY SHOULD COEXIST TOGETHER.

I WAS ABLE TO DO IT DURING MY TIME AND WITH MY LAST DEPARTMENT AND REDUCE CRIME AND I FULLY EXPECT THAT TO BE HERE.

YOU KNOW, I'M CHALLENGING OUR FOLKS TO RECENTER AND REFOCUS ON WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE HERE TO PREVENT AND CONTROL CRIME AND PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT I HAVE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT.

>> Ted: MANY FOLKS ARE PRO POLICE AND TOO MUCH WORRY AND CRIME RATES GO UP.

>> I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT AND JUST WATCH WHAT WE DO IN PHOENIX AND BEING ABLE TO DO THE WORK AND GIVE THE WOMEN TOOLS AND TRAINING THEY NEED AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIGHT CRIME.

>> Ted: THE OTHER SIDE SAYS ALL OF THIS NECESSARY USE OF FORCE, THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING WRONG, THAT CAN INCREASE CRIME, AS WELL.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> YOU KNOW, I STRIKE A BALANCE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, REFORM AND GOOD POLICING ARE THINGS THAT ARE BOTH NEEDED TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE.

>> Ted: HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS VIOLENT CRIME IN PHOENIX?

>> ONE THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE VERY, VERY NEAR FUTURE IS A CRIME PLAN, WHERE WE'LL TAKE AND GIVE DIRECTION TO THE MEN AND WOMEN DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY.

A REAL STRATEGIC VISION GOING FORWARD AND FOCUS ON THE MOST VIOLENT PEOPLE, THE MOST PROBLEMATIC PEOPLE AND VIOLENT PLACES, GEOGRAPHICS.

>> Ted: IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN TO LOOK AT PROBLEM AREAS AND LOOK AT A MAP OR LOOK AT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS?

WE HEAR THIS ALL OF THE TIME WITH A FEW PEOPLE MAKING THE BIG NOISE AND IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'LL DO?

>> WE HAVE TO BE DATA DRIVEN AND DATA HAS TO DRIVE WHAT WE DO AND CHALLENGES WITH DATA HERE.

BUT WE'RE IMPROVING THE SYSTEMS AS WE SPEAK AND GETTING MORE DATA DRIVEN AND USING THAT TO HELP DRIVE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR STRATEGIES.

>> Ted: THE PROBLEM WITH DATA, WAS IT THE SYSTEMS OR THE INPUT SPOTINTO THE SYSTEMS?

>> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

THE SYSTEMS ARE ANTIQUATED AND THE RECORD'S MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS THE BASIS OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND HELPS US TO GENERATE THAT DATA.

AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT CONTINUALLY.

>> Ted: WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE POLICE UNION?

>> WE SPEAK ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THERE'S THINGS THAT WE CERTAINLY AGREE ON BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHARED VISION TO TAKE CARE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GO OUT THERE AND TO THIS WORK EVERY DAY.

AND THERE'S THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ON AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AND BE UPFRONT ABOUT IT AND WE'VE HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

>> Ted: MUCH PUSHBACK?

>> WE'VE HAD THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISAGREED WITH EACH OTHER ON AND WE'VE ALSO FOUND COMMON GROUND.

>> Ted: ARE YOU INTERESTED ON STAYING PERMANENTLY ON THIS JOB?

>> IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON.

I'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH MY FAMILY AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

>> Ted: THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

♪♪ >> Ted: PRESIDENT BIDEN RECENTLY SIGNED A SECURE ACT 2.0 AS PART OF THE 1.$7 TRILLION OMNIBUS SPENDING PACKAGE AND NEW LEGISLATION DINED DESIGNED TO FINANCIAL READINESS AND TONIGHT AS PART OF THE AARP FOR OLDER ADULTS, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2.0 FROM ATTORNEY RYAN CLARK FROM FENNIMORE.

I'M GETTING THE VERBIAGE MIXED UP.

>> CONGRESS TALKS ABOUT RETIREMENT PLANS AND IN 209, THERE2019,THERE WAS THE SECURE ACT AND THIS WAS A SEQUEL LEGISLATION THAT DOESN'T CLEAN UP AND MAKES IT EASIER TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT.

>> Ted: THIS STRENGTHENS THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AS WELL?

>> IT DOES A NUMBER OF THINGS AND MAKES IT EASIER TO SPONSOR PLANS AND MAKES ITS ADMINISTRATIVELY AND HAS ADVANTAGES FOR EMPLOYEE INTERESTS HOWS TOSAVE.

>> Ted: FOR EMPLOYEES, IT SOUNDS LIKE CHANGES AND BOLSTER SAVES FOR 401KS AND IRA'S?

>> IT DOES THAT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS AND MAKES PEOPLE LESS DEPENDENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN THEY RETIRE AND IF THEY HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE RETIREMENT, THEY HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY AND LOTS OF REASONS WHY THE GOVERNMENT WANTS PEOPLE TO SAVE.

>> Ted: AN INCREASE IN THE AGE FOR DISTRIBUTIONS AND 73 NOW AND WHAT WHEN?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE 73 NOW BASED ON SECURE 2.0 AND IN 2033, UP TO AGE 75 AND PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTINUING TO WORK OR IF THEY HAVE CEASED WORKING AT 75 WITHIN 75, THEY NEED TO TAKE MONEY FROM THEIR RETIREMENT PLANS.

THIS GIVES MORE FLEXIBILITY TO PEOPLE.

FOR EXAMPLE IN THEIR 60S, THEY TAKE SOCIAL SECURITY AND IF THEY HAVE A PENSION PLAN, THEY TAKE THAT AND PEOPLE DETERMINE WHEN THEY TAKE THAT UP TO 75.

>> Ted: THE PENALTIES FOR NOT TAKING THE REQUIRED DISTRIBUTION, THAT CHANGES, AS WELL.

>> IT WAS A 50% EXCISED TAX AND YOU WOULD PAY YOUR REGULAR INCOME TAX AND AN ADDITIONAL 50% EXCISED TAX AND IT'S RECUESED REDUCED TO 25% AND IT GOES TOWN DOWN TO 10% AND REMOVING SOME OF THE DRACONIAN POLICIES.

>> Ted: I'M FINDING THESE DISTRIBUTIONS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED WITH ROTH ACCOUNTS AND WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT ROTH AND RETAX AND PEOPLE HAVE A PRETAX DEFERRAL AND THEY PAY TAX WHEN THEY TAKE IT OUT AND EARNINGS AND WITH ROTH, PEOPLE PAY TAX AT THE TIME IT'S TAKEN OUT AND THEY DON'T PAY TAX ON THAT PRINCIPLE OR EARNINGS AND IT'S AFTER TAX ROTH AMOUNTS.

>> Ted: THIS IS ANOTHER WAY GO INTO THE ROTH AREA.

>> I THINK WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES WHERE PEOPLE DEFER MORE AND THAT'S A REVENUE ALSO TO THE SERVICE AND THEY DO KIND OF A MAKEUP WHERE THEY SAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY AND GET THAT TAX REVENUE RATHER THAN IN THE FUTURE.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT CATCHUP CONTRIBUTIONS AND A LOT OF FOLKS WHERE THEY GO HOLY SMOKES, I BETTER CATCH UP AND YOU CAN CATCH UP EASIER WITH THIS PROGRAM?

>> YES, SO THE NORMAL AMOUNT PEOPLE DEFER TO THE PLAN IN 2023 IS 22,500 AND 50 AND OLDER CAN DO A CATCH-UP CONTRIBUTION THAT THIS YEAR IS 7,500 AND SECURED 2.0 ADDED ANOTHER PROVISION AGE 60 TO 63 AND THEY HAVE AN ENHANCED CATCH-UP AMOUNT.

AS THEY GET CLOSER TO RETIREMENT, THEY MIGHT WANT TO SAVE MORE.

>> Ted: THIS IS 401KS AND THE 403BS.

>> GENERALLY, SOME INCREASES BETTER FOR PEOPLE AS THEY APPROACH RETIREMENT AGE.

>> Ted: DID I CALL YOU RYAN CLARK?

>> YOU DID.

>> Ted: RYAN CURTIS IS OUR GUEST.

THIS CAN BE CONFUSING FOR A LOT OF FOLKS AS FAR AS RETIREMENT AND EMERGENCY SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH ROTHS CAN BE ADDED TO OTHER PLANS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THERE'S 90 DIVISIONS AND IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE EXPECTING A LOT OF GUIDANCE FROM THE IRS AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ON HOW THESE WILL BE WORKING.

SO WE'RE STILL DIGESTING THIS BILL AND SO MANY PROVISIONS AND INTERESTING THINGS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Ted: WE TALKED ABOUT CATCHING UP FOR OLDER FOLKS AND WHAT ABOUT STUDENT DEBT?

>> WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOLS WITH LARGER AND LARGER STUDENT DEBTS AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING CAREERS AND THEY MIGHT BE LOOKING TO BUY A HOME AND START A FAMILY AND DON'T HAVE MUCH TO STAVE FORSAVE FOR THEIR 401K AND MISS OUT ON THE MATCH AND SOME EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING, LET'S LOOK AT HOW MUCH YOU ARE PAYING FOR STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND WE'LL DO A CONTRIBUTION BASED ON WHAT YOU PAY FOR STUDENT LOANS.

>> Ted: ANOTHER FACTOR, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S A WHOLE TON OF THINGS GOING ON HERE, BUT SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SPENCEEXPERIENCE AND THIS CAN BE DIFFICULT FROM EMPLOYEE TO EMPLOYER AND DOES THIS MAKE IT EASIER?

>> THERE'S PORTABILITY AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO IS WORK FOR A FEW EMPLOYERS.

IF THEY DON'T TAKE ACTION, MOVE IT TO AN IRA AND PROVISIONS THAT MAKE THAT MORE PORTABLE AND WHAT HAPPENS, YOU GET MISSING PARTICIPANTS AND YOU KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR YOU 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND THEY MERGE THEIR BALANCES TOGETHER.

>> Ted: SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE, RYAN FROM FENNIMORE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING CAMPUS HAVEUS AND YOUHAVE A GREAT EVENING.