And the award goes to...

How do you think the concept of retirement income will acquire any real traction in the industry? Did I hear you say "awards"? (Investment News):

The Retirement Income Industry Association will honor advertising groups and academics in the industry at its annual meeting and awards dinner. The dinner will be held Sept. 17 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Mass.

The awards will be given to researchers and institutions that provide the most helpful contributions to financial advisers as the industry shifts its focus from accumulating assets to the retirement income distribution phase.

“There are clients who need advice right now, and the market won’t wait for the industry to catch up,” said Francois Gadenne, founding chairman of the Boston-based RIIA. [...]

The awards will be given in four categories: practical research, advertising, defined contribution communications and retail communications. Leaders in the financial services media will head a selection committee in each group.

Suzanne Siracuse, publisher of InvestmentNews, will head the retail-communications awards committee.

The RIIA defines itself as a "national organization whose members are defining the future of retirement security."