Comptroller Nieshalla announces Hoosier START Award

Comptroller Elise Nieshalla announced Hoosier START has received the prestigious Leadership Award presented by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

Hoosier START, the State of Indiana’s deferred compensation retirement plan, is recognized for the second consecutive year for its innovative outreach in educating and engaging more than 68,000 state and local employee and retiree participants.

“These efforts empowered managers with the tools they need to clearly communicate the value of Hoosier START retirement savings available to public employees,” said Comptroller Nieshalla. “Grounded in the belief that understanding this benefit enhances the work experience, our approach gives managers simple, effective ways to encourage participation and drive employee engagement.”

The campaign received strong, positive feedback and highlights the value for ongoing support beyond employee onboarding. It offers comprehensive guides, digital tools and personalized assistance to help managers confidently communicate plan benefits.

“Ultimately, the campaign helped strengthen the connection between employees and reasons to actively save now for their retirements, helping to build a more informed and financially secure workforce.” 

The Leadership Award is part of NAGDCA’s annual recognition program, which highlights the most innovative ideas and impactful solutions in the public sector defined contribution industry. Hoosier START’s campaign was evaluated by the 2025 Awards Committee based on originality and measurable results.

Winning plans will be honored at NAGDCA’s Annual Conference in San Diego this September.

Hoosier START is a supplemental retirement savings plan designed to help eligible public employees complement their Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) pension. As the Plan Sponsor for Hoosier START, the State Comptroller partners with Nationwide as the third-party administrator providing account services to participants. Hoosier START offers both 457(b) and 401(a) plan options.