As the population ages, businesses find themselves at a crossroads—facing both unprecedented opportunities and unique challenges. Innovative solutions are required to meet the needs and preferences of all our customers. At The Hartford and Wells Fargo Advisors, we have tapped into the expertise of gerontologists to grow our market and create products and services. To meet our needs as we all age, industries across America need to realize the value gerontologists bring. During this presentation we will:

Christi Vrban leads The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence’s industry-leading mature market education programs. She is responsible for the development, delivery, and measurement of the Center’s core curriculum, utilizing multiple formats and platforms to achieve optimal learning outcomes. Christi brings her 18 years of instructional design experience and is highly skilled in producing media-rich, interactive gerontology learning courses. Christi also founded and leads The Hartford’s Working Caregivers of Older Adults community, established out of her experience of caring for her parents; this group supports employees who are providing care at various stages while working. Christi is completing her M.A. in Gerontology at USC’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and recently spoke at American Society of Aging’s On Aging 2024 Conference.

Rodnée Warr leads the Elder Client Initiatives area within Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management (WIM). Rodnée brings over 20 years of experience leading teams in legal, risk and compliance to help mitigate risks of fraud and scams among older adults. She has a master’s degree in Gerontology, providing her with unique knowledge of the psychological, sociological, and financial aspects of aging. 

Currently Rodnée leads a team who provides guidance on elder and vulnerable financial exploitation and diminished capacity to Wells Fargo Advisors and Wealth Investment Management relationship managers. Her aim is to equip all Wells Fargo employees in the various business lines with the knowledge and skills to serve mature customers more effectively. Each year through her innovative curriculum, thousands of Wells Fargo employees participate in training and other programs that equip them with the knowledge and skills to serve mature customers more effectively, while enhancing employee satisfaction. 

Rodnée believes that older adults are not necessarily more gullible than younger individuals, it is just that they can be retired and have more time on their hands, so they are able to entertain a conversation with scam artists. Her work includes developing and conducting specialized training tools such videos, pamphlets, brochures to directly educate consumers on elder financial exploitation and scams and how they can protect themselves.

Rodnée has presented at national events: US Treasures Conference, National Indian Council on Aging Elders Conference, North American Securities Administrators Association, Upper Midwest ACH Association and American Society on Aging.