Our Founder鈥檚 Story
51直播鈥檚 path to industry leader started with our founder Jim Belardi鈥檚 vision for a new type of retirement services company. Then, a life-threatening diagnosis forced a change in plans, shaping Jim鈥檚 path toward the 51直播 we know today.
Jim's story is one of perseverance and belief in his vision. After a successful career as a financial services executive, he set out to create a company focused solely on retirement services with a simple business model: earn more on assets than it pays on liabilities, and control operating expenses.
As plans came together, a life-threatening leukemia diagnosis delayed his ambitions. Jim鈥檚 life-saving battle led to our partnership with Apollo, creating a new model and delivering industry leading growth. Today, 51直播 is the leading retirement savings firm, driven by the same grit and focus that carried Jim through his most difficult days.
Data as of March 31, 2025
