Our history

Our history and heritage

• 2018

  Empower recognized in Top 100 Innovators in Diversity & Inclusion by Mogul.

• 2018

  Empower introduced PlanVisualizer^™ to give plan sponsors and advisors unprecendented plan insight.

• 2017

  Empower and Optum launched an innovative, integrated HSA solution for retirement plan participants.

• 2017

  Empower introduced Empower Dynamic Retirement Manager^™.

• 2016

  Empower named retirement leader of the year at the 23rd Annual Mutual Fund Industry Awards 2016.

• 2016

  Empower realigned institutional recordkeeping business FASCore, LLC as Empower Institutional.

• 2015

  Empower teed off a partnership with professional golfer Robert Streb.

• 2015

  Empower launched enhanced web experience for 7.5 million participants.

• 2015

  Empower inked partnerships with the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs as official sponsors.

• 2015

  Empower's parent company launched the Empower Institute to provide thought leadership on issues and challenges related to retirement savings, guaranteed income and investing solutions.

• 2014

  Bringing together three organizations, Edmund F. Murphy III named to head Empower Retirement. Empower business became the nation’s second-largest retirement services provider with more than 7 million plan participants.¹

• 2014

  Empower acquired J.P. Morgan Retirement Plan Services' large-market recordkeeping firm.

• 2014

  Robert L. Reynolds named CEO of GWL&A, leading both Great-West Financial^® and Empower.

• 2011

  The company introduced a financial literacy grant initiative to help promote financial education among students in Colorado schools.

• 2007

  Franklin Templeton Investments transitioned its 401(k) recordkeeping business to Empower.

• 2006

  Empower acquired a block of 401(k) and defined benefit plan businesses from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and its affiliates as well as General American Life Insurance Company and New England Life Insurance Company. It also acquired U.S. Bank’s bundled, full-service defined contribution business.

• 2003

  Empower acquired 401(k) administration subsidiary EMJAY Corp. and the group retirement business of Federated Insurance Companies.

• 1993

  GWL&A established Financial Administrative Services Corporation (renamed FASCore, LLC), as a wholly owned subsidiary to provide recordkeeping and administrative services for retirement plans offered by other financial institutions.

• 1992

  The Great-West Life Assurance Company (Great-West Life) completed the transfer of its U.S. operations to U.S. subsidiary GWL&A. GWL&A's retirement business, now known as Empower, introduced a proprietary retirement plan recordkeeping platform.

• 1985

  The company began offering services to 401(k) defined contribution plans for private employers.

• 1983

  Outgrowing its downtown Denver location, the company moved its U.S. headquarters to its current campus in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

• 1979

  The formal process of splitting U.S. and Canadian operations began. The company built a new office complex in downtown Denver to house its U.S. headquarters.

• 1978

  Empower began offering services to Section 457 deferred compensation plans for public sector employees in the U.S.

• 1962

  The company began offering services to Section 403(b) retirement savings plans for nonprofit organizations. U.S. customers accounted for half of Great-West Life’s annual sales.

• 1940

  Empower began offering services to tax-advantaged retirement savings plans for U.S. employers under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a).

• 1907

  The company, now known as GWL&A, was incorporated in Kansas as The National Interment Association.

• 1906

  Great-West Life opened its first U.S. sales office in Fargo, North Dakota.

• 1891

  The Great-West Life Assurance Company (Great-West Life) was incorporated in Winnipeg, Manitoba.