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Bridget Bearden
Research Analyst
Bridget Bearden oversees college savings market research at Financial Research Corporation (FRC), and is the primary contact for data collection and analysis of 529 savings plans. Ms. Bearden authors weekly blogs on the college savings market for FRC's Views on the News, and manages the quarterly publication of 529 industry data. She is also responsible for an in-depth quarterly qualitative report on college savings. She conducts ad hoc research for 529 and mutual fund clients, and has relationships with leading program managers. She interacts frequently with major news publications and media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Ignites, Investment News, Smart Money, and Registered Rep. Ms. Bearden began her career at FRC in 2007 focusing on retirement, specifically the defined contribution marketplace. She co-authored a white paper entitled Guaranteed Annuities in Defined Contribution Plans. She has served as a contributing research analyst and author on a variety of other publications, including those focused on retirement income, regulatory issues, mutual fund pricing, and distribution methods. Prior to joining FRC, Ms. Bearden served in both the institutional transfer agency and the mutual fund lending divisions of State Street Corporation. She also has experience with the retail side of the transfer agency business. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and an MBA in finance from Suffolk University.