An Interview

If you met Dario Fusato, you'd immediately sense he isn't your typical fintech founder. Warm, passionate, and animated, with a sharp Italian accent that colors his speech, Fusato speaks less about numbers and returns and more about life, dignity, and the simple desire to "live fully now."

At first glance, you'd think he's in the wrong industry. But that's exactly what he wants you to think. He's here to disrupt the way we understand retirement itself.

From Italian Stability to American Anxiety

Born and raised in Italy, Fusato grew up in a culture where retirement was stable, predictable, and secure. His parents, like most inItaly, worked steady jobs, and retirement wasn't something to be anxious about—it was something earned, anticipated, and planned for with confidence. But when Fusato moved to the United States, he encountered a very different reality.

America's retirement landscape, he quickly learned, was fragmented, anxiety-inducing, and overly complex—filled with convoluted products and opaque financial terms. Even highly educated, financially sophisticated professionals, like himself, felt helplessly overwhelmed by decisions about 401(k)s, IRAs, annuities, and pensions.

"It was madness," Fusato recalls with frustration. "I thought, if someone like me, who understands financial services professionally, can't figure out how much to save or how to retire safely, how can an ordinary American navigate this maze?"

This realization ignited a question that would soon turn into an obsession:

"Why isn't there a simple, transparent retirement product that truly protects people and helps them live with dignity and confidence, no matter how long they live?"

The Financial Industry's Dirty Little Secret

Before creating Savvly, Fusato spent decades at leading global financial institutions like McKinsey, Aon, and Arthur J. Gallagher. From his position as a senior executive, he saw something disturbing—the existing retirement system seemed designed to benefit large institutions more than ordinary people.

"The industry thrives on complexity," he explains with a candidness rarely found in finance. "The more complicated the product, the less you understand, and the more likely you are to pay hidden fees and unnecessary costs. Complexity makes money—but for them, not for you."

It was an uncomfortable truth, one that ate at him until he felt compelled to act. So Fusato walked away from corporate comfort to pursue a risky, ambitious idea: a personal pension product that was transparent, fair, and accessible for everyone.

A Radical Idea: Financial Confidence as a Human Right

Fusato’s idea wasn’t just about better returns or lower fees—it was much deeper. At its core, Savvly is about enabling human dignity. He believes financial confidence shouldn’t be a privilege of the wealthy—it should be a universal right.

"Some in the financial industry sell fear," he says bluntly. "Fear of running out of money. Fear of living too long. Fear of the unknown. They profit off your anxiety."

He wanted something different, something positive. Fusato envisioned a solution that empowered people to spend their money confidently now, knowing their future was secure. "Why wait until you're too old or too afraid to live fully?" he asks. "People should have freedom now, without worrying constantly about tomorrow."

Savvly’s Magic: Simplicity, Transparency, and Longevity Bonuses

So, how does Savvly work? Fusato’s eyes brighten as he eagerly dives in. "We didn’t invent actuarial math," he explains,"but we made it available to everyone."

Savvly takes a portion of its customers’ retirement savings (less than 10%) and places it into a shared actuarial pension pool, something traditionally only available to massive insurance companies. When participants live longer, they receive bonus payouts from this shared pool, effectively turning longevity from a financial risk into a powerful asset.

"Savvly makes longevity profitable for you, instead of stressful," Fusato summarizes simply. The result is something radically new—essentially, a personal pension that's secure, transparent, and tailored to ordinary people and wealthy people alike.

Brick by Brick: Building a Revolution

Despite the audacity of his vision, Fusato has learned humility from the arduous process of entrepreneurship. "When I started, I thought my passion and determination alone could build Savvly," he admits candidly. "But no founder can do it alone. Creating something new and revolutionary is painfully slow, like building a cathedral brick by brick."

Today, Fusato sees himself less as the singular visionary and more as a facilitator of talented people. He has learned that real innovation comes not just from brilliant ideas, but from creating an environment where others can thrive and contribute their best work.

"It is incredibly humbling," he admits. "You start with your dream, but it grows far beyond you. My job now is creating space where others can be brilliant."

A Vision Larger Than Himself

Fusato’s co-founder, Tony Derossi, highlights a slightly different, yet complementary perspective—one grounded in social responsibility. Derossi, pragmatic and measured, says: "My motivation was more systemic—I saw retirement security as essential for a healthier, more stable society. Dario brought the personal passion; I brought the broader view. Together, it’s a powerful combination."

Indeed, Fusato's dream is bigger than just business success."We are talking about human dignity," Fusato insists passionately. "Every human deserves to age with financial confidence. It's not just good business; it's a moral imperative."

Vitamins, Not Medicine: A New Language of Retirement

Fusato hates negative marketing. "Fear is easy to sell," he notes, "but we want something better." Instead of presenting Savvly as medicine for a retirement crisis, he frames it positively—as "fiscal vitamins" for a richer, fuller life.

This subtle reframing is crucial to his message. Retirement planning, he insists, should enhance your life now, not just mitigate future disaster. "We give people permission to spend and enjoy their money today," he says with conviction. "We remove anxiety from the equation."

Facing Skepticism and Embracing Challenges

"Every disruption comes unexpectedly. When you’re challenging a trillion-dollar industry, be ready for anything,” Fusato shrugs with good-natured acceptance.

But he firmly believes the tide is shifting. "People are tired of opaque fees and complicated products. They want simplicity, fairness, and transparency. That's the wave we're riding."

Why It Matters: Dignity, Simplicity, Freedom

As our conversation draws to a close, Fusato reflects quietly, his tone turning philosophical. "Retirement isn't just numbers—it's about dignity," he says, emphasizing each word carefully."If we can give people freedom and confidence today, that's worth everything."

This deeply human vision sets Savvly apart. While other fintech firms chase short-term gains, Fusato remains steadfastly focused on a longer horizon: changing lives, restoring dignity, and empowering everyday people to live joyfully and fearlessly.

It's a huge dream, audacious even. But hearing him speak, full of passion and certainty, you can't help but believe him.

For Fusato, Savvly isn't just business. It's deeply personal. It's his chance to build something meaningful, something lasting, something that makes lives better—brick by brick.

"At the end of my life," he says quietly, "I want to look back and say: I was lucky. I helped build something good. Something honest. Something that genuinely helped people."

And from the quiet certainty in his voice, you believe he just might do it.

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