Iowa State’s first retirement information and planning fair, “Fill It With Your Dreams,” drew more than 2,000 people to the Memorial Union Tuesday, exceeding attendance expectations.

“The exhibitors here today were thrilled, and I’m very pleased,” said Ann Molison, retirement specialist for human resources and coordinator of the retirement fair.

Forty-one companies set up booths in the MU to give out information and answer questions pertaining to retirement planning. Representatives were on hand from insurance, financial and medical businesses, as well as retirement communities and social security specialists.

Various company representatives also presented informational workshops throughout the day, most of which were “standing room only,” Molison said.

Steve Stahler, representing Ankeny-based The Masters Group, conducted two workshops and said the fair was quite successful, especially since it was ISU’s first retirement fair.

“Today was a good start, and [upcoming fairs] could become an awesome success,” he said, “as long as there is a good amount of quality control.”

Stahler said he attends retirement fairs about once every six weeks, and said The Masters Group’s goal at the ISU fair was to “help people plan and to provide education” about financial planning for retirement.

An estimated 60 to 70 people visited his booth for information, he said.

Kayleen Catus, a representative of the Ames-based Health Alliance, said the fair was well-attended and added that the many good seminars were a highlight of the day.

Though unsure about the number of people who visited her booth for information about Health Alliance, ISU’s official health and medical organization plan, Catus said she had brought 750 giveaways with her and only had 10 left at the end of the day.

“This [fair] was a great way to get our name out there to the community,” Catus said, “It served as really good PR.”

Yesterday’s fair was the first for Ron Woods, assistant vice president for investments at Piper Jaffray in Des Moines.

His company’s purpose at the fair was “to simplify and provide options as far as retirement planning and saving, which can be a very confusing thing for people,” he said.

Woods said the number of people seeking information “definitely exceeded” his expectations.

Molison said she received “tremendous cooperation” from a number of volunteers and greeters who helped with the event.

“We had more than 150 volunteers, and they were truly valuable in helping this to become a smooth, successful operation,” she said.

One particular highlight of the fair, Molison said, was Monday night’s keynote address by Diane Oakley concerning “Current and Future Issues for Retirement Planning.”

The presentation was absolutely amazing,” she said.

“More than 400 people attended, including about 50 students in the area of finance,” she said.

Molison said because the fair was so successful this year, the organizers are thinking about expanding it to a two-day event next year.

She also hopes to have a wellness exhibit at next year’s fair, which would provide people with flu shots and blood pressure evaluations.

Betty Licht, of the ISU Human Resources Office of Retirement Information and Planning, said nearly 10 months of planning went into the event.

“It had been suggested to us that we attempt a fair,” Licht said.

“There was no official registration, and we had no idea how many people to expect — but the response both from the Iowa State campus and the Ames community was wonderful,” she said.