2025 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year
Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup PlansChristopher DeAndrea
Director of Retirement Plan Consulting,
Webber Advisors
Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup PlansMarshall Dodge
Director of Retirement Plans,
The Bulfinch Group
Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup PlansPhillip Senderowitz
Managing Director,
Strategic Retirement Partners
Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup PlansJared Shaft
Managing Director,
Accelerate Retirement
Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*Mark Beaton
Vice President, Retirement Plan Consulting,
OneDigital
Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*Jason Jeskey
Executive Vice President,
RPW California at HUB International
Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*Mark Olsen
Founder, Managing Director,
PlanPILOT
Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*Russell Warye
Area Director,
HUB Retirement and Private Wealth
Inclusivity and Career DevelopmentFrancisco Abril
Vice President, Financial Wellness and Employee Engagement,
HUB International
Inclusivity and Career DevelopmentDouglas E. Bermudez
Managing Director,
Strategic Retirement Partners
Inclusivity and Career DevelopmentJoseph Cravotta
Manager of Institutional Services,
Henderson Brothers Financial Partners
Inclusivity and Career DevelopmentGreg Kaplan
Newfront Retirement Services, Inc.
403(b) Plan ServiceKelli Davis
Executive Vice President,
HUB International
403(b) Plan ServiceDomenic DiPiero
President, Newport Capital Group
403(b) Plan ServiceJustin Londergan
Partner, Ardea Fiduciary Advisors
403(b) Plan ServicePhillip Sherman
Senior Retirement Plan Consultant,
Deschutes Investment Consulting LLC
Plan Participant ServiceSean Bjork
President, Bjork Asset Management
Plan Participant ServiceJim Keenehan
Senior Consultant,
HUB International
Plan Participant ServicePhil Parker
Workplace Financial Advisor,
Everhart Advisors
Plan Participant ServiceBryan Peebles
Managing Director,
Strategic Retirement Partners
Plan Sponsor ServiceBeryl Ball
Principal, Financial Advisor,
CAPTRUST
Plan Sponsor ServiceSteven Gibson
Director of Retirement Plan Services,
Rehmann Financial
Plan Sponsor ServiceShane Hanson
CEO, Freedom Fiduciaries
Plan Sponsor ServiceBruce Lanser
Senior Retirement Plan Consultant,
TruSource Advisors at UBS
Plan Sponsor ServiceR. Scott Nicholls
Client Executive, Oswald Financial
Plan Sponsor ServiceJonathan Nolan
Vice President - Investment Consulting Services, Francis LLC
Plan Sponsor ServiceBrent Sheppard
Partner, Financial Advisor,
Cadence Financial Management
Plan Sponsor ServiceLeah Sylvester
Executive Partner | President - Retirement Plans, Shepherd Financial
The PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists and winners demonstrate leadership and a commitment to excellence in serving retirement plan sponsors and participants and contributing to the retirement plan adviser industry.
For the fourth year in a row, the awards are being issued in multiple categories. We have separated our recognition for “Community Impact and Giving Back” into a separate program and replaced that category with “403(b) Plan Service.” We are highlighting advisers who give back by telling their stories on PLANADVISER.com and we honor them at the annual awards dinner, in May.
In addition, last year, we divided the “Closing the Coverage Gap” category into two—“Closing the Coverage Gap – MEPs/PEPs*” and “Closing the Coverage Gap – Micro/Startup Plans.” In this way, we can better recognize the different strategies advisers use to help their small-business clients provide for retirement saving.
This year, advisers are being recognized for their excellence in the following areas:
- Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup Plans
- Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*
- Inclusivity and Career Development
- 403(b) Plan Service
- Plan Participant Service
- Plan Sponsor Service
*Multiple Employer Plans/Pooled Employer Plans
For the “Plan Sponsor Service,” “Plan Participant Service” and “403(b) Plan Service” categories, we accept nominations from plan sponsor clients only. For the other categories, we take nominations from adviser partners across the industry, including recordkeepers, asset managers, other advisers, product providers and more. Self-nominations are prohibited.
Nominees are judged on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative measures, including tenure in the business; retirement plan business as a percentage of practice revenue; answers to essay questions; compliance records; and willingness to serve in a fiduciary role to clients’ plans. Finalists are interviewed by judges before a winner is selected.
For 2025, we received 83 nominations, and 28 finalists were selected. The list of finalists can be seen below.
The 2025 Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists will be recognized, and winners announced, at PLANADVISER’s annual Industry Leader Awards celebration in May.
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Retirement Plan Adviser of the YearNominations Open: October through December To receive invitations and reminders for the Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year Awards, click here. |
Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup Plans
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their dedication to helping more Americans save for retirement in the workplace via micro and startup plans—especially those who work for small businesses or who are members of underrepresented communities.
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Jared Shaft
Managing Director,
Accelerate Retirement
Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs*
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their dedication to helping more Americans save for retirement in the workplace via multiple employer plans and pooled employer plans—especially those who work for small businesses or who are members of underrepresented communities.
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FINALISTS
Mark Beaton
Vice President, Retirement Plan Consulting,
OneDigital -
Jason Jeskey
Executive Vice President,
RPW California at HUB International -
Mark Olsen
Founder, Managing Director,
PlanPILOT -
Russell Warye
Area Director,
HUB Retirement and Private Wealth
Inclusivity and Career Development
Finalists and winners in this category are recognized for their focus on the importance of creating equitable and fair workplaces and their commitment and success in supporting the personal and professional growth of their firm’s staff, their fellow advisers and their industry peers.
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FINALISTS
Francisco Abril
Vice President, Financial Wellness and Employee Engagement,
HUB International -
Douglas E. Bermudez
Managing Director,
Strategic Retirement Partners -
Joseph Cravotta
Manager of Institutional Services,
Henderson Brothers Financial Partners -
Greg Kaplan
Newfront Retirement Services, Inc.
403(b) Plan Service
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their innovation and dedication in the service of 403(b) retirement plan sponsor clients, with a particular focus on the efficient and effective delivery of plan-level support for the special needs of this market.
Plan Participant Service
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their innovation and dedication in the service of retirement plan participants, with a particular focus on the efficient and effective delivery of individual-level advice and education.
Plan Sponsor Service
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their innovation and dedication in the service of retirement plan sponsor clients, with a particular focus on the efficient and effective delivery of plan-level support.