2016 PLANADVISER National Conference

Chris Auda is Senior Director for Competitive Intelligence and Market Insights for ADP’s Retirement Services Division. ADP RS is a leading provider of retirement plan solutions to clients of all sizes with over 60,000 clients, 1.7 million participants and $60 billion in assets under administration. In his current role, Mr. Auda has primary responsibility for evaluation of the competitive landscape and maintenance of competitive intelligence databases in support of strategic goals and product initiatives for the Retirement Services Division. Mr. Auda also takes a lead role in coordination and delivery of market insights and retirement industry research across the RS and ADP management teams. In previous roles during his 15 years at ADP, Mr. Auda has held positions in Product Marketing, Strategy, and Project Management. Mr. Auda has over 20 years’ experience in the Retirement and Financial Services industry with prior jobs at AXA Financial, and as operations manager at a Broker-Dealer. Mr. Auda received both his undergraduate degree and MBA from Rutgers University. He currently resides in Scotch Plains, New Jersey with his wife and two teenage sons

With over 17 years of international marketing experience, Arijit is responsible for leading Ascensus’ award-winning design team, ensuring brand governance, and providing strategic guidance in the areas of product development and digital design. Arijit led the executive and marketing teams in the development of Ascensus’ first annual industry trends report in 2013 and has since earned the company a total of six international awards for this publication. He also spearheaded the company’s first proactive rebranding initiative to help Ascensus unify all lines of business. Prior to joining Ascensus, Arijit held a number of roles as creative director and marketing strategist in both corporate and agency settings helping these companies increase their market share and brand equity. Over the course of his career, he has worked with top global agencies such as DDB, Draft FCB, and Grey Worldwide and with brands such as Lincoln Financial, Walmart, Siemens, MetLife, CA Technologies, and Olympus. His work has traveled the globe and won over 30 national and international awards, including multiple ADDY Awards, HMR Awards, Communicator Awards, and Summit Creative Awards—for both B2B and B2C marketing. He holds a master’s degree in Media Management from Southern Illinois University, a master’s degree in Advertising and Mass Communications from Symbiosis University, and a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering. Arijit lives in Lansdale, PA, with his wife and daughter.

Clint leads product strategy and national accounts within Prudential Investments’ Retirement Investment Solutions team. His responsibilities include; assessing industry trends, analyzing the competitive landscape and working with strategic relationships to position Prudential investment products that enable plan sponsors and their intermediaries deliver better retirement outcomes. Prior to joining Prudential, Clint held various sales management and national account positions with Promontory Interfinancial Network and BISYS Fund Services.Clint earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation and FINRA Series 7, 24 and 66 licenses.

Jason Benham is the Director of Retirement Services at Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), an independent dually registered broker/dealer and RIA with over 600 financial advisors nationally. In this role Jason oversees the entire IFG retirement offering including business development, platform management, sponsor relations, and technology solutions. With over 15 years of broker/dealer experience, Jason joined IFG from a large independent broker/dealer where he held a variety of retirement focused roles including most recently Assistant Vice President within the Retirement Consulting Group. Jason is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® and holds FINRA series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. He currently resides in San Diego with his wife and two children.

Cathy M. Berg is Vice President of Defined Benefit, Business Development and Sales with Transamerica Retirement Solutions. Cathy is responsible for working with plan sponsors, consultants, and financial advisors seeking to improve and streamline plan sponsors’ Defined Benefit retirement plans. A frequent presenter to retirement plan sponsors and advisors, Cathy has more than 23 years of experience in the retirement plan industry specializing in corporate markets and has deep and broad experience in management, business development, marketing, sales, underwriting and product management. Cathy is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College in Minnesota, and holds a Master of Marketing Communication, summa cum laude, from Roosevelt University. Cathy maintains her FINRA series 6, 26, and 63 registrations.

Jonathan is head of the Retirement Specialists at New York Life Mainstay Investments® and is the Regional Sales Consultant in the Central Region. His team works directly with financial advisors, consultants and record keeping platforms. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences where he provides insight on Retirement Plan Fiduciary Best Practices for both financial advisors and Plan Sponsors. In 2015 Jonathan was awarded the “Wingman” Award as one of the top 100 retirement wholesalers in the industry awarded by National Association Plan Advisors (NAPA). Jonathan has extensive experience and knowledge having worked for than 30 years in the investment industry and retirement plan marketplace. Prior to joining New York Life MainStay Investments, Jonathan was a Regional Retirement Consultant for Thornburg Investment Management. He has worked for and held various positions with Investment Management firms including Retirement Plan record-keeping platforms. Jonathan also managed and was lead retirement consultant for a global benefits consulting firm. Jonathan received his B.S. Degree from Bradley University, Peoria, IL. He holds his 6,7 & 63 licenses. He also holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst™ (AIFA®) designation from The Center for Fiduciary Studies and the Global Fiduciary Steward (GFS®) from 3ETHOS.

Brian’s passion and genuine enthusiasm for his work have enabled him to provide plan sponsors with a Senior Retirement Plan Consultant that has thorough knowledge of the financial industry and enhances the services and programs provided for their participants. His responsibilities include fiduciary guidance, plan trustee and investment committee education, plan lineup investment management, research and analytics. Brian is an Institutional Consultant and Senior Retirement Plan Consultant with UBS Financial Services Inc. and a member of the UBS Institutional Consulting Group in Philadelphia. UBS Institutional Consulting Group consists of 90 institutional investment consultants around the country that specialize in servicing sponsors of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans. Brian is a member of the Investment Management Consulting Association (IMCA) and received the IMCA Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation after completing the rigorous program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. Brian graduated from Phillips Academy Andover prior to receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Williams College. Prior to joining the firm, Brian was Vice President at Cohen & Steers Capital Management, in charge of the Florida territory. He holds Series 7 and 66 Securities licenses. The Catanella Institutional Team was selected as 2016 Plan Adviser Team of the Year. Brian was selected as one of the 2015 Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Advisers. Brian was recognized in 2014 and 2016 as a “Top 50 under 40 Advisors” by the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). In 2013 Brian was appointed a General Committee Member for the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Government Affairs Committee. Brian, his wife and their two sons reside in New Jersey. They are active supporters of their community through UrbanPromise Ministries and Brian serves on the Board of Directors in Camden, NJ.

Ron Cohen is the manager of the DCIO & RIA Sales Teams for Wells Fargo Asset Management. He joined Wells Fargo in 2015 and oversees two teams of sales professionals. Ron has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to his current role, Ron was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan in their Defined Contribution Investment Solutions group. Prior to that, he spent 20 years at DWS Investments where he held various roles in their defined contribution practice including Head of Retirement Services. Ron graduated with a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Christine F. Cushman, JD, LLM, CLU Technical Director, Advanced Consulting Group Nationwide Christine joined the Nationwide Advanced Consulting Group in early 2014, bringing more than 13 years of experience in employee benefits, ERISA and tax law to her role. Prior to joining the group, Christine worked for three years in Nationwide’s Office of General Counsel supporting the Nationwide Trust Company and private and public sector retirement plans operations and sales. Christine received her JD from the University of Texas and her LLM (taxation) from New York University. Christine began her legal career as an attorney advisor to Judge Michael Thornton on the U.S. Tax Court. Following her clerkship, she worked for eight years as a private practice attorney in two large Philadelphia law firms, practicing in the areas of employee benefits, executive compensation, ERISA, tax and nonprofit organizations. In addition to her legal practice, Christine has taught a Masters course at Drexel University entitled “Law in the Arts” and has lectured on retirement plan and nonprofit topics. She has also volunteered for several years as a tax return preparer for low income individuals through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and has provided pro bono legal assistance to numerous non profit organizations. Her work in the Nationwide Advanced Consulting Group focuses on providing technical information and education to advisors and plan sponsors as it relates to qualified and nonqualified retirement and welfare benefit plans. She enjoys partnering with employers and their third-party benefit professionals to evaluate current plan offerings and/or identify alternative solutions to insure that the employer’s objectives are being met and that employees have opportunities to plan for and live in retirement.

Patrick Delaney is a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., and has been with T. Rowe Price since 2000. For a decade, he developed communications campaigns for national defined contribution clients, partnering with both sales and relationship management to win new business and strengthen existing relationships. In 2010, he joined the intermediary channel within T. Rowe, where he now serves as the Senior Manager of DCIO Marketing. In his current role, he drives marketing strategy, delivers impactful keynote presentations, and provides defined contribution subject matter expertise to recordkeepers, consultants, advisors, TPAs, and plan sponsors. He earned a B.A. in economics from Gettysburg College and is a Series 6, 7, and 63 registered representative.

Mr. Dial is a managing director with Allianz Global Investors, which he joined in 2011. As Head of Retirement Strategy, he is responsible for overseeing the firm’s strategic planning for the US defined contribution channel. Mr. Dial has 24 years of investment-industry experience. He previously held senior-management positions with JPMorgan, Merrill Lynch and Ceridian. Mr. Dial is a co-inventor of the method and system for evaluating target-date funds, and is also credited with developing the target-date fund-category system commonly referred to as “to vs. through.” Mr. Dial has a B.S./B.A. in finance from the University of Central Florida and an M.B.A. from Rollins College.

Mental Health Cooperative (MHC) is a Nonprofit headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Kimber Dills is vice president of human resources (HR) at the agency, which was founded in 1993 to provide full-service behavioral health care for children, adolescents and adults through intensive care management, and psychiatric and counseling services.

Kimber has been with MHC since 1993 and they are the recent recipient of the 2016 Plan Sponsor of the Year award and the 2016 Behavioral Finance Innovator Award.

Michael Domingos, Vice President, Corporate Distribution and Strategy, has responsibility for leading the corporate market sales team, nationally. This includes overseeing the development and execution of the distribution strategies for defined contribution, pension, and nonqualified plan services in corporate markets. Mike ensures retirement plan products and services offered by Prudential Retirement are customized to meet the needs of clients in target markets. Mike entered the financial services industry in 1993, when he joined Prudential. Mike has a BS in business administration from the University of Hartford and is a Series 6, 7, 24, and 63 registered principal. Mike has volunteered his time to a number of notable charitable organizations including serving on the Host Committee for UNICEF Chicago, and through membership in the Red Cross Blood Drive, Habitat for Humanity, and the United Way.

Alison Douglass, a partner in Goodwin’s Financial Industry and ERISA Litigation practices, focuses her practice on a wide array of complex commercial litigation, primarily in the areas of ERISA, mutual fund and securities litigation. She has been named a “Rising Star” by Law & Politics and Boston magazine and has been recognized by The Legal 500. She has also been ranked by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a nationwide “Recognised Practitioner” in ERISA Litigation. Ms. Douglass represents clients in all phases of litigation, including pre-litigation counseling and trial and appellate matters in state and federal courts across the county and in regulatory investigations and governmental proceedings, including before the U.S. Department of Labor and the SEC. She also represents corporate and individual clients in complex commercial litigation matters, including breach of fiduciary duty claims, M&A disputes, IP and patent suits, bankruptcy, and insurance risk and coverage matters. As part of her ERISA and mutual fund litigation practice, Ms. Douglass is involved in a broad range of class actions, derivative actions and multi-proceeding litigations.

John Doyle is a senior vice president focused on defined contribution in the Retirement Strategy Group at American Funds, part of Capital Group. He has 28 years of investment industry experience and joined Capital Group in 2013. Prior to joining Capital, John was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Hartford Investment Management Company. Before that, he worked as head of marketing and product at T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services and as a vice president of marketing at Fidelity Investments. John is a frequent speaker on issues and topics important to the success of the DC retirement system. He holds an MBA from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University. John is based in New York.

Jylanne Dunne is senior vice president of practice management and consulting for Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions, the business that offers a comprehensive clearing and custody platform, trading capabilities and business process and operations consulting to banks, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors, professional asset managers, strategic acquirers and retirement advisors and recordkeepers. Fidelity Investments is a diversified financial services firm that makes financial expertise broadly accessible to people investing their life savings, businesses managing their employee benefits and advisors investing their clients’ money. Since 1946, Fidelity has been helping people live the lives they want through its customer centered approach, innovative technology and investment solutions. In this role, Ms. Dunne is responsible for oversight and development of comprehensive practice management programs and consulting to help advisors accelerate growth, streamline operations and manage risk. Ms. Dunne joined Fidelity Investments as a senior vice president responsible for national sales of custody and trading to existing advisors and new entrants to the asset management channel. With over 25 years of financial services experience, Ms. Dunne previously was an executive vice president of Global Sales for BISYS Fund Services and also held senior management positions in relationship management and sales at First Data (currently BONY Global Fund Services). She has also held positions at The Boston Company, Putnam Investments and Xtra Corporation. Ms. Dunne received a bachelor of arts degree from Boston College.

Rich Eagar is a Consultant in the Retirement Practice of Ascende – an EPIC Company. In this capacity he is responsible for client and vendor management, plan design consulting, RFP vendor searches, implementations, mergers and acquisitions, compliance assistance and various other projects. Rich is also a co-CIO and Senior Adviser at Ascende Wealth Advisers, Inc. (AWAI). In this role he is responsible for oversight of the firm’s strategic approach to analysis and due diligence on fund companies and investment strategies to be used in client retirement plans, delivering quarterly investment reviews, and assisting committees manage and fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities. Rich has worked with the Retirement team since October of 2008 and he currently holds his Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designations as well as his Series 65 registered investment adviser’s license. Prior to joining the Retirement team, Rich began working at Ascende as an Associate in the Health & Welfare practice in July of 2007. His main role in this position was to provide support for the managing consultants and help client’s structure benefit packages that achieved their various objectives. Rich is a graduate from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas where he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and Marketing. He also obtained a minor in Communications Management.

In an evolving retirement plan landscape, plan sponsors need advice and guidance more than ever. Rita understands both the incentive value of a retirement plan and the commitment required to administer the plan and address fiduciary responsibilities. Investment reviews, daily plan administration and participant support and education can be overwhelming. With the extensive resources of UBS, combined with the specialized retirement plan expertise, perspective and insights she brings to the table, Rita can help you create a stronger plan that gives your employees greater confidence in their retirement and their future.

Since 1996, Rita has helped empower retirement plan sponsors with insight and best practices to meet their fiduciary responsibilities while supporting employees’ retirement planning goals. As an Institutional Retirement Consultant, Rita considers herself an educator as well as an advocate. By integrating plan feature consulting with employee education, she has helped sponsors build effective communication programs that have driven overall plan participation. Rita also advises her clients on competitive cost structures, investment committee priorities and decision-making, and organizing key fiduciary documents.

Outside of UBS, Rita is an active spokesperson in her professional community. She is often a featured guest speaker on a range of ERISA topics at various industry conferences and other events, including those for the Chicago Bar Association, Financial Executives International (FEI), the SPARKS conference in Washington, DC; PLANSPONSOR conference in Chicago and for the CPA Society.

Steven is a Senior Vice President with the Private Client Group of Avondale Partners LLC. His consulting practice and experiences include working with defined contribution plans, defined benefit plans, endowments, and foundations. Steven began his career in the investment industry working in the municipal finance area for PaineWebber (now UBS) in Orlando, Florida. In 1995, he moved to Nashville to join a team of advisors working with banks, insurance companies, and asset advisory firms in the management of their proprietary and client portfolio holdings. That work involved the analysis and presentation of mathematical modeling, forecasting, and performance optimization of complex fixed income portfolios including mortgage and asset backed as well as corporate, treasury, and agency bond securities. While at PaineWebber, he began to apply this capital market experience as a consultant to defined benefit plan sponsors, and then ultimately endowment and foundation clients as a member of the exclusive PRIME asset consulting group of the firm. During that time Steven successfully guided a number of large defined benefit sponsors to successful outcomes through creative implementation of LDI strategies and the exploration and implementation of alternative asset approaches to investment management. Ultimately, his practice evolved to include advisory services for sponsors of 401k, and other not for profit defined contribution plans. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Auburn University, and his MBA from the Crummier School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and past president of the CFA society of Nashville. He is also a CIMA (Certified Investment Management Analyst) designee, having received advanced instruction in capital market theory, fixed income and equity analysis and valuation, and asset consulting from the executive education program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds the AIF® designation as a graduate of the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) program offered through the Center for Fiduciary Studies – an organization affiliated with the Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh focused on providing education specifically for fiduciaries of institutional plans. Steven has been a frequent speaker at numerous professional conferences including the PlanSponsor™ annual conference, the Center for Due Diligence annual conference, the ASPPA Defined Contribution annual conference, and many others. Steven has been recognized by PlanAdviser™ magazine as one of the 100 most successful advisors in the country in 2012, 2013and 2015 and was named by the 401k Wire as one of the 300 Most Influential in the Defined Contribution industry for 2012, including further recognition as one of the Top 10 advisors in the country for the Large Plan Market. For 2013, Steven was named as one of 5 finalists for the prestigious PlanAdviser™ Advisor of the year award. Steven was also named by the Financial Times as one of the FT TOP retirement plan advisors in its inaugural listing of retirement plan advisors in 2015.

Since joining CapTrust in January 2005, Jeb has focused on providing investment consulting and fiduciary services to retirement plan committees in the private sector, and to non-profit and higher education institutions. Jeb earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Central Florida and his MBA from the University of Tampa. He maintains the following professional designations: Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®); Certified Plan Financial Advisor (CPFA) through ASPPA®; Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS); Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. Jeb has written articles featured in numerous industry publications and is regularly invited to speak at national conferences on investment and fiduciary issues related to retirement plans. Jeb is currently a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Leadership Council and is past chair of the ASPPA® Government Affairs – Investment Regulations Committee. Jeb is a former board member of the Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council. Jeb was conferred as the PLANSPONSOR 2013 Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year.

Keith Gredys co-founded Kidder Benefits Consultants in 1996 and has more than 30 years of investment, trust and pension administration experience. The CEFEX certified Kidder organization is an independent, qualified retirement plan consulting, administration, investment and actuarial firm headquartered in West Des Moines, IA. The 43 employee firm has a regional consulting and administrative office in Tucson, AZ, as well as regional offices in Omaha, NE, Albuquerque, NM and Gainesville, FL.. Its subsidiary, Kidder-Lane Actuarial Services, LLC, provides Defined Benefit and Cash Balance solutions across the country to clients and through other TPA firms. Kidder provides services to over 1,100 clients with assets exceeding $2.0 billion. Keith is a recognized expert in investment management, fiduciary issues and qualified plan consulting and administration for 401(k), cross-tested, ESOPs, Defined Benefit, and Cash Balance plans. Keith possesses a law degree (J.D.) and earned the professional designation of Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), which covers the disciplines of fiduciary law, insurance, tax law, and investment management. He also has obtained the professional designation of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), which covers investment fiduciary standards of care and investment due diligence. He conducts numerous seminars and continuing education programs on qualified retirement plans and fiduciary topics for individuals and professional groups across the United States. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Nebraska State Bar Association.

Robin Green is Vice President and Head of Research. She leads syndicated and custom studies for retirement fund and plan providers, manages a proprietary database of advisor practice management trends and creates value-add programs for advisors. Robin has worked in the retirement plan industry for 25 years as a plan sponsor and industry consultant. She is a sub-committee lead and board member at DCIIA and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. Robin graduated Suma Cum Laude from Concordia University. When she is not listening to (and studying) the retirement market, she spends time gardening, traveling, skiing and dirt-bike riding with her husband and three sons.

Eileen is an Investment Advisor Representative with Sentinel Pension Advisors, Inc. She joined Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group in 2011 as part of the acquisition of Schloss & Co, LLC where she had previously worked since 2000. Prior to that, she began her career in Corporate Benefits, and then moved to Design, Consulting and Investment Advisory Services. Eileen has over 30 years of experience working on all aspects of retirement plans. She very much enjoys working with clients to understand their objectives and coming up with creative solutions to help clients meet these objectives. Out of the office Eileen enjoys playing Mahjong, taking spin classes and cheering for the New York Mets! Her favorite past time is spending quality time with her husband, Steve and 2 sons, Andrew and Jake.

Mr. Hammond has extensive experience in the retirement plan industry and providing services to retirement plan advisors, plan sponsors, and individual investors. He is a published author on Retirement Plans and has been acknowledged as a premier retirement planning consultant. Mr. Hammond is frequently featured in industry publications and as a speaker/panelist on current retirement plan issues. He has been recognized as a Top 10 Advisor in the 401kWire’s Mid Market category and has also been named to 401kWire’s list of 300 Most Influential DC Advisors (2010-2012). He has also been acknowledged as a Rising Star in Retirement Plan Advisory by Institutional Investor, Inc. and has been named as one of the Top Retirement Plan Advisors in the Nation by PLANSPONSOR Magazine (2006-2013). In addition to other certifications, he has obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®), AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary)TM, Plan Sponsor Retirement Professional (PRP), CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELORSM (CRPC®), and CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANS SPECIALISTSM (CRPS®) certifications. Mr. Hammond graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Economics. He lives in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife and three sons.

Jeffrey Hemker is a National Sales Manager for the Retirement Division of Invesco. Mr. Hemker has been in the industry since 1980. Prior to joining Invesco in 2004, he was a managing director of retirement outsourcing services for WySTAR Global Retirement Solutions and a senior vice president at both CIGNA Retirement & Investment Services and Van Kampen American Capital Funds. He has been a featured speaker at advisor meetings, training and education seminars, and industry events throughout his career. Mr. Hemker graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Roosevelt University. He holds the Series 6, 7, 24, 63, 66 and 79 registrations and is a Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA®) professional.

Doug Hinson leads Alston & Bird’s ERISA Litigation Group. He has led the defense of numerous Fortune 500, government, private and non-profit clients in all types of ERISA class actions, including 401(k) fee and employer stock matters, welfare benefit terminations, defined benefit calculation and anti-cutback actions, and severance disputes. In addition, Mr. Hinson has substantial experience and expertise in securities, complex commercial and insurance class action litigation, and he acts as both a mediator and arbitrator in ERISA litigation matters. Mr. Hinson’s practice is national in scope. He has been recognized as a “national leader” in ERISA litigation by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Best Lawyers in America and The Legal 500 publications, and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Super Lawyers magazine in both Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Mr. Hinson is the past chair of the Employee Benefits Committee of the Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, and a former chair of the CLE Committee of the Joint Committee on Employee Benefits, of the American Bar Association.

Todd Hughes is a member of Pension Consultants’ Executive Team, responsible for ERISA compliance and vendor (service provider) performance. He is a regular webinar presenter on ERISA and vendor management topics and provides fiduciary training to plan sponsors and fiduciaries. He has also been quoted in numerous industry press publications including PLANADVISER’s and PLANSPONSOR’s online and print magazines. Todd has spoken at several state and regional conferences such as state SHRM conferences and Pension Focus,the preeminent educational conference for plan sponsors and fiduciaries. Prior to joining Pension Consultants, Todd was the Director for Panagiotu Pension Advisors, Inc.,a 401(k) and retirement plan administration firm providing services to approximately 1,200 plans in Spokane, Washington for nine years. He holds a BA in Public Relations from Pacific Lutheran University and a JD from Gonzaga University.

Jason Johnson has more than 26 years of experience providing financial and wealth management advice and services. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and joined UBS Financial Services in February 2009 after nearly 20 years with Merrill Lynch. His team specializes in financial and estate planning, money management, and corporate pools of money including 401(k) plans, 403b plans, defined benefit plans, non-qualified plans, foundations and endowments. Jason is a Certified Investment Management Analyst ProfessionalSM that is awarded by the Investment Management Consultants Association in conjunction with The Wharton School of Business. He also has earned his Accredited Investment Fiduciary from the Center for Fiduciary Studies and his Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant designation from the Society of Professional Administrators and Record Keepers. Most recently, he earned the Chartered Retirement Planning SpecialistSM Designation through the College for Financial Planning. Jason regularly attends industry conferences as a guest, panelist, or speaker to stay current with investment management, fiduciary practices, ERISA, and more. One of his clients was awarded Plan Sponsor of the Year for Corporate Retirement Plans under $50mm in 2015.

Being born in Iowa and growing up in Texas can foster an interesting personality for anyone. Due to his divergent upbringing and various other factors, Todd loves the Steelers in football and the Spurs in basketball. He dislikes both hot weather and snow. Both tent camping and 5 star hotels suit him just fine. He loves the mountains because neither Iowa nor central Texas has any. And he is comfortable talking to anyone from anywhere; he will even use the words “Ya’ll” and “You Guys” in the same sentence. At the age of 22, Todd decided to start his own wealth management practice. His thoughts were, “who else is better to help guide families to secure financial futures than a 22-year-old that actually went to school specifically to get a degree in finance and to become a Certified Financial Planner™?” OK, he admits that the age factor made it difficult for him to convince 50 year olds to let him manage their life savings. The career choice proved to be a fantastic one. By the age of 27, Todd was one of the highest producing advisors out of the over 10,000 advisors that were in the parent firm. By the time Todd turned 31, he and his business partner, Neal Weaver were listed in Texas Monthly among the top 10 Most Dependable Wealth Managers in Texas. Not long after, Todd and Neal sold their successful wealth management business in order to start LeafHouse Financial Advisors, a dedicated Retirement Plan firm. In breaking away and forming LeafHouse, they fulfilled their passion to create a business and an environment free of conflicts of interest and dedicated to the idea that no one and nothing comes before the client. A few years later, Todd became one of the first Registered Fiduciary™ credentialed advisors based in the state of Texas. He utilizes his fiduciary commitments in his role as Managing Director of LeafHouse Financial Advisors, where he estimates he has been able to demonstrate to hundreds of companies how to save tens-of-millions of dollars in retirement plan costs. He has become a sought after national speaker and authority in the retirement plan arena. Todd has been interviewed by Fox Business News and spoken for numerous groups such the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Texas Association of Business, and over a dozen SHRM chapters. Todd was recently named to The National Association of Plan Advisors’ (NAPA) “Top 50 Plan Advisors Under 40.” Unfortunately, a few months later he turned 40. In 2016, Todd and Neal, achieved two of the biggest honors to-date: LeafHouse was one of 3 Finalists for the National Association of Plan Advisors’ 401(k) Leadership Award, and LeafHouse was listed by PlanAdviser Magazine as one of the Top 100 Plan Advisers in the country. Todd is married to a terrific red-head named Lori. Together, they have an energetic and inquisitive little boy named Max and a beautiful daughter named Madeleine. The Kadings recently adopted a jet-black, standard poodle that Maddie named “Hanna Banana”. As a family they enjoy camping, hiking, off-road driving, fishing and many other outdoor and wilderness activities. In 2011, Todd completed what he refers to as, “the hardest thing I ever did” – an Olympic Distance Triathlon called the TriWaco Triathlon, where he received a medal for coming in 3rd to last

David C. Kaleda is a principal in the Fiduciary Responsibility practice group. Mr. Kaleda has an extensive background in the employee benefits and financial services sector. His broad range of experience includes handling fiduciary matters impacting plan sponsors, investment and other fiduciary committees, investment managers/advisors, recordkeepers and other service providers. For example, he advises clients on the avoidance and resolution of prohibited transaction issues, the structuring of alternative investment funds (including “plan asset” funds, real estate operating companies, and venture capital operating companies), and day-to-day compliance issues arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code in the conduct of their businesses. He also has substantial experience dealing with tax issues involving qualified plans and representing clients before the Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Mr. Kaleda is a frequent speaker and author on a range of employee benefits-related topics. In December of 2011, Mr. Kaleda was appointed by the Secretary of Labor to the DOL’s ERISA Advisory Council for a three-year term (2012-2014).

Peter Kapinos is responsible for developing engagement strategies for clients in Empower Retirement’s 401(k), not-for-profit and government markets, including advisor, consultant and plan sponsor programs. Prior to his current role, he held numerous management responsibilities within the organization, including sales, product, and relationship management. He joined the organization in 1989. Peter has been an active member of industry groups including the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), and the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). A frequent speaker at industry and professional conferences, Peter has appeared in numerous financial publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Pensions & Investments, PLANSPONSOR and Investment News. Peter graduated magna cum laude, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Boston University. He currently maintains FINRA Series 63 and 53 securities registrations to coincide with sponsoring broker-dealer qualifications. Peter also holds FINRA Series 7 and 24 credentials.

Dr. David Kelly, Managing Director, Chief Global Market Strategist, Head of the Global Market Insights Strategy Team, J.P. Morgan Funds Management. With over 20 years of experience, David provides valuable insight and perspective on the economy and markets to thousands of financial advisors and their clients. Throughout his career, David has developed a unique ability to explain complex economic and market issues in a language that financial advisors can use to communicate to their clients. He is a keynote speaker at many national investment conferences. David is also a frequent guest on CNBC, and other financial news outlets and is widely quoted in the financial press. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Funds, David served as Economic Advisor to Putnam Investments. He has also served as a senior strategist/economist at SPP Investment Management, Primark Decision Economics, Lehman Brothers and DRI/McGraw-Hill. David is a CFA charterholder. He also has an Ph.D and M.A. in Economics from Michigan State University and a B.A. in Economics from University College Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

Jeff Kowalczyk is a Senior Investment Consultant at Lowery Asset Consulting, LLC, specializing on retirement plans. Prior to joining Lowery Asset Consulting, LLC, Jeff was a founding partner and member of a boutique consulting firm for six years, serving as the relationship manager for all institutional clientele. Before entering the financial services industry in 2000, Jeff spent 10 years as an umpire in professional baseball. While there, Jeff co-founded and served as a board member of the Association of Minor League Umpires, the collective bargaining unit for minor league umpires. Jeff is a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He has successfully completed the Center for Fiduciary Studies Program to earn his Accredited Investment Fiduciary, AIF® designation. Jeff has spoken publicly on several topics concerning retirement plan assets including: “Emerging Market Impact” at the Made in America Conference 2014 – “The Right Allocation: Understanding Target Date Investing” at the IMI Conference 2014 – “Managed Account versus Target Date Fund” at the PSCA 2014 National Conference. Jeff lives in Normal, Illinois with his wife and 2 children.

Everything I do is focused on optimizing our clients’ retirement plans, maximizing their fiduciary protection and improving the retirement readiness of participants. I have been nationally recognized for the results we have achieved on behalf of clients. I have been named a Finalist for the PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year award and have had clients recognized as a finalist for the Plan Sponsor of the Year award. I have a track record of improving participation rates, deferral rates, and improving how participants are invested. My approach is to understand our clients, their persona as a plan sponsor, and what drives their organization. I evaluate the Choice Architecture of the plan and apply the science of behavioral finance to strengthen the retirement plan. I have an in-depth knowledge of 401(k) service providers. I know their strengths and their weaknesses and what makes them unique. I employ this knowledge and experience on behalf of clients to follow a rigorous, objective and unbiased analysis of potential partners. Our ideal client is a successful mid to large size business. They have retirement plans for their employees and key executives. The plans have been successful but they want them to do better. They are concerned about the impact downturns in the market can have on their employees’ retirement. The increased scrutiny from Washington has them concerned about their exposure to fiduciary liability. I do this because I believe I can make an impact on the lives of our participants to help them build a sound future for generations to come. Advising a 401(k) Plan is not just about investments and fees. I go far beyond employee meetings and communication campaigns. I provide retirement committees with a well-documented process designed to help them comply with fiduciary responsibilities and optimize participants’ retirement outcomes. I have focused on meeting the needs to institutional investors since 1983. I have a B.S.B.A in Accounting from Marquette University. I have continued to pursue advanced training and education in an effort to serve clients better. I have earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst, Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist, Accredited Investment Fiduciary, Certified Portfolio Manager and Chartered Retirement Planning Consultant Designations. I am passionate about giving back to the community. I am chairman of the Investments Committee of Junior Achievement of Wisconsin. Another of my passions is speedskating. I am an International Official and part of an elite group of just 24 starters in the world qualified to be an official at the Olympic Games. I have been married 36 years to my wife, Bernadette. We have two wonderful children. BJ is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado in Denver. Erica graduated cum laude from Marquette University and is currently a medical student at Creighton University Medical School. With her background as a World Class speed skater, Erica plans to pursue a career in sports medicine.

Judi Leccese, CBP, is an accomplished Human Resource Benefits and Finance Management professional with diverse experiences. Cabot Corporation is a leading global specialty chemicals and performance Materials Company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, with approximately 4,500 employees worldwide. Cabot provides benefits to 1500 US-based employees and 3000 Non-US employees at 57 locations in North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. An accountant by trade, this 27 year Cabot employee has a unique perspective on retirement benefits, saving strategies and building partnerships with Cabot’s vendors. She is currently responsible for operating the Cabot’s 401(k), frozen DB/Cash Balance, Non-Qualified, ESOP and Financial Wellness Plans and is member of Cabot’s Investment Committee. In the past 5 years, she and her colleagues froze their DB Plan and retired their ESOP. She conducted Non-Qualified DB and DC record-keeper RFPs, a 401(k) and Pension Plan Consultant RFP and a Financial Wellness RFP. She managed a liquidation of one of their investment funds and rolled out a totally re-designed Retirement Plan Benefit in 2014 that incorporated a holistic employer paid financial wellness benefit.

David N. Levine is a principal at Groom Law Group, Chartered. He advises plan sponsors, advisors, and other service providers on a wide range of employee benefits matters, from retirement and executive compensation to health and welfare plan matters. His experience includes advising service providers in Department of Labor investigations; representing advisors in ERISA and contract-related litigation; advising on the balancing of ERISA and securities law compliance to advisors with both broker-dealer and registered investment arms; conducting ERISA reviews of disclosure documents, marketing materials, and services agreements for ERISA services agreements; and providing fiduciary training and advice to plan sponsors and advisors. Mr. Levine was previously the Chair of the IRS Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (2011-2013) and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association and serves in a number of leadership roles in the American Bar Association Tax Section’s Employee Benefits Committee. Mr. Levine regularly speaks on plan design, fiduciary governance, and legislative issues and contributes a recurring column to NAPA Net — The Magazine. He is recognized in The Legal 500 and USA Chambers guide for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. Mr. Levine received his J.D., from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his B.A., with general and departmental honors, from Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. Lins is General Counsel of Voya Investment Management (formerly ING U.S. Investment Management), which comprises several investment advisory entities managing a wide variety of investment strategies and vehicles, including separate accounts, pension plans, mutual funds, hedge funds, offshore funds, wrap fee programs, insurance general accounts and collateralized debt obligations. Previously, Mr. Lins was in charge of legal matters for a number of major asset managers and fund complexes, and also spent several years in private practice, concentrating on general corporate law matters and the regulation of investment companies, investment advisers, and other financial service providers. Prior to that, he was a staff attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management, where he had a broad range of experience with the regulation of investment companies and investment advisers under the federal securities laws. Mr. Lins is a co-author of numerous articles and books including: • Regulation of Investment Advisers (Thomson West, 2016 ed.) • Regulation of Investment Companies (Matthew Bender & Co., Inc., 2016 ed.) • Regulation of Exchange-Traded Funds (Matthew Bender & Co., Inc., 2015 ed.) • Soft Dollars and Other Trading Activities (Thomson West, 2015-2016 ed.) • ERISA for Money Managers (Thomson West, 2015-2016 ed.) • Hedge Funds and Other Private Funds: Regulation and Compliance (Thomson West, 2016 ed.) • Collective Trusts and Other Commingled Funds (Law Journal Press, 2015 ed.) • Mutual Fund Sales Practices (Thomson West, 2016 ed.) • Regulation of Financial Planners (Thomson West, 2016 ed.) • Mortgage-Backed Securities (Thomson West, 2015-2016 ed.) • How to Read a Mutual Fund Prospectus (Mercer Point Press, 1999)

Christen joined Envisage in 2010. In her current role she will help develop and execute the implementation of Envisage’s overall strategy and vision. Christen works extensively with technology partners, distribution partners, advertisers and industry peers to help shape the future of Envisage and the retirement industry. Her ability to understand the big picture and act decisively to capitalize on emerging market opportunities enables her to assist Envisage in creating the solutions of tomorrow, today. Her background spans client relationship management, management consulting, information technology and business analysis. But there can be no success without a team, and it is team building that is one of Christen’s greatest passions. She steers cross-business initiatives by encouraging open communication and promotes a healthy workplace by championing team member autonomy and input from all levels.

Jim is the principal and founder of Spectrum Investment Advisors. Jim has over 40 years of experience in the retirement plan industry. He has built Spectrum Investment Advisors with the core idea of using colors to simplify investing. His firm has a patent on the color-coded process since 2010 with a focus on retirement plans and wealth management clients. Spectrum was selected as the 2015 Business of the Year by the Mequon/Thiensville Chamber of Commerce, of which Jim is vice president. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in Economics. Jim holds the Investment Adviser Representative license (Series 65). He is a member of both NAPA and Wisconsin Retirement Plan Professionals Ltd. Jim is married with two children and lives in Germantown, WI. Jim’s wife Peggy is a retired reading specialist. His daughter Cindy has over 10 years’ experience in the financial service industry, and his son Jon has over 13 years of experience with Spectrum. Outside of work, Jim enjoys golfing, downhill skiing, and reading.

Tim McCabe is the National Sales Director, Retirement and responsible for Sales and Distribution of Stadion’s Retirement Products and Services. He joined Stadion in 2003, assuming responsibility for the distribution of Stadion’s discretionary 401(k) management service, Stadion Retirement, formerly known as 401k Toolbox. Tim has over 25 years’ experience in the institutional investment business, having spent the early part of his career as a defined contribution consultant before segueing into sales and marketing where he became a Vice President for Fidelity Investments, taking responsibility as Manager for the Southeast Region for Fidelity’s Institutional Retirement Services Company (FIRSCO). Tim received his BBA in Finance from the University of Georgia and a Master’s of Science in Risk Management from Georgia State University. Tim has also served as the President for the Southern Employee Benefits Conference and is an active member of ASPPA.

Chad has been with Nationwide Financial since 2009 and currently serves as the Eastern Regional Vice President on the Nationwide Funds DCIO (Defined Contribution Investment Only) team. In this role, Chad works closely with both Financial Advisors and Retirement Plan Professionals throughout the region, educating them on Nationwide’s current suite of investment products, helping them properly position these products as client solutions, and providing marketing and continuing education support. The advisors he calls on work for wire, regional, and independent broker-dealers, as well as independent RIAs. Prior to joining Nationwide, Chad spent 7 years with Prudential Financial. During that time, he served as Regional Managed Account Consultant with Prudential Investments Wealth Management Solutions. In this role he worked closely with leading Financial Advisors throughout the region to develop professionally managed investment solutions for high net-worth individuals, institutions, foundations, endowments and retirement plans. He called primarily on major wire-house clients, with other experience during his tenure calling on independent broker-dealers, regional banks and insurance agents. Prior to joining Prudential in 2002, Chad was a Regional Vice President for Heartland Capital Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm in the Midwest where he represented the firms separately managed account investment products in various wire-house and regional broker dealers. Other professional experience includes 3 years working as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA currently inactive) with a major national accounting firm and 2 years at large Regional Bank in the Midwest. His educational background includes an MBA in Finance from Xavier University and undergraduate degrees in both Accounting and Finance from The Ohio State University. He is also a Certified Investment Management Consultant (CIMA), which is a professional designation awarded by the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA) in conjunction with the Wharton School of Business. He has also earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA) professional designation, awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, which is associated with the University of Pittsburgh. Chad lives in Columbus, OH with his wife and their 2 young boys.

Rodger is president and chief investment officer of Hooker & Holcombe Investment Advisors, Inc. (HHIA) and chairman of the board of Hooker & Holcombe, Inc., the parent company of HHIA, an SEC registered investment advisor. In his current position, Rodger leads the team of professionals who furnish advisory services. He is also the client relationship consultant for HHIA’s largest and most sophisticated clients, is responsible for directing the asset allocation and fund research efforts of HHIA and is the chairman of the HHIA Investment Committee. Rodger’s investment and institutional money management expertise brings an increased sophistication to the fund selection and monitoring process. Prior to joining the firm, Rodger was with Hartford Investment Management Company, a subsidiary of Hartford Financial Services Corporation (HIG), where he was vice president and equity portfolio manager. Rodger earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Hartford. He earned his Charter from the CFA Institute in 1994. Rodger serves as an Advisory Council member for both J.P. Morgan RIA and Legg Mason Client Solutions, in addition to memberships with the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Hartford. He also devotes his time as a consultant or board member for various organizations in Connecticut.

Michael Miller, Managing Director, is Head of Retirement Distribution for U.S. Funds Management. In this role, he manages J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s advisor sales team that is responsible for working with intermediaries focusing in the defined contribution market. Mike also oversees the Retirement LinkSM sales team, responsible for supporting plan sponsor and employee bundled retirement plan needs in the small- and mid-size market, as well as the variable annuities sales team. These three groups deliver J.P. Morgan’s intellectual capital and investment capabilities in a thoughtful way and provide our comprehensive retirement offering to plans of various sizes.

Mike joined J.P. Morgan in 2007 as a DCIS Client Advisor. In Mr. Miller’s 15-year industry career, he has been a producing advisor as well as a trusted business partner distributing recordkeeping and administration services and asset management. Mr. Miller obtained a BS in finance from Florida State University and holds the CIMA®, PRP and AI® designations.

John Moody is the President of Matrix Financial Solutions, a Broadridge Financial Solutions company. Mr. Moody also currently serves on the board of CiKR (Council of Independent 401(k) Recordkeepers) helping to shape the retirement industry’s key initiatives. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of SPARK, a leading voice in Washington for the retirement plan services industry and has been named to 401(k) Wire’s Most Influential list, as a recognized leader in the financial services and 401(k) industry. Mr. Moody is a pioneer in the “open architecture” movement that is now sweeping the 401(k) industry, in which plan sponsors are now able to offer funds from hundreds of providers. Seeing the need for more flexibility and an early adaptor of fee disclosure, Moody’s vision has made Matrix a favorite among independent TPAs/Record Keepers and major wirehouses and broker/dealer firms looking to get ahead of the regulatory push. Mr. Moody received a B.B.A. in Economics from the University of Iowa and holds the following designations: Series 7, 24, and 66.

Ryan Mullen is senior managing director and head of sales and national accounts for the Investment Specialist Group (ISG) at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). Ryan’s teams are responsible for MFS’ distribution efforts in five key channels: defined contribution investments, variable insurance, managed accounts, private banks and registered investment advisors. Ryan has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and assumed his current position in 2006. He joined MFS in 1992 as a customer service representative and later served on the inbound marketing and insurance products sales desks. He joined the firm’s wholesaling team in 1996 in the Financial Advisors Division, became divisional vice president for ISG in 2000 and was named a senior divisional vice president in 2004. Ryan is a graduate of Hobart College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a double minor in political science and religious studies. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC) designations

Kevin Murphy is a Defined Contribution Specialist responsible for directing and expanding Franklin Templeton sales of mutual funds and sub-advised portfolio products in 401(k) plans in the Mid-Atlantic Division. Kevin began his career in the financial services industry in 1999 and joined Franklin Templeton Investments in 2011. He is an excellent source of information regarding Franklin Templeton products and services. His experience in sales and marketing offers ideas and solutions to registered securities representatives to help them build their practice and make prospecting more effective. Kevin holds a B.Sc. in agriculture from the University of Delaware, and he is a FINRA registered representative.

Patrick Murphy is President of John Hancock Retirement Plan Services (JHRPS), having served as CEO of New York Life Retirement Plan Services until it was acquired by John Hancock in 2015. He is responsible for the sales and service of all John Hancock retirement plans, as well as Operations for the mid to large size plans. Pat has more than 25 years’ experience in the retirement plan services industry, including leadership roles in sales, relationship management and operations. Pat received a B.A. in Organizational Behavior/Management from Brown University and maintains FINRA Series 7, 26, and 63 registrations. Among Pat’s core beliefs is the importance of helping make people’s lives better, and the retirement plans industry has been an excellent outlet for that passion. Outside of work, Pat is a career counselor and mentors student athletes at Brown University. He is on the board of Many Hopes, an international organization dedicated to rescuing, housing, and educating Kenyan children. Pat has also coached youth sports teams and enjoys spending time with family.

Sean Murray, CFA, Managing Director, is head of BlackRock’s Advisor Sold and Platform Distribution Team for the US Defined Contribution Group within the Global Retail and iShares businesses. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2015, he was the National Sales Manager for PIMCO’s Defined Contribution Investment Only Team from 2011-2015. Mr. Murray held a similar role within Goldman Sachs’ retirement services group, where he spent 10 years. Previously he was a regional representative and a national accounts manager at Delaware Capital Management. Mr. Murray began his career at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services in 1994. Mr. Murray holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has achieved the CFA designation.

Charles Nelson is Chief Executive Officer of Retirement for Voya Financial. In his role, Nelson oversees Tax-Exempt and Corporate Markets and Retail Wealth Management, which comprise the company’s workplace and individual retirement businesses, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans. Prior to joining the company, Nelson served as President of Retirement Services for Great-West Financial through September 2014 and most recently led the legacy Great-West retirement business of Empower Retirement, a business unit of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company. Nelson has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the retirement industry. He was named the second most influential player in the 401(k) market, according to the 401(k) Wire’s 2012 Most Influential ranking list. During his career, Nelson has managed all aspects of defined contribution and defined businesses. He has overseen government, healthcare, nonprofit, 401(k) and FASCore institutional lines of business, while also managing recordkeeping, administration, operations, sales, products, financial results, and broker-dealer services. Nelson is a graduate of Whitman College with a degree in chemistry and economics. He was appointed to the Whitman College Board of Overseers in 2008. Nelson served as the past president of the board of directors for The SPARK Institute, a trade institute that represents the entire spectrum of defined contribution service providers. He has also been a member of the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA) since 1985. As a member, Nelson has contributed articles for publication, participated on a number of committees, and spoken at numerous regional and national conferences to support and assist the organization’s efforts to further the industry.

Jim Owen is a Managing Partner of Global Retirement Partners and is responsible for the development and delivery of the firm’s strategic initiatives. He is focused on helping advisors leverage technology, utilize exclusive investment products and implement financial wellness to maximize participant outcomes. Previously, Jim served as the Senior Vice President of the LPL Retirement Partners Sales and Consulting teams. These groups were responsible for the distribution of LPL’s programs as well as the growth and retention of over 6,000 retirement plan advisors and over $120B in assets. As the head of these groups, Jim’s primary responsibilities included the planning, building and implementation of new strategic initiatives like Worksite Financial Solutions (WFS) and Small Market Solutions (SMS), among others. Prior to leading the Retirement Partners Consulting and Sales teams, Jim was the Vice President of Business Development responsible for recruiting some of the industry’s largest retirement plan focused advisors. Prior to joining LPL, Jim was a founding partner of National Retirement Partners (NRP) where he helped grow the company from inception to one of the nation’s leading retirement plan consulting firms. Jim earned his degree in Economics from the University of Arizona, and has successfully completed his Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 Licenses. He also holds his CA Insurance license and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) and Professional Plan Consultant (PPC). Jim was recently selected as a Rising Star by the Mutual Funds Industry Awards.

Tim leverages his consulting and operational background to help educate TIAA clients and their consultants with fiduciary best practices, investment policy development and menu design.1 Tim has over 20 years of experience in financial services and joined TIAA in 2013 as a Director. Prior to TIAA, Tim was Vice President of Investment Advisory at Sapers & Wallack, Inc. in Newton, MA. In 2013, he was named to PLANADVISER’s Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers, and was nominated as one of five finalists for PLANSPONSOR’s Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year. Tim held a variety of roles over 12 years at Fidelity Investments in client service, product development and sales; most recently as Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager for Fidelity Pension Advantage. Tim has his B.S. in Mathematics from UMASS, Amherst and an M.S. in Finance from Clark University. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63 and 24 registrations. He frequently presents at client and industry conferences and has contributed as a guest lecturer at local universities.

1.TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF), are not plan fiduciaries and do not provide investment menu advice or make recommendations.

Jim Sampson is a co-founder and the Managing Principal of Cornerstone Retirement Advisors, and has served the retirement plan industry for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Cornerstone in 2009, Jim served as the Director of Retirement Services at Telamon Insurance & Financial Network for six years. He also spent five years as a Pension Sales Consultant with Transamerica Retirement Services and two years as a Benefits Analyst with a local third-party administrator, George Beram & Company. Jim has received numerous industry awards and recognitions, including: • 2-time Finalist for the PLANSPONSOR Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year (2008, 2012) • 2-time Winner of The 401kWire’s Top Advisor Award (Micro-Market, 2010, 2011) • The 401kWire’s 100 Most Influential People in Defined Contribution (2010) • 5-time PLANADVISER Top 100 Retirement Plan Adviser3 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) • Financial Times Top 401 Retirement Advisors4 (2015) Jim has appeared on the FOX25 Morning News in Boston on their weekly Manage Your Money segment, has been quoted on retirement plan issues in The Boston Globe, Providence Business News, PLANSPONSOR Magazine, WSJonline.com and Employee Benefit Advisor Magazine, and has been a speaker or panelist at a number of industry conferences. Jim is a Founding Lecturer of TRAU™ – The Retirement Advisor University™ and an Adjunct Lecturer of TPSU™ – The Plan Sponsor University™ both at UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education. Jim has earned the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY™ and Certified 401(k) Professional™ designations and earned a BS in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Joining Ascensus in May of 2012 Ted is now is responsible for Broker Dealer relationships and the products that they may offer.
Prior to joining Ascensus Ted worked for a regional recordkeeper, national trust company, international benefits consulting firm and as a plan sponsor. He has over 25 years of DC and DB business responsibilities with retirement plans including design, regulatory, strategy and administration.
His varied professional experience allows him to relate closely to our clients, distribution partners, and DCIOs.

Ted has also been active in various industry associations and is a speaker on the retirement industry.

Ted graduated from Concordia University and lives in Brainerd, MN with his wife.

Irene manages the retirement Firm Relations Team of over 20 firm-level relationships with key investment broker-dealers. In addition to managing the retirement group, she is part of a broader effort charged with creating new distribution relationships and expanding existing relationships. Prior to joining the company, Irene served as executive director – business development for retirement and equity solutions at Morgan Stanley. She has also served as vice president for U.S. Trust, and vice president – client relationship manager for Merrill Lynch.

Tim Seifert serves as Vice President and National Sales Manager for the Intermediary Retirement Plan Services division at Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc. (LFD), the wholesaling distribution organization for Lincoln Financial Group. In this role, Seifert is focused on the small market 401(k) segment and is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that increase awareness of Lincoln’s broad portfolio of retirement plan solutions. Seifert has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Lincoln, he held senior sales leadership roles at RS Investments and Prudential. Earlier in his career, Seifert spent 23 years at PLANCO Financial Services Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hartford, where he served as a senior managing director and managed distribution of the company’s 401 (k), mutual fund, annuities and 529 businesses. Seifert is a graduate of Elizabethtown College and holds FINRA Series 6, 26, 51 and 63, as well as his Pennsylvania Life Insurance license.

Leah Morgan Singleton uses a practical and business-focused approach to advise her clients on complex employee benefits matters, drawing on prior experience as a compliance consultant at a large human resources consulting firm and as a former small business owner herself. Leah focuses her practice on advising corporate, not-for-profit, governmental and individual clients in all matters relating to employee benefit plans and executive compensation at every phase, from plan design and implementation to plan termination, including ongoing compliance with applicable laws such as ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Atlanta Magazine recognized Leah in its 2011 and 2012 lists of Georgia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. Leah received her J.D., cum laude, from Mercer University and holds a B.S. in mathematics and computer science from the University of West Georgia.

Mr. Slusher is a vice president in the Newport Beach office and an external advisor consultant for the U.S. South Central region. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2011, he was with Buffalo Funds focusing on sales to institutional and retirement clients through consultants and registered investment advisors. Previously, Mr. Slusher was regional director for consultant relations at Russell Investments. He also worked for JP Morgan Retirement and Plan Services and American Century Services. He has 24 years of investment experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Missouri.

Anders is a Senior Vice President of TIAA Global Asset Management -Nuveen, and over the course of his 30 year career, he has consulted with thousands of advisors throughout the country helping them grow both their wealth management and retirement plan businesses. Anders has spoken at a variety of industry events, including the ASPPA 401(k) Summit, the IMCA Annual Conference, the PLANADVISER National Conference, Schwab IMPACT, the FI 360 Annual Conference, and the SPARK National Conference.

Prior to joining Nuveen in 2003, Anders spent 17 years with MFS Investment Management. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Investment Management Analyst, Chartered Private Wealth Advisor, and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst.

Dan Steele CIMA – Bio Updated: 5/12/15 A 21-year retirement industry veteran, Dan Steele currently serves as Senior Vice President – Head of Retirement Field Distribution within BNY Mellon Retirement. Dan manages a team of five Retirement Consultants and two Internal Retirement Consultants, and three Insurance Investment Consultants that focus their calling efforts on DC-centric advisors as well as DC and Variable Insurance Platform Wholesalers. Prior to BNY Mellon, Dan spent 2 years as Regional Vice President of Sales for BISYS Retirement Products and Solutions where he was responsible for sales of BISYS retirement products and consulting to their largest clients and prospects. Prior to that Dan spent three years as Vice President of Institutional Sales at Safeco Asset Management before a five-year stint as Senior Account Officer in Putnam Investments Defined Contribution Group. Dan is a graduate of Westfield State College and holds Series 24, 7, and 63 licenses from FINRA. Dan has a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association and also holds a certification as CEBS – Retirement Plan Associate.

Donald Stone Director, DC Strategy and Product Development & Senior Consultant With 32 years of industry experience, Mr. Stone leads Pavilion’s DC strategy which involves developing and delivering world class institutional investment solutions to the firm’s clients. In this capacity Mr. Stone is responsible for plan governance consulting, income replacement and managed account solutions in plans. He also manages some of the firm’s large, complex clients. Prior to PSA, Mr. Stone managed the U.S. investment advisory business for a European bank and insurance company. He also ran the institutional trust business, including all retirement plans, for a major regional bank. Mr. Stone has consulted with numerous major financial services firms on retirement plan design and disclosure issues. He spearheaded an early effort for open investment architecture when proprietary funds were still the norm and raised the issue of fee disclosure in 1996. He has created numerous retirement and investment products, including a family of mutual funds, commingled funds, and one of the first lifestyle portfolios for clients. Mr. Stone is an informed spokesperson on retirement plan issues, has served as an expert witness in a broad range of investment and fiduciary litigation. He is frequently quoted in publications such as Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Treasury & Risk, Workforce Management and Pensions & Investments. Over the decades, he has written and spoken on a broad range of industry topics, most recently speaking at Pensions & Investments’ annual “401(k) Investment Lineup Summit” focused on ensuring that plan participants reach their retirement goals. Mr. Stone received a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree from San Diego State University. He completed postgraduate studies at Case Western Reserve University and attended the AIMSE Investment Institute at The Wharton School of Business. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), an industry advocate for better participant outcomes.

Sam Valeo is a Senior Vice President and Corporate Retirement Director at Morgan Stanley. For 25 years, he has been providing institutions with Retirement plan guidance and oversight. His focus is in working with Plan Sponsors on Investment Policy, plan design and employee engagement. Publications and Speaking Engagements include Day at the Races Benefits conference speaker and organizer for 8 years. He has been a frequent speaker for many Fortune 500 companies on the topics of participant engagement. Featured speaker at the SHRM Illinois Conference and IL CPA Society on the topics of 401(k) oversight, and provides Plan Sponsor Insights Newsletter. He presents regularly, nationally attended, fiduciary training webinars for plan sponsors. Education and Certifications Include: Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) Wharton School of Business; Certified Financial Planner (CFP); Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS); Bachelor of Science in Finance Eastern Illinois University.

Mike Vincent is Director of Mid-Market Sales & Sales Operations at Financial Engines, joining the company in 2014. In this role, he oversees the team responsible for successful sales in the mid-market segment, as well as sales operations. Mike has 18 years of industry experience, the majority of which he spent at New York Life Retirement Plan Services, where he worked in Sales, Operations, Relationship Management, and Product Management. Mike received a B.A. in economics from the College of the Holy Cross.

Tina Wilson is Senior Vice President and head of the Investment Solutions Innovation organization within MassMutual’s U.S. business. In this role, she is responsible for the strategy, ideation and design of institutional and investment products and solutions, including retirement plans and annuities. Tina also oversees the management of our investment platform and operations in order to deliver strong performance inside our customer solutions.

Prior to this role, Tina was Managing Director, Product & Investment Management for MassMutual International LLC. In that role, she was responsible for development of innovative life, annuity, retirement and investment products. She also led the development of MassMutual International’s Global Wealth Management business. Prior to joining MassMutual International, Ms. Wilson was responsible for the Fund Strategy within MassMutual’s Annuities and Retirement Services businesses. She has been associated with MassMutual since 1996. Prior to joining MassMutual, she was an Investment Officer at Connecticut Mutual. She graduated from the University of Connecticut, with a double major in Finance and Management Information Systems. Ms. Wilson has both the FINRA series 7 and 24. She is also a member of the Hartford CFA Society and the CFA Institute. Ms. Wilson has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary and Chartered Financial Analyst designations.

Ms. Wilson is a member of the School of Business Advisory Board of Western New England University, a board member of the Goldenson Center for Actuarial Research and a member of the Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services Executive Board.