2024 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year
Efforts in Diversity, Equity and InclusionLiz Aidoo,
Francis LLC
Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup PlansKristi Baker,
CSi Advisory Services, a division of HUB International
403(b) Plan ServiceKim Cochrane,
HUB International
Plan Sponsor ServiceSean Kelly,
Heffernan Financial
Plan Participant ServicePhilip Sherman,
Deschutes Investment Consulting
Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPsMegan Warzinski,
HB Retirement
MentorshipChuck Williams,
Finspire, LLC
The 2024 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to excellence in serving retirement plan sponsors and participants and contributing to the retirement plan adviser industry.
For the third year in a row, the awards are being issued in multiple categories. However, we have separated our recognition for Community Impact and Giving Back into a separate program and replaced that category with 403(b) Plan Service. Going forward, we are highlighting advisers who are giving back through ongoing coverage in PLANADVISER, and then honoring them at the annual awards dinner.
In addition, this 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—to recognize the different strategies being used to close the retirement plan coverage gap.
For 2024, finalists in the following areas are being recognized for their excellence:
- Closing the Coverage Gap — Micro/Startup Plans
- Closing the Coverage Gap — MEPs/PEPs
- Efforts to Improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Mentorship
- 403(b) Plan Service
- Plan Participant Service
- Plan Sponsor Service
For Plan Sponsor Service, Plan Participant Service and 403(b) Plan Service, we accepted nominations from plan sponsors only. For the other categories, we accepted nominations from adviser partners across the industry, including recordkeepers, asset managers, advisers, product providers and more. Self-nominations were prohibited.
The award winners are based on a mixture of qualitative and quantitative measures, including tenure in the business, retirement plan business as a percentage of practice revenue, willingness to serve in a fiduciary role to clients’ plans, essay answers and compliance records. Finalists were interviewed by judges before a winner was selected.
2024 Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year finalists were recognized, and winners announced, at PLANADVISER's annual Industry Leader Awards celebration on May 8, 2024, in New York City.
Plan advisers at the 2024 Industry Leader Awards (photo: Casey Fatchett)
| ▼ SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WINNERS & FINALISTS ▼ |
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.
-
FINALISTS
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.
-
FINALISTS
Efforts in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their success in addressing the financial services industry’s clear and present diversity problem, with a particular focus on the importance of creating equitable and fair workplaces.
-
WINNER
Mentorship
Finalists and winners in this category stand out for their commitment and success in supporting the personal and professional growth of their firm’s staff, their fellow advisers and their industry peers.
-
WINNER
-
FINALISTS
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.
-
FINALISTS
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.
-
FINALISTS