Pension Resource Institute Strengthens Leadership for Enhanced Retirement Planning Services

Leadership Changes at Pension Resource Institute

The Pension Resource Institute (PRI) has taken significant steps to bolster its leadership and expand its offerings across the retirement planning landscape with recent key appointments. In a strategic move, the organization has appointed Annie Messer as the new President and Haley Erickson as the Chief Compliance Officer of Group Plan Systems (GPS).

These appointments mark a pivotal moment in PRI's two-year plan to enhance integration and elevate the standards of fiduciary and operational expertise within its ecosystem, which also includes the Fiduciary Law Center (FLC). Together, these entities aim to provide broker-dealers, registered investment advisors (RIAs), banks, and independent retirement plan advisors with a comprehensive platform to flourish in the retirement plan business.

Strengthening Operations and Compliance

Annie Messer steps into her role as President with a robust background, having joined PRI in 2023 after a successful 14-year tenure leading retirement initiatives at Cambridge Investment Research. Her leadership is expected to play a crucial role in supporting member firms as they navigate the complexities of retirement plan compliance and management. Messer emphasized, "PRI's role has always been about helping our member firms turn opportunities into compliant and scalable businesses. With the increasing focus on retirement plans as a growth avenue for wealth management firms, I aim to provide our members the necessary guidance to capitalize on this potential."

On the other hand, Haley Erickson’s new position as Chief Compliance Officer of GPS places her in charge of harmonizing the client experience across its pooled employer plan platform. With 15 years of experience in retirement plan administration, her technical expertise and commitment to client service position her well to ensure compliance with ERISA regulations while adapting GPS services for future growth. Erickson stated, "My focus is to ensure our clients experience a consistent and predictable process in managing their retirement plans, which is crucial for competing in the group plan market."

To further bolster the compliance framework under her leadership, GPS recently appointed Justina Feliz as a Fiduciary Consultant, taking over some of Erickson's previous responsibilities to enhance the onboarding process for new pooled plans.

Marketing and Communication Enhancements

In addition to the operational leadership transitions, PRI has introduced Erin Fager as its first Director of Marketing and Communications. This move is in response to the growing demand for resources and content aimed at supporting advisors and employer-facing initiatives. Fager previously held a marketing role at FLC and is tasked with improving outreach and communication channels to better serve PRI’s member firms.

A Planned Transition to Future-Ready Leadership

The changes also coincide with a significant transition within the organization. Steve Niehoff, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer, will step back from daily operations effective August 1, while remaining involved as an independent contractor. This change has been part of an intentional succession plan to allow PRI, GPS, and FLC to continue evolving while ensuring leadership continuity. Founder and CEO, Jason Roberts, praised Niehoff’s contributions, emphasizing the importance of this thoughtful transition as the companies adapt to a fast-paced market environment.

"Steve has been a cornerstone of our growth," Roberts remarked. "The expansion of Haley and Annie into these critical roles is designed to forge ahead in providing our clients with unparalleled support and compliance confidence as they build and grow their retirement plan businesses."

As PRI, GPS, and FLC look to the future, these leadership changes exemplify a proactive approach to ensuring that their mission to empower member firms within the retirement planning sector evolves in tandem with the demands of the marketplace. By strengthening their compliance and operational capabilities, they are well-positioned to navigate the intricacies of retirement planning, setting themselves as leaders in helping firms grow and manage effective retirement programs.

For more information about the Pension Resource Institute and its offerings, visit their website at pension-resources.com.