Happy Thanksgiving, readers! This festive season, we’re carving out some time to get to know the wonderful folks who put the “stuffing” in our company culture. We’ve gathered around the virtual table to dish out a hearty serving of fun and feather-raising facts about a few members of our retirement plan expert team. From their go-to coffee orders (also, who knew some people don’t drink coffee?) to their hidden talents—we’ve got all the fun details.
Pull up a chair, grab a slice of pumpkin pie, and prepare to be entertained by the stories and quirks of those who make our workplace a cornucopia of creativity and camaraderie. Let’s dig in!
RETIREMENT PLAN EXPERT INTERVIEW LIST
Tammy DeDen, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant
Autumn Lehmann, Transaction Specialist
Natasha Anderson, Compliance Analyst
Lon Shannon, Analyst
WORK-RELATED Q&A FOR EACH RETIREMENT PLAN EXPERT
Q: What was your first job?
Tammy: My first job in the retirement world was a small firm in Tustin, California called Campbells Administration.
Autumn: Round Top Festival Hill Institute – working in the kitchen preparing/serving meals before/after Orchestra concerts.
Natasha: My first job was babysitting for the neighbors, but my first “real” job was as a laborer working at a lumber mill, running moulders and planers, making paneling and flooring.
Lon: I worked as a referee and coach for youth sports.
Q: How did you get into the retirement industry?
Tammy: I was working for an accounting firm and decided I wanted a job closer to home. I applied for an accounting position and when I went to interview they told me they could teach me all about retirement plans….and they did. 😊
Autumn: A friend asked me to apply & join her team.
Natasha: I was in the accounting field working at a local daily community newspaper around 12 years ago when the community newspaper industry was declining, and many newspapers were downsizing. I decided I needed to make a change as I didn’t see a long-term future for me in that industry. Initially, I took a temporary position with a local recordkeeper as backfill during the PPA restatement. I joined their ERISA compliance team after the restatement and have been in a compliance-based role ever since.
Lon: It was a stroke of luck. I was ready to leave my first full time job, so I applied to a craigslist ad for a 403b TPA and got the job. I have been in the industry ever since.
Q: What does your job entail?
Tammy: The client is my main priority, so a lot of my role involves being responsive and trying to solve any issues or questions they may have timely. I manage my caseload to stay on track and to ensure all necessary forms are filed timely. Additionally, I process contribution calculations, trust accounting, IRS forms and valuations. I also review distributions, loans and hardships.
Autumn: Processing distributions/loans, working with participants.
Natasha: My primary work includes client engagement projects (Form 5500 preparation, plan merger reviews, combined coverage testing, assisting plan sponsors with self-correction of operational failures, preparation of voluntary correction program submissions, plan document work, and IRS audit support work). I also assist with internal technical questions regarding plan compliance.
Lon: I perform the backend retirement plan administration work for clients – completing their annual discrimination testing, preparing annual reporting packages, ensuring plan compliance.
Q: What’s your favorite part of your job as a retirement plan expert?
Tammy: I like that my job is challenging and always changing. You are always learning new things and it is never boring.
Autumn: Assisting people with their distribution needs.
Natasha: Being able to explain complicated and ever-changing retirement rules in an easy-to-understand manner.
Lon: The ability to assist those who truly want to learn and save for retirement.
NOW FOR THE FUN: GETTING TO KNOW OUR RETIREMENT PLAN EXPERTS
Q: What’s your go-to coffee order at a fancy coffee shop (or any coffee shop 😊)?
Tammy: I am not a coffee drinker. If I order a drink at a coffee shop I opt for the refreshers in the summer or hot chocolate in the winter.
Autumn: Caramel Macchiato or any good-flavored coffee.
Natasha: Mint Condition Mocha from Caribou Coffee (hot or iced depending on the day)
Lon: I actually don’t drink coffee. I am more of an energy drink and vitamin type guy in the morning!
Q: What is your favorite podcast? (if you don’t listen to podcasts, your favorite book/book series, or TV show)
Tammy: When I listen to podcasts, it is almost always true crime podcasts.
Autumn: Harlan Coben – author
Natasha: The one TV series that I could watch repeatedly is The Office. “Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica”
Lon: I have many TV shows that I can watch over and over, but currently I am working my way back through Ghosts from CBS – both the American and UK versions.
Q: What was your first CD (or cassette tape, or album 😉)?
Tammy: Wow, that is going way back! I am thinking it was a Madonna cassette.
Autumn: That would be telling my age HAHA…honestly don’t remember who but it was on cassette!
Natasha: This ages me a bit, but my first cassette tape was Amy Grant – The Collection (I still have it in a box somewhere)
Lon: My first CD purchased I believe was a P.O.D CD.
Q: What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten (and would you eat it again)?
Tammy: Escargot and no, never again.
Autumn: I don’t eat weird foods.
Natasha: Cow tongue, and no, I don’t think I would eat it again. The taste didn’t bother me, but I did not care for the texture!
Lon: Probably beef tongue or brain. And no, probably would not eat them again.
Q: What are your hidden talents outside of work?
Tammy: I am creative and crafty and can usually figure out a way to make whatever my kids and friends want. My friend and I have now taken on making caramel apples, dipped pretzels, chocolate covered Oreos, and decorated cookies and cake pops for different events.
Autumn: Crafting
Natasha: I don’t know if you can call it a talent, but I am a really good shot with a gun and I love going to the shooting range.
Lon: Outside of work, I’ve been working on updating my recently purchased home!
Q: What is a recent movie you’ve watched, book you’ve read, or trip you’ve taken that you’d recommend to everyone and why?
Tammy: I am way behind and just started watching Yellowstone (which I love). I have to catch up before the new season drops in November.
Autumn: I visited Salem & Boston Massachusetts in fall 2023, loved the cooler temps (I’m from central Texas, it’s HOT) and beautiful scenery & architecture. There is so much to explore and experience.
Natasha: My husband, son, and I recently took a trip to Alaska. We spent almost three weeks there and would absolutely love to make a return trip in the future. The scenery and wildlife were breathtakingly beautiful, and our excursions (whitewater rafting, glacier hike, river and deep-sea fishing) were so fun. We made memories to last a lifetime! 10/10; highly recommend!
Lon: Until recently I never did a long distance road trip by myself. I decided to make a 12 hour drive to go visit some friends. It was a task but is fun to just say I did that.
MORE AND MORE LAYERS OF OUR EXPERTS
Tammy: If you knew me… you’d know I love animals, especially my furry little kids.
If you really knew me… you’d know I love Disneyland and worked there in high school and college for 11 years.
If you really really knew me… you’d know my degree is in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology and my first career was working with abused children.
Autumn: If you knew me… You’d know I love to bake & cook from scratch.
If you really knew me…You’d know I want to drive the entire New England coastline.
If you really really knew me… You’d know how much my family & friends mean to me.
Natasha: If you knew me… you’d know I’m an introvert.
If you really knew me… you’d know I love Latin music.
If you really really knew me… you’d know I was a band geek in high school. I played trumpet and love bands with a strong brass section.
Lon: If you knew me… You would know I love sports.
If you really knew me… You would know I have 1 certificate and 2 associate degrees in the Airplane industry.
If you really really knew me… You would know that I have a severe soft spot for dogs, to the point I would open a rescue if I could support it, for any dog that needed a home.
