They didn’t dream of becoming retirement plan experts as kids—some aimed for outer space, others imagined pirouettes or the presidency. But lucky for us (and for plan sponsors everywhere), they found their way into the world of retirement plans—and never looked back.
At EGPS, we know it’s our people who make the difference. So we sat down with a few of our brilliant, quirky, spreadsheet-loving teammates to chat about their career journeys, favorite breakfasts, and the eternal struggle of abandoned shopping carts in grocery store aisles.
RETIREMENT PLAN EXPERTS
Scott Green, Retirement Plan Consultant
Rebecca Kasten, Analyst II
Matt Gludt, Sr. Actuary
Jennifer Mourfield, Internal Sales Partner
Erin Gray, Director of Compliance
WORK-RELATED Q&A FOR OUR RETIREMENT PLAN EXPERTS
Q: How did you get into the retirement industry?
Scott: When I graduated college, I began working at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and after a short while, my grandparents passed away within 45 days of one another. I decided to move back to Massachusetts to be closer to family and was hired as a transaction processor. That was 1996 and have been in the industry ever since!
Rebecca: I had no idea what I was getting into. I applied for an admin job at E.H. Thomson, and the rest is history.
Matt: I had a friend in college who became an actuary in the life insurance industry, which led me to discover the retirement industry as an option.
Jennifer: I went back to work after staying home with our kiddos for 10+ years. Engineering was no longer an option so I called a friend to see if she happened to have any job openings. I had no idea what she did for a living…she owned a TPA shop. 😊 The rest is history.
Erin: I took a job right out of college at Universal Pensions, Inc., which later became Ascensus. Within a couple of years, I was focused on ERISA compliance work—primarily training and consulting. I moved to a TPA firm in 2014 and never looked back.
Q: What does your job entail?
Scott: Building great relationships with clients while making sure their retirement plans are administered according to the adoption agreements and federal regulations.
Rebecca: My job entails a little bit of everything. I do census scrubbing and importing, eligibility, calculations and testing, trust accounting, valuations, vesting, etc.
Matt: Anything and everything related to DB/cash balance plans and combo plan testing and design.
Jennifer: Supporting our external sales team, talking with advisors and prospective clients about our services, creating our proposals, ensuring our internal team has everything needed from sales to set up the client/plan for success.
Erin: As Director of Compliance, I oversee our compliance services, new business, and plan document teams. The compliance team is a resource for the rest of the company when it comes to technical questions and support. We get involved in policy decisions and risk assessment. We also provide external support services for one-off compliance project work.
Q: What’s your favorite part of your job as a retirement plan expert?
Scott: Building client relationships.
Rebecca: I am new to my current position, but so far, my favorite part is doing the calculations.
Matt: Figuring out the best solutions for our clients!
Jennifer: Helping people, whether it’s our EGPS team or financial advisors/clients.
Erin: I enjoy helping someone understand complex issues and resolving sticky compliance situations.
NOW FOR THE FUN: GETTING TO KNOW OUR RETIREMENT PLAN EXPERTS
Q: What is your favorite thing about where you live?
Scott: I live in Fort Mill, SC and love being able to golf all year long.
Rebecca: I live in Farmingdale, NJ, and I love that we are only half hour from the beach and boardwalk and about 45 minutes from New York City. So, there’s always something to do, and of course, we have the best pizza!
Matt: Minnesota – proper seasons and lots of good reasons to go outdoors.
Jennifer: I live in Augusta, GA. I enjoy the slower pace of life compared to the major cities I’ve lived in before. And I love the annual Masters Golf Tournament. That isn’t a hardship.
Erin: I live just north of Brainerd, Minnesota, in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area. I enjoy our summer weather, being on the lake, golfing, and mountain biking on the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Biking trails.
Q: What’s your favorite breakfast food/go-to brunch order?
Scott: Chicken biscuit
Rebecca: That would have to be eggs benedict (so good).
Matt: Cereal – constantly switching it up
Jennifer: A fresh breakfast burrito from our local coffee shop.
Erin: Over-easy eggs and toast
Q: What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Scott: Professional soccer player
Rebecca: I’m torn on this one! At times I wanted to be a ballerina, but I also wanted to be the first woman president.
Matt: Astronaut or baseball player
Jennifer: An architect. I pivoted into engineering 2 ½ years into college.
Erin: I wanted to be an attorney when I was young.
Q: What new hobby would you like to try if you had the time?
Scott: Martial arts
Rebecca: I always wanted to learn how to play piano (I still might someday!).
Matt: Ice fishing – I should probably try that at least once.
Jennifer: Painting/artwork
Erin: I’ve been thinking about learning to play pickleball, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?
Scott: People that leave their shopping cart/buggy in the middle of the grocery store aisle while looking for an item.
Rebecca: My biggest pet peeve is definitely people that don’t clean up after themselves, especially at parks and beaches.
Matt: Whenever I forget anything
Jennifer: Rude/inconsiderate/selfish people. It’s just not necessary.
Erin: Dishes piled in the sink and a wet countertop.
Q: If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you choose and why?
Scott: A dog – receiving unconditional love from an owner.
Rebecca: I think I would be an owl. They are up at night, sleep during the day, and are considered very wise.
Matt: A beaver – you can build a nice lodge for yourself and enjoy the lake.
Jennifer: I cannot think of anything.
Erin: A house cat. Not a bad life.
Q: If you were setting off to a deserted island and could take only one luxury item with you, what would it be?
Scott: My sand wedge and a dozen golf balls.
Rebecca: I don’t know if this is allowed but I would take a boat because I don’t want to be stuck on a deserted island.
Matt: A sushi rice cooker
Jennifer: My contoured pillow.
Erin: A lounge chair for the beach and a book. Are those luxury items?
