Associate Retirement and Investment Services Specialist
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Field Services Team at WEA Member Benefits!At WEA Member Benefits, we are dedicated to helping Wisconsin public school employees achieve financial security through highly rated retirement savings, financial planning, and personal insurance programs. Created by Wisconsin educators for Wisconsin educators more than 50 years ago, our organization is mission-driven, service-focused, and committed to delivering “A+ Performance” in everything we do.Our culture and team have earned us recognition as a 6-time “Best Places to Work” winner by Madison Magazine and a 3-time Top Workplaces winner by the Wisconsin State Journal. We also take pride in supporting our employees with competitive pay, generous health, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, an industry-leading 401(k) retirement savings plan, and recognition for Best Employee Benefits in 2025.
The Associate Retirement and Investment Services (RIS) Specialist is a registered financial services representative who provides excellent customer service to existing and potential WEA Member Benefits (Member Benefits) members. The Associate RIS Specialist is responsible for providing, evaluating, and improving program administration services for the WEA Tax Sheltered Annuity Trust 403(b) and WEA Member Benefits Individual Retirement Account (IRA) programs; providing technical expertise to associates who directly serve members and ensuring forms, brochures, web content, programs, processes, and procedures comply with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulations. The incumbent responds to inquiries from members about retirement and investment questions, takes and enters mutual fund trade orders, provides calculations, and assists the RIS Specialists with death processing and beneficiary inquiries. Accuracy, timeliness, and dependability are expected and must be routinely delivered without significant ongoing supervision or technical assistance.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
80% RIS Member Service
· Respond to member inquiries about mutual funds, investment allocation, regulations relating to contributions to and distributions from 403(b) and IRA programs, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), and death distributions.
· Contact members or prospective members by telephone to provide meaningful customer service on a proactive basis.
· Execute financial planning calculations, investment portfolio analysis, Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) benefit calculations, and Social Security (SS) benefit estimates.
· Complete mutual fund orders for trades and fund allocations at the request of members.
· Consult with existing members about their retirement savings needs by reviewing the programs in which they currently participate and recommending changes.
· Educate members on potential 403(b) and IRA exchanges, transfers, rollovers, and Roth conversions.
· Communicate and assist retirement account beneficiary(ies) through the death notification and account transfer process.
· Communicate and assist members and alternate payees through the qualified domestic relations order notification and account transfer process.
· Determine whether members meet eligibility guidelines.
· Accurately provide requested forms, brochures, and other written information to members.
· Accurately provide clear and concise instructions to the vendor relationship management team.
· Provide backup phone coverage to the RIS Service team as needed.
15% RIS Program Administration
· Assist RIS Manager in 403(b) and IRA program retention and growth initiatives.
· Review beneficiary and QDRO required distributions schedules.
· Assist RIS Manager in Required Minimum Distribution annual notifications.
· Recommend changes to processes, procedures, and programs to ensure compliance with IRS laws and regulations and improve the administration and delivery of services to members.
· Provide backup for aged checks and lost participant research.
5% Projects
· Participate in projects to evaluate and/or improve RIS programs and services.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
· Associate degree in Business or related field or commensurate experience.
· Knowledge of at least one of the following: Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 403(b) and 408(a) and the pertinent regulations, WRS, SS, or retirement planning concepts and techniques.
· Experience utilizing personal computers and word processing and spreadsheet software, including either financial software programs or online record-keeping systems.
· Excellent performance in present and past positions.
· Commitment to providing excellence in customer service and other Member Benefits values.
· Effective leadership that results in achieving desired results, including collaboration and team building, objective establishment and implementation, and project work.
· Current Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Series 6 or 7 and 63 securities and State of Wisconsin (additional states also required) life licenses or the willingness and the ability to gain within six months of appointment.
ABILITIES REQUIRED
· Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to compose clear, concise, and persuasive correspondence and narrative reports that communicate messages consistent with Company policy using appropriate tone, grammar, and word usage.
· Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with individuals, skillfully ask questions and listen, and explain difficult and technical financial and investment issues.
· Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to identify problems, research and analyze issues from different perspectives, organize information, reach sound conclusions, and work cooperatively with others to develop and implement effective solutions.
· Ability to quickly, effectively, and continually adapt to changes in work duties, processes, and technologies.
· Ability to work independently and to effectively establish, monitor, coordinate resources, and achieve goals with minimal supervision.
· Respectful disposition of all dealings with employees, participants, vendors, and others that promote teamwork and a pleasant work environment.
· Flexibility to work the number and schedule of hours needed to accomplish regular and ad hoc job responsibilities.
· Excellent performance in present and past positions.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES
The following qualifications are preferred for appointment to this position:
· Knowledge of IRC Section 403(b) and 408(a) and pertinent regulations, WRS, SS, and retirement planning concepts and techniques.
· State of Wisconsin and other state life licenses.
· Experience utilizing either financial software programs, online record-keeping systems (Morningstar Principia Pro; and Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access preferred), or customer relationship management software.
· Retirement plan and/or IRA program administration experience.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
· Work is primarily performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to injury and low to moderate noise.
· Requires daily computer and telephone use, frequent interruptions, and occasional travel throughout Wisconsin.
· Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds and perform routine physical activities, including sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, handling objects, speaking, hearing, reading, writing, and using vision abilities required for the role.
WEA Member Benefits is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class under local, state or federal law.
WEA Member Benefits is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request an accommodation within the application process, contact us at [email protected].
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you comfortable explaining technical financial, retirement, or investment-related information to members by phone, written communication, or in individual consultations?
- Do you have knowledge or experience with at least one of the following: 403(b) plans, IRAs, Wisconsin Retirement System benefits, Social Security benefit estimates, retirement planning concepts, or investment-related member service?
- Which FINRA securities licenses do you currently hold?
- Series 6 or Series 7 and Series 63
- Series 6 or Series 7 only
- Series 63 only
- I do not currently hold these license
Work Location: In person
