HANYS Benefit Services' Carol A. Idone Receives Prestigious SPARK Advisor Award

Vice President, Client Relationship Management and Consulting,

Honored for Leadership in "Plan Design & Administration Innovation"

HANYS Benefit Services (HBS) is pleased to announce that Carol A. Idone, CFP®, AIF®, Vice President, Client Relationship Management and Consulting, is the recipient of the 2017 SPARK Advisor Award: Plan Design & Administration Innovation.

This award is presented annually by The SPARK Institute, Inc., to a retirement plan advisor in the United States who "demonstrates leadership in designing plans and administrative processes that improve participant outcomes while managing plan costs." The SPARK Institute helps to shape national retirement policy by providing research, education, testimony, and comments on pending legislative and regulatory issues to members of Congress and relevant government agency officials. Its members serve approximately 85 million participants in 401(k) and other defined contribution plans.

Ms. Idone brings more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and retirement planning field to HBS. She has particular expertise in working with healthcare-focused and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining HBS in 2013, Ms. Idone worked at The Hartford and AIG Valic. She previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance at Seton Health System in Troy, New York, and as a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG in Albany, New York.

"My background has allowed me to see these plans from every angle, and the advising done at HBS is unique in part because of that technical expertise," Ms. Idone said. "I truly enjoy having the opportunity to help our clients develop the plans that will serve their employees most successfully, and I thank The SPARK Institute for this recognition."

"Carol is an extremely dedicated professional and so deserving of this recognition," said James J. Kelley, President, HBS. "Our clients benefit from her expertise and skill in producing unique analysis and reports in various areas, but especially benefit from her plan design modeling.”

HANYS President Bea Grause echoed Mr. Kelley's sentiments. "Carol's expertise is invaluable to our members. We are grateful for her leadership and her commitment to HBS' member-focused philosophy."

Ms. Idone’s expertise can be found in her whitepapers on participant outcomes, and she has been quoted by industry-leading publications.

If you have any questions, please contact Carol directly via our website, or by calling (800) 388-1963.

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