Skip to main content

James Kelley, President, HANYS Benefit Services, Joins the Retirement Advisor Council

HANYS Benefit Services (HBS) is pleased to announce the appointment of James J. Kelley, President, to the Retirement Advisor Council, effective January 1, 2018.

The Retirement Advisor Council is a national organization that advocates for successful qualified plan and participant retirement outcomes through the collaborative efforts of experienced, qualified retirement plan advisors, investment managers, and defined contribution plan service providers. To advance its mission, the Council undertakes initiatives in the areas of research, public relations and promotion, public education, regulatory positions, and practice management. The Council accomplishes this mission by:
  • identifying duties, responsibilities, and attributes of the professional retirement plan advisor; 
  • sharing professional standards with plan sponsors who are responsible for the success of their plans; 
  • providing collective thought capital to decision makers, product providers, legislators, and the public; 
  • giving voice to the retirement plan advisor community; and 
  • offering tools to evaluate advisors to ensure the quality of services provided. 
An acknowledged expert and thought leader with more than 25 years’ experience in the retirement industry, Mr. Kelley is an in-demand speaker at industry events. The Executive Board of the Retirement Advisor Council approved his nomination in January of 2018 after a comprehensive review process that took multiple factors into consideration, including his extensive industry experience and standing as a leading retirement plan expert.

"I am honored to now be a part of this organization,” Mr. Kelley said. “The Retirement Advisor Council is an assemblage of thought leadership from top advisory firms from around the country. Each member is genuinely interested in the advancement of plan sponsor and participant outcomes. The collective impact of the Council is amazing.”

As President of HBS, Mr. Kelley sets firm policy and directs all activities and services. His responsibilities include oversight of all operations, customer service, and personnel for retirement plan services, employee benefits, and all other advisory services.

Popular posts from this blog

SECURE 2.0 Discussion Series: Session One

SECURE 2.0 provisions: What we know and what’s still up in the air The SECURE 2.0 Act, signed into law in late December 2022, has factored heavily in retirement industry discourse since the final legislation was published. As with any legislation of this depth and breadth, there’s a lot to digest and the industry takes time to adjust. Our team of experienced advisors recently met to discuss some of the more nuanced provisions of the legislation, such as changes to Roth contributions, and what they could mean for plan sponsors. Panel participants included the following HBS team members: Noah Buck, Christina Bauer-Dobias, Sean Bayne, Vincent Bocchinfuso and Kathleen Coonan. Highlights of our panel’s conversation below should serve to help guide plan sponsor thinking. On Roth employer contributions NB – In addition to deferring pre-tax or Roth, plan sponsors can now allow employer contributions to be classified as Roth, is that right? VB – Correct. This is immediately available to plan s
Read more

COVID-19: Retirement and Benefit Plan Resources

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, we are closely monitoring news and updates from top sources. We’ll be updating this section as new developments unfold. Here are several key articles and links to help plan sponsors and administrators navigate the COVID-19 impact to retirement and benefit plans: Retirement Plans 4 Key CARES Act Provisions for Retirement Plan Sponsors Markets React to Coronavirus   Important Considerations for Retirement Plan Sponsors during the Coronavirus Pandemic In Fed We Trust Participant Education Services: Timely Help from a Safe Distance CRDs 100% Taxable for New York State and Local Income Tax Purposes in 2020 IRS Permits Remote Notarization of Participant Elections   Employee Benefits CARES Act Expands Health Coverage Rules Understanding the Historic $2 Trillion Stimulus Package Employee Compensation and Benefits During Closures and Furloughs DOL Clarifies Exemptions to Coronavirus Paid Leave Laws Small Business Exemption to
Read more

SECURE 2.0 Discussion Series: Session Two

The retirement industry has been buzzing since the SECURE 2.0 Act was signed into law last December. This new, comprehensive legislation has sparked a lot of discussion. As with any major reform, it will take time for the industry to fully adapt and understand all its implications. Following our April 11 webinar on the first three months of the industry’s response, our team reconvened to discuss some of what we have heard from our client and vendor partners and to respond to some of the great questions we heard from attendees. Panel participants included the following HBS team members: Noah Buck, Christina Bauer-Dobias, Sean Bayne, Vincent Bocchinfuso and Kathleen Coonan. The Discussion SB – Throughout the webinar, I wanted to stress two things: 1) confusion about where to start and what is expected from plan sponsors is normal; and 2) even more than three months in, this is a developing situation and people should expect changes as time goes on. With those in mind, engagement through
Read more