Meeting Date & Time: April 16th / Breakfast hour
7:30am- 8:30 am Arrival & Plated Breakfast
8:30 am- 9:30 am Panel Discussion
Virtual or In-Person: In-Person at Bellevue Hilton
Important Logistical Notes (if needed): N/A
Pricing:
LWHRA Member | $55
LWHRA Non-Member | $85
Speaker Name: Walt Winter, Keith Mayfield, Paul Grutzner
Presentation Name: Employee Financial Wellbeing Panel
Presentation Summary and Takeaways:
Our April chapter meeting will feature a panel discussion on Employee Financial Wellbeing, comprising three local experts in the field. The session aims to address the critical importance of financial wellness programs in the workplace and provide insights into how organizations can support their employees' financial health. Each expert will share their perspectives, strategies, and best practices for promoting financial wellbeing among employees, ultimately contributing to a more engaged, productive, and satisfied workforce.
Key Takeaways Include:
Highlight the significance of financial wellness for overall employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention.
Discuss practical strategies for implementing financial wellbeing programs (including key benefits and 401k) tailored to the needs of employees.
Share examples of successful communication strategies used by organizations to raise awareness and drive employee engagement of financial programs.
Discuss how investing in employee financial wellbeing aligns with organizational goals and values.
Provide insights into the unique financial challenges faced by employees in the local community and Northwest business landscape.
HR Domain: Employee Wellbeing/HR Strategy
Walt Winter
Senior Vice President & Partner, Employee Benefits
Woodruff Sawyer is the Nation’s largest employee-owned insurance brokerage with offices across the US, although mostly on the Westcoast. Woodruff Sawyer has been brokering insurance for the most sophisticated companies since 1918. With more than a decade of insurance industry experience, Walt's expertise and passion for solving clients’ most challenging benefits problems have helped him build strong client relationships. He works with startups to fortune 500 companies within construction, technology, transportation, and manufacturing industries.
Walt's goal is to simplify the often-difficult process of navigating employee benefits through data analysis and goal-oriented strategies. His unique perspective of working for two clients—companies and employees—helps bring sustainable benefit programs that employees value and meet the needs of the company. Building on his expertise in alternative funding, compliance, employee communication, data analytics, and wellness, he helps clients create employee benefits plans that meet their goals.
In 2018, Walt was named among the Rising Stars in Advising by Employee Benefit Adviser. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Washington.
Outside of work Walt enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters and occasionally enjoying any type of outdoor recreation.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/walterwinter/
Keith Mayfield
Keith Mayfield is President and “Chief 401(k)-403(b) Advocate” at Planit Financial LLC. Keith believes in the importance of guiding sponsors and employees to more successful retirement plan and retirement income results. He brings over 25 years of 401k industry specific experience working with more than 1000 qualified (401k/403b/457/DB/CB/etc.) plans to his firm along with a genuine passion for providing exceptional qualified plan results for the plan sponsors and plan participants he serves.
Keith’s career experience spans most areas of qualified plan service including roles at a Third-Party Administration firm, a sponsor support desk, a dedicated employee education specialist, and a sponsor relationship manager. Keith spent nearly two decades wholesaling and directly coaching financial advisors on best practices of investment management, employee education, plan design, and fiduciary consulting while helping those advisors better service their own 401k plans. He has been recognized 6 times for Presidents Club Level contributions to his teams.
Throughout his career, Keith’s passion and expertise in this area has continued to grow. He is credentialed as a Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA), and a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA). He has earned the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing and Nonqualified Plan Advisor certificates. He is credentialed to offer the advanced qualified plan Fiduciary Essentials Training Course. He currently has or has held investment industry Series 6, Series 7, SIE, Series 63, and Series 66 investment securities licenses, and Washington State Life and Disability Insurance Licenses.
Keith is a current board member of the Western Pension and Benefits Council Seattle Chapter. He is also involved with several qualified plan specific organizations including the American Retirement Association (ARA), National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), Fi360, the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX), the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), and.
A lifetime resident of Washington State, Keith and Katy enjoy their time as empty nesters. They enjoy playing cribbage, cooking, working around the house, and spending time outdoors either water skiing, boat surfing, snow skiing, cycling, or hiking.
Paul Grutzner
Paul Grutzner joined the Gallagher retirement plan consulting team in April of 2018 upon the acquisition of his firm, ClearPoint Financial. Previously, he led ClearPoint Financial as a Managing Partner and also served as a Retirement Plan Consultant. Active in retirement consulting since 1988, Paul was instrumental in developing CIBC Oppenheimer’s cash balance resources and also spent nine successful years at RBC Dain Rauscher.
At Gallagher Paul serves as the Western Region Market Leader, Sr. Area Vice President, Investment Advisory Representative and Retirement Plan Consulting in the Western Region. His team supports all types of retirement plans across all market segments from start-up to large complex plans, with a focus on being strategic partners in both retirement consulting and financial wellbeing strategies.
Paul works with all types of employers to support them in optimizing their performance of their 401(k), 403(b), Defined Benefit Pensions, Profit Sharing, Executive Retirement, financial wellbeing and education solutions. Paul is passionate about understanding the retirement needs of an organization’s overall business, helps employers design and establish significant retirement plans in support of their business objectives and goals. As the Western Region Market Leader, Paul also focuses on bringing vendor relationships and management, investment management, full fiduciary mitigation consulting, as well as developing participant communication and education goals. As an Investment Advisor Representative, he is able to service as an ERISA 3(21) and 3(38) plan fiduciary.
In 2007, PlanAdviser magazine recognized Paul Grutzner and ClearPoint Financial as One of the Most Successful Retirement Plan Advisers of the Year.*
PlanAdvisor Magazine recognized ClearPoint Financial as a Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisor in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and was consecutively nominated for their “Team of the Year” honor.**
Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin. He is active in a number of civic and charitable organizations in the Seattle area. He resides with his wife and four children in Issaquah, WA.