Press Release

RPA Announces Key Leadership Updates

Issued by Retirement Plan Advisors [RPA]

Feb. 15, 2024

Josh Schwartz, Ken Mergen, and Brett Pendleton assume new titles and functions

Chicago, IL  -- To support the firm’s ongoing growth and future direction, Retirement Plan Advisors (RPA) proudly announces the following key leadership updates.

• Josh Schwartz, AIF will now serve as RPA’s Chief Executive Officer, representing the brand while focusing on the firm’s strategic direction and client service offerings. Josh is a founding principal of the firm, and had acted as President since 2013. He has served the public sector wholeheartedly for 35 years, helping working Americans who have dedicated their lives to public service plan for a financially secure retirement.

  Josh is a graduate of the University of Chicago, holds FINRA Series 6, 26, 63, and 65 registrations, and is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®). He is active with the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA), the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), and Institutional Investor. Additionally, he serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council for leading national financial solutions firm Cambridge Investment Research. Within the industry, Josh is a recognized voice on retirement readiness and investment solutions for working Americans.

• Ken Mergen will now serve as RPA’s President, focused on driving the firm’s strategic direction and new business opportunities to maintain its position as an industry leader. He previously acted as the firm’s Vice President of Group Retirement Plans. Ken has worked in the retirement plan industry for nearly 30 years and joined RPA in 2014, proudly supporting the firm’s mission to support public sector employees’ retirement outcomes.

  Ken is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds FINRA Series 7, 26, 63, and 66 registrations. He is active with NAPA, including NAPA’s DC Fly-In Forum where he supports industry lobbying efforts, and multiple Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) state chapters. Ken is a strong proponent of behavioral economics and regularly speaks on plan design and retirement readiness topics.

• Brett Pendleton will now serve as RPA’s Vice President of Group Plan Operations, overseeing the efficient and effective operations of the firm’s group retirement plans and proprietary investment solutions. A member of the financial services community for 17 years, he joined RPA in 2013, previously acting as Financial Advisor, Service Center Director, and Director of Group Plan Operations.

  Brett is a graduate of Columbia College in Columbia, MO and holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 66 registrations.

Josh, Ken, Brett, and the entire RPA team are dedicated to upholding Our Promise to our valued clients.

About Retirement Plan Advisors (RPA)

RPA is an independent federally registered investment adviser specializing in providing customized investment solutions to public sector retirement plans, helping their employees retire better. The firm provides plan and participant investment advisory and fiduciary services to employers of all sizes. Today RPA proudly serves more than 550 unique public sector employers with 80,000+ participants and over $7 billion in plan and individual assets under advisement.

Editor's note: This press release has been issued by the company named above, not BenefitsLink. Reliance on information in this press release might be prudent only after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by BenefitsLink.