BPAS Partners with the SS&C Automatic Rollover Program to Enhance Retirement Plan Servicing

BPAS, a leading provider of retirement and benefits administration services, is pleased to announce its AutoRollovers service has joined with SS&C Technologies’ Automatic Rollover Program (ARP). SS&C’s pioneering platform is designed to revolutionize the servicing needs of Third-Party Administrators (TPAs), recordkeepers, advisory firms, and plan sponsors.

BPAS AutoRollovers provides a hassle-free IRA solution designed for terminated participants facing mandatory distributions from their retirement accounts. This service simplifies the management of mandatory distributions for plan sponsors, with the added benefit of a fully automated distribution process for plans utilizing the BPAS platform. Offering a comprehensive one-stop solution, AutoRollovers saves both time and money.

The collaboration between BPAS AutoRollovers and SS&C’s ARP aims to simplify and streamline the administration of mandatory rollovers at the plan level, providing an efficient and user-friendly solution.

About SS&C Technologies

SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. Some 20,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world’s largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale, and technology.

BPAS Honored as a 2023 CenterState CEO Economic Champion

Syracuse, NY (November 20, 2023) — BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts, has been named a 2023 CenterState CEO Economic Champion. This prestigious distinction is awarded to outstanding businesses and organizations that have played a significant role in driving the Central New York economy forward over the past year.

The CenterState CEO Economic Champion Award recognizes BPAS for its exceptional contributions to the growth of the regional economy. This includes the creation of new jobs, the establishment of new businesses, commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), achievement of company milestones, business expansions, and investments in operations, among other notable achievements.

“We are honored to be recognized as a 2023 CenterState CEO Economic Champion,” said Elizabeth Kaido, Senior Vice President of Sales and Relationship Management at BPAS. “This distinction reflects our commitment to driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and making a positive difference in the communities we serve. We are grateful for the support of our neighbors, friends, and clients across Central New York.”

BPAS has been a growing member of the CNY community since 1973. Now in its 50th year in business, this “little company that could” supports more than 4,500 retirement plans with $110 billion in trust assets,$1.3 trillion in fund administration, and 620,000 participants for companies big and small, including many national brands.

“We’re pleased and honored to be an active, growing, and contributing part of the Central New York community for the past 50 years,” added Vince Spina, President of BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services. “At BPAS, we value the connection between our clients, employees, jobs, and communities and make it part of our corporate culture. We couldn’t be more pleased with earning recognition as a 2023 CenterState CEO Economic Champion. We’re looking forward to the next 50 years.”

BPAS Earns Top Spots in 2023 NAPA Advisors’ Choice Awards

BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts has earned top spots among the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) AdvisorsChoice Awards for all market sizes as a Defined Contribution plan recordkeeper and service provider.

According to the NAPA announcement, “For the second year, we called on advisors to rate different service categories and five distinct market segments. Advisors are ‘in the trenches,’ dealing day in and day out with recordkeeper partners, and are therefore most qualified to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the companies that occupy this critical industry space. “

Advisors were asked to vote only on the services in their target markets—and to evaluate the services on a five-point scale, ranging from “world-class” to “functional” to “needs work.”

Advisors placed BPAS in the Top 5 Recordkeepers in a total of 18 categories across all 5 market segments, including:

  • Plan Sponsor Website
  • Regulatory Support
  • Advisor Support
  • Participant Statement
  • Education Materials
  • Multilingual capabilities
  • Plan Health
  • Wellness
  • Retirement Income

BPAS also received top honors in the 2022 NAPA Advisor Choice Awards.

We couldnt be more excited by and grateful for these results,” said Paul Neveu, BPAS CEO. “At BPAS, weve been working for years on the blocking and tackling aspects of administering retirement plans – receiving more data from each client, scrubbing data extensively before it is traded, and taking significant work off the desk of Human Resources. We spend a lot of time on people, culture, and relationships to deliver an environment of stability.  That approach seems to be resonating today, as so many firms have been disrupted by turnover following acquisitions.  We will keep at it, with a high-touch, technology-enabled experience. These results are gratifying because they underscore our expertise in the mid and large end of the marketplace – things like company stock, unitization, and complex groups of DC and DB plans. Were thrilled that Advisors and Trustees are catching on to the BPAS story, and we look forward to their ongoing feedback so we can optimize our services together.”

BPAS offers a range of services that simplify the complicated nature of retirement and benefit plans without the need to engage multiple providers. The service model of comprehensive administration, combined with full-fee transparency and conflict-free open architecture investments, provides the support, versatility, and experience advisors and clients can depend on. All BPAS clients have a dedicated fully credentialed plan consultant, regardless of plan size. In fact, BPAS clients save 45% more time with BPAS than with previous administrators using recordkeeping.

Flexibility, depth of expertise, and consulting are things we really focus on at BPAS for all of our clients regardless of the size,” said Maryann Geary, President of Plan Administration & Recordkeeping. We want our reputation to be one of experience, great people, and accountability. Its reassuring to know that advisors see us as trustworthy partners they can build a business around. But, we wont let it get to our heads; well keep working every day.”

The industry has seen quite a bit of turmoil recently, with big changes in service models among many providers,” added Elizabeth Kaido, Senior Vice President of Sales and Relationship Management. “Our model of top-notch expertise and reliable service wrapped in a flexible platform has really resonated with the advisor community.”

The BPAS team attributes their success to hard work, a strong work ethic, and empowering employees to collaborate and resolve issues amicably. Our main focus is to cultivate a harmonious and supportive work environment with strong relationships based on expertise and minimal drama,” added Neveu. We will continue working on one issue at a time, using a high-touch, technology-enabled approach. Thats how we roll at BPAS. Its what defines us. Its what makes us special.”

A Prominent Syracuse Actuarial Company Celebrates 20 Years

BPAS Actuarial and Pension Services (APS) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month. APS is a division of BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts. BPAS APS provides actuarial, consulting, and plan administration services to corporations, not-for-profit organizations, small-business owners, and professional services groups across the nation.

A spin-off of the former PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Global Human Resources Solutions division in Syracuse, BPAS APS today is named as one of the top 20 retirement plan actuarial practices in the U.S. The organization has 70 employees – including 30 actuaries – servicing hundreds of pension plans for businesses ranging from one to more than 20,000 employees.

It all started thanks to the quick thinking of two Upstate New York-based CEOs: Vince Spina and former BPAS CEO (retired) Barry Kublin. The two met fifteen years before PwC became APS when Spina was working with Community Bank (the parent company of BPAS).

I was at Coopers and Lybrand, which became PwC,” said Spina, who remains president of BPAS APS to this day. It was February of 2003, and we had a law change: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The essence of it meant that we at PwC were going to be precluded from serving as actuaries on clients where we were also their auditor. We were going to have to step away from a lot of work. Barry caught wind of that, called me on a Friday morning, and said, Vince, I understand because of Sarbanes you might not be able to keep all your staff. And if thats the case, we would have a home for some of them at BPAS.’” BPAS was based in nearby Utica.

“I said to Barry, Well, why not take the whole Syracuse office?And he paused and said, Ill get back to you.’”

Kublin called back that Monday morning and started negotiating for BPAS to take ownership of the PwC Syracuse operations. The deal closed on August 1—less than six months later. It was lightning fast, which is kind of unheard of,” added Spina.

“When I worked for Coopers & Lybrand in Boston in my first job out of college, I heard a lot about our firm’s Syracuse office – where Vince Spina and Sarah Dam were lead actuaries – and the impressive expertise they had. So it was truly a nice surprise to join forces with this same practice again, years later when I became part of BPAS,” recalled BPAS CEO Paul Neveu.

“Just to give you some perspective,” noted Spina. “At the time, BPAS had maybe $5 million in revenue, and we had maybe $4 million in our Syracuse office. So together, in the first full year of 2004, we did about $10 million in business, which was great.” This past year, the company did more than $115 million.

“What does that mean, beyond the impressive increase in dollars? It means that we’re growing,” said Spina. For twenty years now, weve been making things happen and getting it done.”

Coincidentally, BPAS is celebrating its own 50th anniversary this year.

The range of services provided by APS is impressive: the group covers more than 200 individual-employee businesses (and sometimes their spouses). BPAS APS now has clients in 33 states and Puerto Rico.

Oswego Health, located about 45 minutes north of the BPAS office in Syracuse, has been a client since 1998. “The BPAS APS team has been an integral partner in navigating the challenging regulatory reforms in retirement benefit plan offerings for our employees,” said Eric Campbell, CEO of Oswego Health. “I always trust their advice. This relationship has always allowed us to focus on the core healthcare needs of our community.”

While satisfied clients are a priority, it’s the companys thriving culture of hard work and honest service, along with a long-serving employee base, that makes Spina smile.

BPAS APS  “is a relationship-driven organization,” noted Spina. Its not just about the numbers. We recognize that developing relationships over long periods of time transcends the work.”

“Our APS team is a major national practice — bringing actuarial consulting expertise seen at the high end of the marketplace to the full range of employers, while charging fees that are generally 25 – 30% lower than the largest firms,” said Neveu. “I love the intellectual nature of the team, including their curiosity and creativity for solving problems. Whether it’s a DB SERP, a cash balance/401(k) combination plan, a custom solution to discount rates, or expertise devoted to specific industry groups or types of plans, this team truly shines. We also like to involve some of our actuaries in other projects and needs across BPAS, because they bring such a unique perspective to the table.”

“We’re united in leveraging the APS team to solve complex problems for clients and partners, including creating solutions like our DB 360 program, developed by Jason Disco, Senior Vice President of Pension Sales & Consulting at APS. We celebrate their 20th anniversary, and we look forward to the adventures that lie ahead with our APS team as an integral part of BPAS,” Neveu said.

These sentiments are reflected in the words of just a few of the company’s long-term employees.

Sarah Dam, Senior VP, has been with the company for 20 years. Whats great about this organization is that its large enough to get exposure to a variety of clients and opportunities, but small enough to work closely and develop relationships with colleagues,” said Dam. Looking back, seeing how much we have grown, not just in numbers but in expertise, Im proud to say that we have worked as partners with our clients, providing guidance and suggesting solutions as the employee benefit landscape and their own businesses have changed.”

Amy Kemp, VP, Consulting, joined the Syracuse office of PwC five years before the branch spun off into BPAS APS. Weve all been through so much change,” she stated. “When I first started in the New York office nearly 37 years ago, people didnt have computers on their desks. Everything was done on paper. If you needed to put a spreadsheet together, you went to a computer room with about six computers in it, and printed the results on paper! Navigating so much change, along with the many updates in pension rules through the years, has been one of our biggest strengths. It makes all the difference to be a part of a group of intelligent and dedicated people who are always trying to do our best for our clients.”

It is that spirit and culture of excellence that Spina believes will carry the company forward throughout whatever changes come next.

With the growth of A.I., the new hybrid culture of work-from-home opportunities, and more, the landscape for actuarial and pension services will continue to change at a rapid pace,” he added. But I think our history shows well that those who have strong relationships will survive the inevitable ups and downs and ebbs and flows of business cycles.”

Hand Benefits & Trust Celebrates its 60th Anniversary

Hand Benefits & Trust (HB&T), a pioneering, third-generation retirement business based in Houston, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

HB&T, a BPAS company, was founded as American Industries Trust Company in 1963 by William W. Hand. Today,  HB&T is led by Stephen Hand, the company’s third-generation President and CEO, whose brothers, William David Hand and John Hand, have also worked at HB&T. But, the company has family roots as a retirement business that actually span nearly 85 years. Back in 1939, Hands grandfather, Thomas E. Hand, started Hand & Associates as a pension consulting firm. In 1963, the trust company was created and built on a focus that has sustained the business as it heads into its seventh decade of offering retirement plan trust services and innovative solutions through collective investment funds – a rapidly expanding niche in the retirement industry.   

A collective investment fund is an investment product that looks and feels very much like a mutual fund,” explains Stephen Hand, the companys third-generation President and CEO. But, its regulated by a  banking regulator—in our case, the Texas Department of Banking – the IRS and the DOL.”

Unlike mutual funds, collective funds are not available to the general public. Theyre only available to qualified retirement plans. As a result, they dont have a lot of the extraneous expenses that you see in a mutual fund,” added Hand. That is one of many reasons these funds have drawn more attention in recent decades, and why they are poised to draw even more attention in the years ahead. Its an exciting time to be in this business.”

In 2007, Hand Benefits & Trust became part of BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts, with offices across the United States and Puerto Rico. Coincidentally, BPAS is celebrating its own 50th anniversary this year.

According to the US Census Bureau, fewer than 12 percent of small businesses launched in the United States still exist ten years after they were founded. So what led to the longevity of HB&T?

If theres one thing that has kept both businesses (BPAS and HB&T) thriving for so many decades, its service,” said Paul Neveu, BPAS CEO.  We care for our clients and we care for each other. Its our culture that allows us to thrive.”

Growing up, my father and grandfather taught us, Promise what you can deliver, and deliver what you promise,’” Hand recalled. Throughout our history, weve competed with much larger companies, and we had to ask ourselves, What is our niche going to be, and how are we going to drive success?Collective investment funds became our niche, and service is, was, and will always be the key to success.”

According to Hand, the key is hiring good people. Through the whole evolution of retirement plans, to the rise and fall of defined benefit plans or pensions, to when 401(K )plans changed from quarterly valuations to monthly valuations and then daily valuations, or when the Internet first came along and we had to adjust our technology needs, we had to have employees that were willing to adapt to change. And we found them.” Many of its employees have been with HB&T for more than 20 years which is unheard of in todays workplace.

Today, HB&T operates as part of the institutional trust division of BPAS, along with Global Trust Company and Northeast Retirement Services (all of which reside within BPAS). This institutional trust practice supports the full suite of collective investment funds, common funds, and a full range of trust and administrative services, such as transfer agency, unitization, master trust administration, fund-of-funds administration, and more. We work with fund custodians, asset owners, financial intermediaries, consulting firms, and plan sponsors to deliver a range of solutions needed in today’s financial marketplace.

As HB&T looks ahead to the next 60 years, Stephen Hand says he expects to see a large influx of business from the 403(b) market. In the near future, 403(b) participants, which include people who work in public education and a wide variety of non-profit entities, will have the ability to invest in collective investment funds. Access to these funds was not available to them in the past, and the change will definitely benefit participants in the long run. So were gearing up for that.”

At BPAS, collectively, we come to work every day to help people retire,” Hand says. We’re fortunate to be a small piece of that.”   

BPAS Marks a 50th Anniversary Worth Celebrating!

Utica, NY (May 23, 2023)— BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this month— and is inviting clients, participants, and the community at large to celebrate all year long!

BPAS (which stands for Benefit Plans Administrative Services) is an all-American underdog story full of resilience, innovation, and staying power that has kept both clients and employees satisfied through five decades of social and economic change.

Jerry Mayer, now 84, started BPAS from his home in Utica when retirement plans were administered on paper. He grew the business in the 1980s, when he and his brother were forced to write their own software to handle the growing requirements of the job. And while he started so small that one of his first employees was his teenaged daughter, he believed from the beginning that he was building a company that would last.

“I’m an optimist,” Mayer said. “We built our firm with integrity, and with good people. The people we hired really mattered to us, and the clients we worked with did, too.” In 1996, BPAS was acquired by Community Bank System, Inc. Barry Kublin sourced the transaction with CBSI. Kublin then led the company through tremendous growth during his tenure as BPAS CEO until he retired and moved to an outside advisory capacity in 2021. “We never defined ourselves as qualified plan administrators,” he said. “Rather, we defined ourselves by our people, technology capabilities, and market opportunities.”

BPAS has transformed into an innovative one-stop-shop for all things benefits-related. Today, this “little company that could” supports more than 4,500 retirement plans with $110 billion in trust assets and $1.3 trillion in fund administration for companies big and small, including many national brands. As CEO and President of the BPAS parent company, Community Bank System, Inc. (CBSI), Mark Tryniski noted, “When I started with the bank in 2003, the revenues of BPAS were somewhere in the $13 million range, and today it’s a $125 million dollar business. So it’s been a tremendous story of growth and success. But it’s also a story that starts and ends with the fact that we care for our clients, and we care for each other. It’s our culture that has made this company thrive.”

Instead of focusing on outward appearances, BPAS focuses on doing the work of delivering the highest-quality products and services to its clients and participants. “It’s still very much about the people who make it happen,” said Paul Neveu, who became BPAS CEO in 2021. “We may not be the flashiest company around, but that’s the way we like it. Our offices aren’t located in some glimmering tower in Lower Manhattan or Boston’s Seaport District. They’re located in a set of green-roofed low-rises in an office park in Utica, New York, which – if you think about it — is really the ultimate flex!”

BPAS also maintains offices in Boston, Buffalo, Houston, Manhattan, Minneapolis, Parsippany, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Sioux Falls, Spokane, Syracuse, and San Juan.

“It’s true that we’re not out there spending tens of millions of dollars on advertising,” added Neveu. “Yet, thousands of employers—from household name employers and financial intermediaries to small businesses–have come to rely on us. We are in this business for one reason: to be an outstanding administration, actuarial and trust services firm. We’re not here to raise assets in mutual funds or cross-pollinate other financial products. We are here because we believe we’re experts at what we do. Yes, we try to improve that value proposition every day, and when we make a mistake we own it. But we’re committed to this lane of the highway.”

BPAS is now a national force in the benefits-plan industry, with 410 employees serving more than 620,000 participants across the United States and Puerto Rico. BPAS’ in-house services include Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Health Benefit Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.

“We do a lot of practical things that solve problems for fiduciaries,” said Neveu. “We levelized fees and operate with true open architecture on investments. We take significant work off the desk of human resources. We answer the phone and call you back quickly. So in many ways, we’ve got a compelling story at BPAS—one that sells itself without the need for big advertising and office towers.”

Whether it’s Actuarial and Pension Services for a Forbes 500 company in Boston or overseeing a 401(k) plan for a mom-and-pop hardware store in the Midwest, every client is treated with the utmost care and provided with the best experience possible.

Humble beginnings. Continuous improvement and the willingness to admit what isn’t working. A culture that values interpersonal relationships. These things aren’t flashy. But, they are what have made BPAS quietly grow for five decades to the organization it is today.

In the months ahead, BPAS will release a series of videos on its company website and social-media channels, featuring interviews with some of the company’s key team members: from BPAS founder Jerry Mayer; to the visionaries who saw what an asset BPAS could be to the future of Community Bank back in the mid-1990s; to the employees who are moving the company forward into its next 50 years by “Solving Tomorrow’s Benefits Challenges Today.”

About BPAS

BPAS is a national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and institutional trust services. Since 1973, we’ve made it our mission to simplify the complicated by delivering benefit-plan services that solve client challenges without the need to engage multiple providers. One company. One call. We support 4,500 retirement plans, $110 billion in trust assets, $1.3 trillion in fund administration, and more than 620,000 participants.

The BPAS family of services includes: Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Healthcare Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.

As a solutions-oriented national practice, we are committed to “Solving Tomorrow’s Benefit Challenges Today.” Visit bpas.com for more information.

Lincoln Financial and BPAS announce partnership to deliver integrated Defined Benefit plan administration

 

Integrating PensionEase will give employers and their employees who have Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit plans a more seamless customer experience

Radnor, PA (February 13, 2023) Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE: LNC) and BPAS today announced a strategic partnership to deliver an integrated defined benefit (DB) plan solution, PensionEase, to its defined contribution (DC) clients who also sponsor a DB plan. Through this partnership, BPAS will provide Lincoln Financial clients with full DB administration, including record-keeping, a customized web portal and participant-direct services, creating a more seamless customer experience for plan sponsors and their participants who have both DB and DC plans.

“Lincoln Financial is committed to providing our plan sponsors and participants with comprehensive solutions and services that meet their evolving needs, while delivering a superior customer experience,” said Matt Condos, senior vice president, Retirement Plan Services Product, Lincoln Financial Group. “This partnership builds on the flexible, easy-to-use solutions that both firms offer to administer retirement plans, as we work to help Americans along every step of their retirement journey.”

The partnership enhances the services available to Lincoln Financial clients who have both DC and DB plans, with additional actuarial, consulting, trust/custody and benefit payer solutions, while leveraging a single sign-on solution across plans. It will deliver fully integrated DC and DB services to more than 45,000 participants in plans currently served by Lincoln Financial.

“We are honored to be selected by Lincoln as the partner to offer our benefit administration solution, PensionEase, to their plan sponsors with Defined Benefit plans,” said Paul Neveu, BPAS CEO. “From our previous experience working with Lincoln on investment and stable value needs over the past five years, we have been very impressed by their expertise and are excited to continue partnering with them in the coming years to provide additional value to their clients.”

About Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help people take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Today, approximately 16 million customers trust our retirement, insurance and wealth protection expertise to help address their lifestyle, savings and income goals, and guard against long-term care expenses. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. The company had $282 billion in end-of-period account values as of December 31, 2022. Lincoln Financial Group is a committed corporate citizen included on major sustainability indices including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and FTSE4Good and ranks among Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies. Dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, we are included on transparency benchmarking tools such as the Corporate Equality Index, the Disability Equality Index and the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. Committed to providing our employees with flexible work arrangements, we were named to FlexJobs’ list of the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2022. With a long and rich legacy of acting ethically, telling the truth and speaking up for what is right, Lincoln was recognized as one of Ethisphere’s 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies®. We create opportunities for early career talent through our intern development program, which ranks among WayUp and Yello’s annual list of Top 100 Internship Programs. Learn more at: www.LincolnFinancial.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Sign up for email alerts at http://newsroom.lfg.com.

About BPAS

BPAS is a national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and institutional trust services. We make it our mission to simplify the complicated by delivering benefit-plan services that solve client challenges without the need to engage multiple providers. One company. One call. We support 4,500 retirement plans, $110 billion in trust assets, $1.3 trillion in fund administration, and more than 620,000 participants.

The BPAS family of services includes: Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Healthcare Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.

Specialty practices include: Auto Enrollment Plans, Multiple Employer Trusts/Plans, Plans with Employer Securities, Puerto Rico Section 1081 Plans, VEBA HRA Plans, Cash Balance Plans, Collective Investment Trusts, and Fund Administration.

BPAS subsidiaries include: BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Global Trust Company, Hand Benefits & Trust, and NRS Trust Product Administration.

As a solutions-oriented national practice, we are committed to “Solving Tomorrow’s Benefit Challenges Today.” Visit bpas.com for more information.

BPAS Promotes Jason Disco to Lead Defined Benefit Sales and Service

Syracuse, NY (January 30, 2023) — BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts, has promoted Jason Disco to Senior Vice President of Sales for its Actuarial & Pension Services (APS).

Since joining BPAS in 2015, Jason has secured key partnerships to help expand the BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services footprint across the nation. In addition to his strong leadership skills and strategic thinking, he brings a keen understanding of integrated Defined Benefit (DB) and Defined Contribution (DC) solutions.

“BPAS brings a unique ability to seamlessly combine DC and DB plans under one roof for plan sponsors,” said Disco. “The combined services offer great advantages to business owners of all sizes looking to reduce taxable liability and save for retirement. I’m excited to use my knowledge and experience with both of these products to expand BPAS services to plan sponsors and financial partners across the nation.”

Disco also said that whether it is a small tax-deferral-driven plan or a large corporate pension plan, BPAS has solutions for plan sponsors and participants of all sizes. “I’ll be working closely with our team of Regional Sales Directors and Relationship Managers to bring the full range of DB engagements to employers and financial intermediaries to ultimately help grow their retirement plan practices,” he added.

Among his many accomplishments at BPAS, Disco recently stewarded a relationship with key partners at Lincoln Financial Group that led to an exclusive BPAS partnership for their Defined Benefit Outsourcing (DBO) solution.

“Jason’s leadership has been a driving force in expanding the BPAS national brand across a competitive DB landscape,” said Vince Spina, President of BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services. “Partnering with Lincoln Financial is a perfect example of how Jason is a respected leader, not only within the BPAS walls, but in the industry as a whole.”

Disco was also instrumental in developing the BPAS DB360 product, which is a unique way to offer DB solutions to clients of all sizes. It also offered an opportunity to introduce the full range of products and services available through BPAS and its parent company, Community Bank System, Inc.

“Jason pointed out that the DB industry has a lot of fractional solutions,” said Paul Neveu, BPAS CEO. “One firm might be managing assets, another servicing as actuary, a third firm providing pension payments and custodial functions, and perhaps a web portal service. Jason’s idea was to provide an option where it could all be available under one roof, or where our partner would provide fiduciary and/or asset management services and BPAS would handle the remaining roles. In an age where employers are craving accountability and simplicity, this concept has really resonated. We hope to sell a lot more of it in the coming years.”

Disco will work out of the company’s office in Syracuse, NY and serve clients nationwide.

About BPAS

BPAS is a national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and institutional trust services. We make it our mission to simplify the complicated by delivering benefit-plan services that solve client challenges without the need to engage multiple providers. One company. One call. We support 4,500 retirement plans, $110 billion in trust assets, $1.3 trillion in fund administration, and more than 620,000 participants.

The BPAS family of services includes: Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Healthcare Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.

Specialty practices include: Auto Enrollment Plans, Multiple Employer Trusts/Plans, Plans with Employer Securities, Puerto Rico Section 1081 Plans, VEBA HRA Plans, Cash Balance Plans, Collective Investment Trusts, and Fund Administration.

BPAS subsidiaries include: BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Global Trust Company, Hand Benefits & Trust, and NRS Trust Product Administration.

As a solutions-oriented national practice, we are committed to “Solving Tomorrow’s Benefit Challenges Today.” Visit bpas.com for more information.

Halifax Health Selects BPAS for Retirement Plan Services

Utica, NY (November 1, 2022) — BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts announced today that it has been selected by Halifax Health for daily valuation recordkeeping of approximately 10,000 participants in its suite of defined contribution (DC) retirement plans.

Recognized as one of the top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals in the U.S., Halifax Health provides a full continuum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services across the state of Florida. It operates a network of organizations, including a tertiary hospital, three community hospitals, urgent care facilities, a psychiatric facility, four cancer treatment centers, a significant hospice organization, a preferred provider organization and five outreach locations.

In 2021, Halifax Health began a rigorous nationwide search for a daily valuation recordkeeper to take over its DC plans. In early 2022, it named BPAS as the winning bidder and completed the transition in July.

“BPAS is honored to service the Halifax suite of defined contribution plans,” said Elizabeth Kaido, Senior Vice President of Sales at BPAS. “Because it’s a governmental healthcare organization, the Halifax suite of DC plans is complex. It has seven qualified and non-qualified plans with different employee groups and retirement benefit considerations. The good news is that complex plans are where BPAS shines. We bring expertise and unique advantages to streamline the experience for Human Resources and plan participants and quite honestly make their lives easier.”

BPAS offers a range of services that simplifies the complicated nature of retirement and benefit plans without the need to engage multiple providers. Its service model of comprehensive administration, combined with full fee transparency and conflict-free open architecture investments, provides the support, versatility, and experience clients can depend on. Of particular note, BPAS clients report a 45% time saving with BPAS over previous administrators operating in a recordkeeping paradigm. Kathleen Walsh Dulko of Ashford Investment Advisors, located in Daytona Beach, FL provides fiduciary services for the Halifax suite of plans, coordinating with BPAS throughout the life of the relationship.

According to Donna Kramer, Regional Sales Director at BPAS, “We’ve worked closely with the Halifax Health HR and Finance teams to review outstanding loans in the program, develop an efficient solution for terminated participants with de minimis balances, add online beneficiary reporting, refresh and update participant data, and more to ensure a smooth, seamless transition of services. We’re also confident that Halifax Health plan participants will get a lot of value from our new BPAS participant website and robust education and wellness tools.”

The BPAS family of services includes Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Healthcare Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.  The BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services division has served as actuary and consultant on the Halifax Health defined benefit (DB) plans for more than 10 years.

“While it was an independent process that led to BPAS being selected as the new DC recordkeeper, I think the familiarity with our services on the DB side gave Halifax a comfort level with the DC services we’re able to deliver,” said Sarah Dam, Senior Vice President at BPAS Actuarial & Pension Services. “We’ve appreciated working with Halifax Health on their DB plans over the years are very excited to broaden our relationship.”

“Total retirement outsourcing is a growing trend, added Paul Neveu, BPAS CEO. “At BPAS, we offer it in a true open-architecture way, including stable value funds, target date funds and everything else. Our goal is to help organizations like Halifax Health solve retirement plan challenges in practical ways by leveraging technology, while they receive strong consulting from highly invested team members. We want to eliminate pain points and provide a seamless experience for plan sponsors and participants. Our work is never done because we embrace a mantra of continuous listening. We’re delighted to expand our partnership with Halifax Health. Their HR and benefits team members are first rate and we look forward to conquering new challenges together.”

About Halifax Health

Recognized as one of the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™ in the United States by IBM Watson Health™, Halifax Health serves Volusia and Flagler counties, providing a continuum of healthcare services through a network of organizations including a tertiary hospital, three community hospitals, urgent cares, psychiatric services, a cancer treatment center with five outreach locations, the area’s largest hospice, a center for inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, primary care walk-in clinics, a clinic specializing in women’s health, a pediatric care community clinic, three children’s medical practices, a home healthcare agency, and an exclusive provider organization.  Halifax Health offers the area’s only Level II Trauma Center, Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, Center for Transplant Services, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Emergency Department, Child and Adolescent Behavioral Services, complete Neurosurgical Services, OB Emergency Department and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for babies born earlier than 28 weeks.  For more information, visit halifaxhealth.org.

About BPAS

BPAS is a national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and institutional trust services. We make it our mission to simplify the complicated by delivering benefit-plan services that solve client challenges without the need to engage multiple providers. One company. One call. We support 4,500 retirement plans, $110 billion in trust assets, $1.3 trillion in fund administration, and more than 620,000 participants.

The BPAS family of services includes: Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Healthcare Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.

Specialty practices include: Auto Enrollment Plans, Multiple Employer Trusts/Plans, Plans with Employer Securities, Puerto Rico Section 1081 Plans, VEBA HRA Plans, Cash Balance Plans, Collective Investment Trusts, and Fund Administration.

BPAS subsidiaries include: BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Global Trust Company, Hand Benefits & Trust, and NRS Trust Product Administration.

As a solutions-oriented national practice, we are committed to “Solving Tomorrow’s Benefit Challenges Today.” Visit bpas.com for more information.

 

 

BPAS Hires Sales Director to Expand Defined Benefit Offerings

Syracuse, NY (September 26, 2022) — BPAS, a leading national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and collective investment trusts, announced that Robert Perri has joined its Actuarial & Pension Services (APS) as Regional Sales Director. Perri will focus on distribution of the company’s national Tax Deferral Defined Benefit Plan solutions.

“Rob brings extensive industry experience to BPAS,” said Jason Disco, Vice President of APS Sales. “His demonstrated expertise combined with our full suite of defined contribution and defined benefit plan offerings, an open architecture HSA, and collective investments for advisors, will certainly help us expand our presence in the small plan tax deferral space. We’re thrilled to welcome Rob to the BPAS team.”

Perri brings to BPAS nearly 30 years of experience in the retirement plan industry in both management and sales. An alumnus of Mansfield University, he is a national speaker at CPA conferences, physician conferences, and colleges. He is also a paddock judge and racing inspector for the New York State Gaming Commission.

“I’m excited to join BPAS,” added Perri. “BPAS brings a unique ability to combo Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit plans under one roof for plan sponsors. These combined services offer great advantages to small-business owners looking to reduce taxable liability and save for retirement.  I know business owners are looking for this kind of solution. I’m really looking forward to getting out there and sharing the BPAS story.”

Perri will work out of the company’s New York, NY office and serve clients nationwide.

About BPAS

BPAS is a national provider of retirement plans, benefit plans, fund administration, and institutional trust services. We make it our mission to simplify the complicated by delivering benefit-plan services that solve client challenges without the need to engage multiple providers. One company. One call. We support 4,500 retirement plans, $110 billion in trust assets, $1.3 trillion in fund administration, and more than 620,000 participants.

The BPAS family of services includes: Workplace Retirement Plans, Actuarial & Pension, Healthcare Consulting, IRA, VEBA HRA, Health & Welfare Plans, Fiduciary, Collective Investment Funds, Fund Administration, and Institutional Trust.

Specialty practices include: Auto Enrollment Plans, Multiple Employer Trusts/Plans, Plans with Employer Securities, Puerto Rico Section 1081 Plans, VEBA HRA Plans, Cash Balance Plans, Collective Investment Trusts, and Fund Administration.

BPAS subsidiaries include: BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico, Global Trust Company, Hand Benefits & Trust, and NRS Trust Product Administration.