SUMMARY

The Retirement and Investment Services (RIS) Specialist is a registered financial services representative who provides excellent customer service to existing and potential WEA Member Benefits (Member Benefits) members.  The RIS Specialist is responsible for providing, evaluating, and improving program administration services for the WEA Tax Sheltered Annuity Trust 403(b) and WEA Member Benefits Individual Retirement Account (IRA) programs; providing technical expertise to associates who directly serve members and ensuring forms, brochures, web content, programs, processes, and procedures comply with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulations.  The incumbent responds to inquiries from members about retirement and investment questions, takes and enters mutual fund trade orders, provides calculations, processes death and beneficiary claims, and enrolls members into 403(b) and IRA programs.  Accuracy, timeliness, and dependability are expected and must be routinely delivered without significant ongoing supervision or technical assistance. 

ACCOUNTABILITIES 

60%—RIS Member Service

• Respond to member inquiries about mutual funds, investment allocation, regulations relating to contributions to and distributions from 403(b) and IRA programs, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), and death distributions.
• Execute financial planning calculations, investment portfolio analysis, Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) benefit calculations, and Social Security (SS) benefit estimates.
• Complete mutual fund orders for trades and fund allocations at the request of members.
• Calculate earnings/losses for adjustments.
• Identify and educate members on potential 403(b) and IRA exchanges, transfers, rollovers, and Roth conversions.
• Inform and educate potential members about the benefits of Member Benefits’ retirement savings programs and services via telephone and personal consultations.
• Determine whether members meet eligibility guidelines.
• Enroll interested individuals in 403(b) and IRA programs.
• Consult with existing members about their retirement savings needs by reviewing the programs in which they currently participate and recommending changes.

30%—RIS Program Administration

• Assist RIS Manager with quarterly investment and model portfolio reviews. Perform semiannual investment reviews and analyses, IRS research and compliance reviews, and update forms and brochures to reflect changes in the programs and to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Assist RIS Manager in 403(b) and IRA program retention and growth initiatives.
• Review beneficiary and QDRO required distributions schedules.
• Recommend changes to processes, procedures, and programs to ensure compliance with IRS laws and regulations and improve the administration and delivery of services to members.

10%—Projects

• Participate in projects to evaluate and/or improve RIS programs and services.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Personal Finance or related field or commensurate experience.
• Knowledge of at least one of the following: Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 403(b) and 408(a) and the pertinent regulations, WRS, SS, or retirement planning concepts and techniques.
• Experience utilizing personal computers and word processing and spreadsheet software, including either financial software programs or online record-keeping systems.
• Excellent performance in present and past positions.
• Commitment to providing excellence in customer service and other Member Benefits values.
• Effective leadership that results in achieving desired results, including collaboration and team building, objective establishment and implementation, and project work.
• Current Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Series 6 or 7 and 63 securities and State of Wisconsin (additional states also required) life licenses or the willingness and the ability to gain within six months of appointment.

ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to compose clear, concise, and persuasive correspondence and narrative reports that communicate messages consistent with Company policy using appropriate tone, grammar, and word usage.

• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with individuals, skillfully ask questions and listen, and explain difficult and technical financial and investment issues.
• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to identify problems, research and analyze issues from different perspectives, organize information, reach sound conclusions, and work cooperatively with others to develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to quickly, effectively, and continually adapt to changes in work duties, processes, and technologies.
• Ability to work independently and to effectively establish, monitor, coordinate resources, and achieve goals with minimal supervision.
• Respectful disposition of all dealings with employees, participants, vendors, and others that promote teamwork and a pleasant work environment.
• Flexibility to work the number and schedule of hours needed to accomplish regular and ad hoc job responsibilities.
• Excellent performance in present and past positions.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES

The following qualifications are preferred for appointment to this position:

• Knowledge of IRC Section 403(b) and 408(a) and pertinent regulations, WRS, SS, and retirement planning concepts and techniques.
• State of Wisconsin and other state life licenses.
• Experience utilizing either financial software programs or online record-keeping systems (department required software, customer relationship management software, Box™, Morningstar Principia Pro; and Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access preferred).
• Retirement plan and/or IRA program administration experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to injury.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 20 pounds.
• Ongoing daily use of computers and telephone.
• Walk, sit, stand, bend, climb, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk; hear; read; count; and write.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Must be able to work with frequent interruption.
• Ability to occasionally travel throughout the State of Wisconsin.
• Low to moderate noise level.

To Apply

To apply for this position, please fill out the online application.

WEA Member Benefits is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class under local, state or federal law.

WEA Member Benefits is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request an accommodation within the application process, email us.