Larry Heller
Experiences Leading to the Development of 401(k) Connect to Protect Inc. and Objectives
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
- Accomplished retirement plan consultant with over 45 years of industry experience.
- Senior consulting and leadership roles at Mercer, PwC, Buck Consultants, Principal Financial Group, and BDG-CPAs.
- Extensive expertise in 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).
- Specialist in retirement plan design, regulatory compliance, administration, and fiduciary oversight.
- Experience advising Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized businesses, and smaller organizations.
- Former administrator of a multiple-employer pension plan serving 58 organizations and 8,000 participants.
- Expertise in retirement plan audits, operational reviews, vendor selection, and recordkeeping systems.
- Published author and industry speaker on retirement plans, employee benefits, and regulatory matters.
- Recognized as a 2005 HRO Superstar for leadership in human resource outsourcing advisory services.
- Experienced in executive consulting, client relationship management, and professional development.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE TIMELINE:
1978 – 1989 – At Kwasha Lipton (acquired by PwC) responsible for plan design, compliance with federal legislation, billing, and overseeing recordkeeping procedures for the savings plans, profit sharing plans, and leveraged ESOPs of major corporate clients, including several Fortune 500 companies. Responsible internally for the organization and presentation of seminars to consulting staff on federal legislation.
Previous responsibilities included: (i) Administrative Consultant (1984-1986) to corporate clients on plan administration; implementing changes to recordkeeping procedures, documentation, administrative forms, and employee communications due to plan amendments, mergers, acquisitions, and federal legislation; overseeing recordkeeping teams and training on legal and technical issues; (ii) Account Manager (1982-84) supervising recordkeeping team; processing monthly valuations of clients’ defined contribution plans; training prospective account supervisors; (iii) Assistant Actuary (1978 82) preparing annual valuations of clients’ defined benefit plans, including reports and analyses of results.
1989 – 1994 – Senior defined contribution plan consultant in Mercer’s New England Operating Unit. Responsibilities included plan design, regulatory compliance, and administrative consulting for small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies. Internal responsibilities included professional development of staff, billing, marketing, and overseeing administrative procedures for clients’ defined contribution plans in daily, monthly, and quarterly recordkeeping environments. Frequent contributor to Mercer’s and independent nationwide publications (see above) on technical and administrative issues.
1994 – 2001 – Responsible for the (i) development and documentation of recordkeeping procedures to support the administration of Fortune 500 company-sponsored 401(k), defined benefit, and health & welfare plans (e.g., Bank of America, Bell Atlantic, Chevron, and Lockheed Martin), (ii) technical training of customer service, recordkeeping, and consulting staff, and (iii) development of personalized and generic communications to plan participants (i.e., written materials, website content, voice response system content, etc.). Frequently quoted in nationwide business publications (e.g., Business Insurance and Pensions & Investments), authored articles published by KL, PwC, Pension World, Employee Benefit News, and Compensation and Benefit Solutions, and speaker at benefits conventions (e.g., Benefits Expo and Enrolled Actuaries Meetings).
2002 – 2005 – Responsible for plan design, regulatory compliance, and administrative consulting to small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies’ retirement plans, including operational and compliance reviews and related data analysis, and recordkeeping vendor searches and related client management and marketing. Internal responsibilities included professional development of staff, billing, and marketing of services for defined contribution and defined benefit plans. Author of bi-monthly Health & Wealth column on benefits administration in HRO Today magazine, and frequent contributor to Buck’s technical publications, FYI and Kaleidoscope, on 401(k) plan issues. Cited by HRO Today as a 2005 HRO Superstar among human resource outsourcing advisors and opinion leaders.
2006 – 2011 – Responsible for retirement and health & welfare plan audit and pre-audit services, including marketing, project management, quality control, and staff training, and development of web-based fiduciary audit questionnaire identifying retirement plans’ adherence to financial, operational, and legal compliance. Led marketing meetings and informal seminars addressing audit and fiduciary issues.
2011 – 2013 – Responsible for development of consulting services for small and mid-size Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k), and 403(b) plan clients, including ESOP client relationship management and focusing on operational, regulatory, design, and communications issues. Coordinated with internal sales, business development, plan administration, and communications team members to maintain and enhance services. Led seminars for clients and financial advisors on retirement plan administrative and regulatory issues. Contributed to Principal’s technical publication, ESOP Edge, on consulting issues.
2014 – 2019 – Provided senior-level consulting and advisory services to corporate clients on retirement plan strategy, design, administration, and regulatory compliance. Advised plan sponsors on defined contribution and defined benefit retirement programs, including 401(k) plan operations, fiduciary responsibilities, vendor management, and regulatory requirements.
Conducted operational assessments, evaluated plan performance, and recommended strategies to improve administrative efficiency, strengthen compliance, and enhance participant services. Collaborated with financial advisors, plan administrators, and corporate leadership to develop practical retirement plan solutions aligned with organizational objectives and evolving regulatory standards.
2019 – 2025 – Coordinator of the administration of this multiple-employer defined benefit plan in place for 58 participating insurance service organizations and their 8,000 active and former employees.
2025 – Present – Provide senior-level consulting and strategic advisory services to corporate clients on retirement plan design, administration, regulatory compliance, and fiduciary oversight. Advise plan sponsors on defined contribution and defined benefit retirement programs, including 401(k), 403(b), and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Support clients in evaluating plan operations, strengthening regulatory compliance, improving administrative efficiency, and addressing complex retirement plan issues.
Collaborate with financial advisors, third-party administrators, and corporate leadership to develop effective retirement plan solutions, enhance participant services, and align benefit programs with organizational objectives and evolving regulatory requirements.
401(k) Connect To Protect ensures that employers are compliant with the regulations set forth by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). All professionals are extensively trained in the COSO Internal Control Framework. The 401(k) Protect To Connect service mission is to provide Compliance Assurance, Enhanced Plan Integrity, and Stakeholder Confidence.
