Retirement Plan Senior Product Manager

HERBERT L. ROBINSON

Glen Allen, Virginia ***** 240-***-**** ****.*.********@*****.*** www.linkedin.com/in/herbert-robinson-cisp

SUMMARY

A driven and highly resourceful senior product manager, specializing in the retirement industry, with extensive experience in strategy and competitive intelligence, project management, client and stakeholder relations, research management, and business analysis. Works tirelessly to establish rapport with diverse audiences in corporate, field, and external client environments to promote productive alignment. Applies keen insights and skills to help empower and support all operations, with significant technical background in all aspects of financial services. Proven success in fostering beneficial functions and outcomes for all stakeholders.

Data Management

Process Improvements

Reporting and Documentation

Technical Support

Compliance Oversight

Requirements-Gathering

EXPERIENCE

MISSIONSQUARE RETIREMENT/ICMA RETIREMENT CORPORATION, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia

Strategy and Competitive Intelligence Senior Manager, 2021-2022

Functioned as lead technical resource for data management and productivity reporting for strategy and competitive intelligence team. Oversaw discovery meetings, planning and development, and implementation of technical projects, including leading development and maintenance of database reporting systems for research and analysis content and productivity reporting. Gathered and compiled data for research projects. Worked across enterprise to provide analysis in support of a sustainable business model.

Engaged key external relationships as assigned to maximize engagement and value for internal clients.

Collaborated with internal clients to support research and analysis needs.

Analyzed and transformed large volumes of peer data into actionable intelligence, including FOIA content, RFP responses, best and final offers, final presentations, and marketing materials.

Developed and maintained competitive intelligence presence, including peer and consultant profile sheets in collaboration with consultant-facing teammates.

Collected and disseminated data on consultant approaches to scoring vendor proposals and constructing fund lineups. Identified areas of weakness, recommending sales and product development enhancements to address issues.

Provided support of ongoing corporate strategic projects as defined.

MISSIONSQUARE RETIREMENT/ICMA RETIREMENT CORPORATION, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia

Senior Product Manager, 403(b) Retirement Plans, 2019-2021

Championed 403(b) retirement plan products, using creative and industry best practices to convey message to target audiences. Recommended and led the implementation of product features, services, and improvements to meet changing market needs and conditions. Monitored, researched, and interpreted federal and state legislative and regulatory issues related to retirement and benefit plans. Ensured current plans remained in compliance with laws and regulations.

Collaborated with distribution channels (e.g., communicated best sales practice and obtained feedback on promotional material).

Worked with appropriate corporate departments in development and distribution of printed and electronic promotional and educational materials for retirement plans (e.g., product literature, forms, and web and e-mail communications).

Maintained thorough knowledge of changes in market, regulation, policy, and law that impacted retirement plans.

Managed interdivisional efforts to enhance and implement products, processes, and procedures.

Functioned as technical resource for standard questions posed by customers (i.e., plan design and adoption questions). Researched and developed responses to non-standard technical questions and issues posed by internal and external customers.

Worked with other internal departments, led process of identifying non-standard plan provisions and employer processing requests for new business, and provided technical commentary on company’s ability for accommodation, based upon regulatory, competitive, and corporate goals.

MISSIONSQUARE RETIREMENT/ICMA RETIREMENT CORPORATION, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia

Senior Product Manager, IRA Products, 2006-2019

Served as product champion for IRA products, using creative and industry best practices to convey message to target audiences. Developed marketing strategies and managed efforts to promote IRA products. Worked closely with product development and management efforts to ensure IRA programs maintained their market leadership. Functioned as technical expert on IRAs and collaborated with key operational units to ensure efficient administration of IRA products.

Managed systematic analyses of current and new markets to develop marketing plans and budgets to prioritize and optimize marketing efforts, maximizing company’s benefit from a business perspective.

Utilized innovative marketing techniques and strategies to capitalize on competitiveness of IRA products and expand market penetration, including through direct mail campaigns and existing plan sponsors.

Evaluated current offerings from both customer and competitor perspectives, recommended marketable product enhancements, and functioned as change agent to develop and implement enhancements to products and services, technology, policies, and procedures.

Worked with appropriate corporate departments in development and distribution of printed and electronic promotional and educational materials for IRA products (e.g., product literature, forms, and web and e-mail communications).

Maintained thorough knowledge of changes in market, regulation, policy, and law that impacted IRA products. Led training efforts with distribution channels on IRA products and issues.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, Alexandria, Virginia, Pension Communications Specialist, 2006. Communicated pension information to employees and retirees for city's defined contribution and defined benefit pension and disability plans. Redesigned and maintained content on pension division website. Created educational materials for employees, including plan booklets, summary plan descriptions, and plan change notices. Led and conducted pension and retirement portion of new employee orientation. Conducted pension training for all city employees. Performed and conducted pre-retirement seminars. Worked with external benefit providers and vendors. Provided basic investment information to employees participating in defined contribution plans.

SELF-EMPLOYED, South Orange, New Jersey, Independent Consultant, 2003-2006. Provided consulting services to several financial services organizations. Specialized in retirement-related product and project management, technical consulting, group enrollments (namely, 401(k) and health insurance), and client service.

PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES, INC., New York, New York, Retirement Product Manager, 2000-2002

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Consultant, Advanced Markets Case Development

(Retirement Planning), 1997-2000.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, Durham, New Hampshire

B.A., History

CERTIFICATIONS

Strategic and CI Professionals Certification, 2021

Certified IRA Services Professional, 2013

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