Penelope Expands Advisory Team with Retirement Industry Veterans
The team will focus on accelerating new market growth
NEW YORK, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Penelope, a retirement services platform built for small and mid-sized businesses, today announced the addition of three senior advisors to its team: Marcia Wagner, Kevin Crain and Lisa Kottler. These seasoned leaders bring decades of experience across retirement policy and regulations, technology, financial services, and plan design as Penelope accelerates growth to meet rising market demand.
"There are 34 million businesses in the U.S., yet only around 700,000 offer a 401(k)--leaving the vast majority of employees underserved," said Jean Smart, CEO and founder of Penelope. "As states roll out new retirement mandates, SMBs are looking for trusted partners to navigate the changes. The addition of Marcia, Kevin and Lisa to our team could not come at a better time. Their deep expertise will help us continue to expand our retirement platform, powered by a modern tech stack that takes advantage of AI. Together, we're delivering innovative, compliant, and easy-to-use solutions that empower businesses and their employees to build a better financial future."
-- Marcia Wagner, is the founder of The Wagner Law Group, one of the
nation's most respected law firms specializing in ERISA, employee
benefits, and executive compensation. With over 38 years of experience,
Marcia is a leading authority on qualified and non-qualified retirement
plans, fiduciary compliance, deferred compensation, and welfare benefit
arrangements. She advises on plan design, regulatory compliance, and tax
matters related to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, and frequently
serves as an expert witness in ERISA litigation. Marcia is a member of
the Board of Directors for the American Benefits Council and the Board
of Governors of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. A
prolific author and nationally recognized speaker, she has published 27
books and hundreds of articles and is regularly featured in top
financial outlets including Fox, CNN, Bloomberg, and NBC.
-- Kevin Crain is a nationally recognized expert in retirement services and
financial wellness, with over 40 years of leadership experience across
the retirement industry. He most recently served as Head of Retirement
Research at Bank of America, where he led groundbreaking studies on
employee benefits, longevity, and financial well-being, with a focus on
underserved and diverse populations. Kevin now serves as Executive
Director of the Institutional Retirement Income Council and holds
advisory roles with McKinsey, the Milken Institute, and the Global
Coalition on Aging. A trusted thought leader and public policy advocate,
Kevin continues to shape the future of retirement through research,
innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
-- Lisa Kottler is a seasoned leader with deep fintech and startup
expertise. As a Partner in Strategic Growth & Innovation at KWP, she
advises C-suite leaders on go-to-market strategy, growth, and emerging
technologies. Lisa previously built NFP's retirement division into a
nationally recognized leader and held leadership roles at Voya, CIGNA,
and Schwab. She was among the first to develop a digital 401(k) pooled
employer plan (PEP) designed for startups and continues to be a driving
force at the intersection of behavioral finance, tech innovation, and
retirement access. A recognized thought leader and policy advocate, Lisa
has been named one of the "100 Most Influential People in the DC
Industry" by 401kWire for three consecutive years.
To learn more about Penelope's small business retirement solutions, visit https://penelope.co.
Media Contact:
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SOURCE Penelope
