Crista Bresnahan

PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and your current responsibilities? How do you contribute to your firm/team’s growth and progress?

Bresnahan: I often tell our clients it is my job to speak “recordkeeper.” My primary focus is on client service, ensuring our clients receive exceptional support and guidance with their retirement plans. This involves everything from complex problem-solving and proactive communication to partnering with our lead adviser, Matthew Compton, in conducting plan reviews and helping our clients navigate regulatory changes.

A significant part of my contribution to our firm’s growth is in strategic planning and helping drive operational efficiencies. One of our managing partners refers to efficiency as a mix of strategy and art. We focus on streamlining our process to implement best practices and on leveraging technology to improve the client experience. This allows us to respond to our clients quickly and accurately.

PLANADVISER: What are the most common operational challenges in a retirement plan advisory firm? How do you manage those?

Bresnahan: Fee compression continues to cause service challenges with our recordkeeping partners, and we cannot provide retirement plan advisory services without our recordkeeping partners. I spent almost half of my time in the retirement industry working at a large national recordkeeper, and that experience has shaped how I service our clients and interact with vendors.

I am most successful in helping our clients navigate administrative challenges when I have built relationships with our providers and have a solid understanding of how their system works. There are times when it is as simple as knowing the right question to ask, and that can lead to a solution.

I also prioritize taking the time to recognize when a recordkeeper staff member does a great job. That may be done by an email or phone call to the individual or by asking to be connected to their manager directly. The extra recognition helps build a strong partnership.

PLANADVISER: What have you done that you are most proud of?

Bresnahan: Since joining Brio/Alera Group I have focused on enhancing our client experience through deeper collaboration with our internal Employee Benefits partners. I prioritized understanding their service cycle, from initial onboarding to ongoing support. The EB team mapped out every client touchpoint, and we identified areas where the retirement plan information and EB messaging could be integrated.

The result is a more holistic picture of the partnership with our firm for our clients. Instead of receiving separate communications and service interactions, our clients receive a unified, comprehensive view. This not only streamlines their experience, but also reinforces the value of choosing Alera Group as a complete solutions provider.

Seeing positive feedback from clients, extending the reach of our team with members of our client, and increasing internal efficiency has been incredibly rewarding and something I’m very proud of.

Investment advisory services offered through Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. Information provided by Alera should not be considered tax or legal advice. Should you require tax or legal information, please consult your tax advisor or attorney.