PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and how you contribute to its growth and progress. How did you end up there?
Swartzfager: I am a senior consultant, assisting plan sponsors in growing and administering the best retirement plan possible for their participants. I assist with daily client needs and vendor management by providing investment insight, plan design review, compliance support and fiduciary oversight. I started my career with Lockton Retirement Services, which was purchased by Creative Planning Retirement Services in 2022. After a few years in recordkeeping, I returned in spring 2025 to reunite with my great colleagues and friends at Creative Planning.
PLANADVISER: How do you define success in your role?
Swartzfager: There are a lot of things that can go wrong in the world of retirement plans—helping clients work through complex problems and projects to provide the best outcome for their participants is a good measure for me. At the end of the day, success is measured by how happy our clients and participants are. I think we add a lot of value by being available and ready to assist with the things that our clients fear the most.
PLANADVISER: What are you most passionate about outside of the office?
Swartzfager: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family in the outdoors—sometimes that means going for a bike ride, enjoying a day on the lake, snowboarding our favorite mountain or watching cars race around a track.