PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and how you contribute to its growth and progress. How did you end up there?
Ballantine: In my role as a retirement plan advisor at Shepherd Financial, I serve as a relationship manager and consultant for a book of retirement plan clients. I work with plan sponsors to optimize plan design and features, mitigate fiduciary liability, and design education programs to drive positive financial outcomes for their employees. I also play a key role in growing our presence across the greater Kentucky region.
I began my career analyzing actively managed mutual funds used in both wealth management and retirement plans. While I valued the technical side of the work, I found a passion and talent for working with plan sponsors to drive participant outcomes. Over the years, I’ve built deep relationships with clients and industry partners, many of whom continue to be great advocates and friends. As time progressed, I dedicated myself full-time to the retirement industry, servicing, advising and educating plan sponsors and participants. A mutual contact introduced me to Shepherd Financial, and the opportunity was a natural fit.
PLANADVISER: What steps do you think will help improve the retirement industry and participant outcomes in the future (particularly ways in which your firm can help with that progress)?
Ballantine: First and foremost, I believe that intentionally developing diverse teams of advisers who dedicate their time fully to this industry is crucial not only to impacting positive changes with employer groups, but also to developing productive legislation and changes in an industry that serves all working Americans.
Finding the appropriate use of technology to enhance, and not replace, personal interactions between advisers and participants is where I see the greatest opportunity to shape outcomes. Providing access to tools, calculators and simulators is helpful, but if a participant doesn’t have the knowledge to use the technology or interpret the results, their financial life has not been improved. Shepherd Financial works diligently to develop technological resources that provide my colleagues and me with the ability to give very specific advice to participants that drives positive change. Sharing this aggregated data with plan committees empowers them to make informed decisions based on employee trends, allowing them to further enhance the plan and drive positive outcomes for their participants.
PLANADVISER: How do you define success in your role?
Ballantine: When I explain my personal “why” for choosing this career path, the answer is always that I believe every person deserves to retire with dignity. My best days are when I receive news that an individual is retiring and walking into that next phase of life with confidence and clarity. I work with plan sponsors to craft specific goals for their plan, and no two plans are identical. There is certainly success tied to achieving target metrics, but after helping plan sponsors make strategic decisions and guiding participants to achieve individualized milestones, I personally feel successful knowing those conversations resulted in a positive difference in someone’s life.
Advisory services offered through Shepherd Financial Investment Advisory, LLC or Capital Analysts, LLC, Registered Investment Advisers.
Securities offered through Lincoln Investment, Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. www.lincolninvestment.com Shepherd Financial, LLC and Shepherd Financial Investment Advisory, LLC are independent of and not affiliated with Capital Analysts or Lincoln Investment.