Rainer Schertel

PLANADVISER: Where do you hope to take your career in the retirement plan or advisory industry in coming years?

Schertel: In the coming years, my goal is to focus heavily on business development—specifically targeting opportunities out of the small-to-mid market up into the mid-to-large-plan market here in central Ohio. I want to continue building relationships with clients in need of a proactive partner who can help them tailor their retirement plan to the needs of business owners and their employees.

A key driver for growth in my role as a consultant will come from deepening relationships with our current clients. Our expertise grows by learning about their evolving needs and identifying gaps in which we can guide them to solutions. By being an indispensable resource to our clients, the hope is that should lead to referrals and introductions to new relationships—gradually moving up-market.

Long-term, I see myself as a large contributor of new retirement plan business in our firm and fulfilling aspirations of a supporting leadership role.

PLANADVISER: How do you define success in your role?

Schertel: I define success in my role as a consultant by the ongoing, positive outcomes that we’re able to deliver—both at the plan level and the participant level.

At the plan level, success means helping employers create well-structured, competitive and compliant retirement plans that align with their goals and objectives. It means ensuring a plan is cost-efficient and is achieving optimal pricing, strategically structured plan design and consistent improvement through benchmarking and client education.

At the participant level, success is measured by engagement and outcomes. Is the overall participant rate going up? Is the average savings rate increasing? Do participants have a strong understanding of the plan and are they confident in taking the necessary steps to achieving retirement? When we see engagement increase in participant education, we typically know our work is leading toward successful outcomes.

I believe success is not a one-time event—it is ongoing and is built through constant communication and being able offer guidance and leadership to clients as new issues arise.

PLANADVISER: Have you had mentors or role models?

Schertel: I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors who’ve played a major role in my career development.

Scott Everhart, our president and founder of Everhart Advisors, has been an incredible example of what it means to lead with integrity and the vision of what a successful business looks like. From him, I’ve learned the importance of having an entrepreneurial mindset and the significance of building a firm, starting with strong culture.

Brian Hanna, a partner in and president of retirement plan services, has been a key mentor in helping me grow, specifically as a retirement plan consultant. He has taught me how to think strategically and focus on being a consultant finding solutions for our clients. In addition, I have learned that being a retirement plan adviser is much more than just the investment lineup. It encompasses much more of how we can protect plan fiduciaries and prepare plan participants.

Becky McMillen, a partner in and the managing director of servicing consultants, has been a role model for her experience in client servicing. She has been an indispensable resource for knowledge of ERISA, specific to defined contribution and defined benefit plans.

Each have been critical to my career development, and I am thankful for their support.