Aksana Muñoz

PLANADVISER: Where do you see the greatest opportunity to improve advisory services and business practices, and how are you acting on it?

Muñoz: I believe the greatest opportunity for our profession is helping plan sponsors navigate an increasingly complex retirement landscape with greater confidence. Today’s retirement plan committees are expected to understand evolving regulations, cybersecurity, participant engagement, fees, investments and fiduciary responsibilities, often with limited internal resources. Advisers have an opportunity to simplify that complexity and become trusted strategic partners, not just investment consultants.

That’s the approach I strive to take every day. Whether I’m helping a committee strengthen its governance process, benchmarking plan fees, collaborating with professionals across the retirement plan industry, coordinating educational programs through the Western Pension & Benefits Council, attending the National Association Plan Advisers Summit to learn from industry leaders, advocating for plan sponsors and participants during NAPA’s annual Capitol Hill Fly-In or volunteering with the American Retirement Association Government Affairs Committee to help shape legislative and regulatory policy, my goal is to bring new ideas, emerging best practices and practical solutions back to my clients, colleagues and the broader retirement plan community.

I’ve found that the best solutions rarely come from a single organization or perspective. They come from collaboration among advisers, recordkeepers, ERISA attorneys, regulators and plan sponsors who share a commitment to improving retirement outcomes. By learning from one another, we strengthen fiduciary decisionmaking, simplify complex challenges and help more Americans achieve a financially secure retirement.

PLANADVISER: How do you incorporate purpose or mission into your day-to-day work?

Muñoz: My purpose is simple: to help more people achieve a financially secure retirement. I incorporate that purpose into my work by approaching every decision through the lens of the people ultimately affected by it. Behind every retirement plan are hundreds or even thousands of individuals relying on employers and fiduciaries to make informed decisions that will shape their financial future. That perspective influences every committee meeting I facilitate, every governance recommendation I make, every fee benchmark I conduct, and every opportunity I have to help plan sponsors make more informed fiduciary decisions.

My mission also extends beyond the clients I serve. Volunteering with the Western Pension & Benefits Council, the National Association of Plan Advisors, and the American Retirement Association allows me to continuously learn, collaborate with industry peers, and advocate for stronger retirement policy. Serving as President of the Orange County Chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council and on its Governing Board has reinforced my belief that leadership is about creating opportunities for others to learn, collaborate, and grow.

For me, purpose isn’t something separate from my career. It’s the lens through which I make decisions every day – helping employers build stronger retirement plans so more people can retire with confidence and financial security.

PLANADVISER: Who are your mentors or role models and what lessons have you learned from them?

Muñoz: Two people have had an extraordinary impact on my career: Darren Stewart and Tina Schackman.

More than a leader, Darren has been a mentor, colleague and trusted teammate who has consistently demonstrated what servant leadership looks like. Although he’s a respected partner and leader, he’s never made anyone feel that title or hierarchy defines a relationship. He treats everyone with the same respect, humility and genuine willingness to help. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from Darren is that leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about earning trust. He leads by listening, sharing his knowledge, supporting others through both successes and challenges, and celebrating their accomplishments without seeking recognition for himself. More importantly, he makes people feel valued, supported and confident that someone is always in their corner. His example has shaped the kind of leader I strive to be: someone who builds others up, leads with humility and understands that the greatest measure of leadership is the positive impact you have on the people around you.

Tina inspired me to look beyond my day-to-day responsibilities and become actively engaged in the broader retirement plan community. Through her encouragement and example, I discovered the value of volunteering, attending industry conferences, building relationships and learning from peers across the profession. She expanded my perspective beyond serving clients to contributing to the advancement of our industry through collaboration, education and continuous learning.

Together, Darren and Tina taught me that meaningful leadership is built on humility, collaboration, lifelong learning and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed. Those lessons continue to shape how I serve my clients, support my colleagues and give back to the profession.