PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and how you contribute to its growth and progress.
Yancey: I am an investment associate manager on Willis Towers Watson’s core market investments team, where we provide fiduciary investment advice to defined contribution plan sponsors. I contribute to the firm’s growth by helping clients strengthen retirement plan governance, monitor investment lineups, manage plan expenses and make informed decisions that support participant outcomes.
In addition to serving as a primary client contact, I lead investment manager research and monitoring activities, coordinate with external providers, and help clients stay informed on economic, legislative and industry developments. Through this work, I help clients make sound fiduciary decisions that strengthen their retirement programs.
Beyond client service, I have played a leadership role in our team’s growth and development. I partnered with team leadership to enhance file governance, compliance and operational standards, improving consistency and efficiency across our practice. As our excellence champion, I oversee compliance and quality review processes, deliver training and support best practices across the team.
I have helped recruit, onboard and develop every associate and analyst hired to our team since joining WTW. Through mentoring, training and regular huddles as the local leader, I help accelerate professional development, strengthen collaboration and prepare future consultants to lead the practice forward.
PLANADVISER: What motivates you to stay in the retirement/advisory industry?
Yancey: What motivates me to stay in the retirement and advisory industry is the combination of meaningful client impact, continuous learning and the opportunity to develop future leaders. I have been fortunate to learn from mentors who have earned the trust of clients, developed others and made a lasting impact on their clients. Their example has shown me the difference one person can make through strong relationships, continuous growth and a commitment to helping others succeed.
I am also motivated by the impact our work has on the organizations we serve. Every day, we help plan sponsors make decisions that affect the financial futures of their employees while supporting their ability to attract, retain and care for their workforce. It is rewarding to know that the advice we provide helps strengthen retirement programs and improve outcomes for the people who depend on them.
The industry itself is constantly evolving, which makes the work both challenging and exciting. Changes in regulation, markets, investment solutions and technology create opportunities to learn and help clients navigate complexity with confidence.
As I continue to grow in my career, I hope to make an impact not only through the clients I serve, but also through the colleagues I mentor and the teams I help build.
PLANADVISER: What outside interests or experiences have influenced how you approach your career?
Yancey: The outside experiences that have most influenced my career are the examples set by my father and grandfather. While I admire their professional accomplishments, the lessons that have stayed with me most are the values they demonstrated every day—treating others with respect, investing in relationships and continuously striving to improve. From them, I learned that success is measured not only by what you achieve, but by the impact you have on others.
My grandfather was an accomplished business leader whose greatest strength was his ability to connect with people. He showed me that lasting success is defined as much by the impact you have on others as the achievements earned. My father reinforced those same values while teaching me the importance of resilience, accountability and forging your own path through hard work and perseverance.
As the only daughter and granddaughter in my family, I was fortunate to be surrounded by role models who encouraged me to pursue ambitious goals and never viewed my opportunities as any different from theirs. Golf has also played an important role in shaping me, teaching discipline, patience and continuous improvement while creating lasting memories with my family and opportunities to build meaningful professional relationships.
As I continue to grow in my career, I hope to have the same positive impact on clients, colleagues and future professionals that they have had on me.