PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and how you contribute to its growth and progress.
Fallico: I joined Francis full time shortly after graduating from Marquette University with degrees in finance and operations and supply chain management. Like many early-career analysts, I started by building a foundation in manager research and learning how our investment process supports retirement plan clients. As I gained experience, my responsibilities expanded from supporting the research team to leading due diligence on investment managers and becoming a regular contributor to our firm’s investment research and decisionmaking process.
Today, as a senior research analyst, I evaluate nearly 50 investment strategies each quarter by meeting with portfolio managers, analyzing performance, monitoring portfolio changes and assessing whether each strategy continues to deserve a place on our clients’ investment menus. I translate that research into quarterly reports, market commentary and investment updates that help our relationship managers communicate clearly and confidently with plan sponsors and participants.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role has been earning the opportunity to serve as one of six voting members of our investment committee. That experience has reinforced the importance of thoughtful, objective research and collaboration. My goal is to help ensure every recommendation we make is grounded in disciplined analysis and ultimately serves the long-term best interests of the retirement participants who rely on us.
PLANADVISER: Where do you see the greatest opportunity to improve advisory services and business practices, and how are you acting on it?
Fallico: I believe the retirement industry has an opportunity to rethink how advice is delivered by removing the conflicts that can unintentionally influence recommendations. At Francis, we don’t offer wealth management services or sell investment products, so our advice isn’t shaped by commissions, asset-based fees or the prospect of converting retirement plan participants into retail clients. That singular focus allows every recommendation to be evaluated through one lens: what’s in the best interest of the plan and its participants.
In my role, I support that philosophy by conducting objective investment manager research and communicating our findings in a way that’s transparent and easy for plan sponsors to understand. Every recommendation should stand on its own merits, rather than because it supports a product, a sales objective or another business interest.
I believe participants deserve advice they can trust. Contributing to a business model built around independence has reinforced that the best advisory relationships are created when transparency, objectivity and long-term outcomes come before everything else.
PLANADVISER: Who are your mentors or role models and what lessons have you learned from them?
Fallico: I’ve been incredibly fortunate to start my career at a firm that truly invests in its people. Looking back, I don’t think I’d be where I am today without the mentorship I’ve received from our investment consulting team, especially Ed McIlveen, our chief investment officer; Kevin Roloff, our director of research; and Jon Nolan, our vice president of investment consulting services.
One of my favorite memories from my internship is spending hours sitting in Jon’s office, simply watching him work. He would patiently walk me through manager meetings, investment decisions and client conversations, explaining not only what we were doing, but why. Those conversations taught me how to think critically, rather than just follow a process.
Working at a smaller firm has given me opportunities I may not have found elsewhere. Being able to learn alongside experienced professionals, ask questions freely and gradually take on greater responsibility accelerated my growth in ways I never expected. It’s a reminder that developing young professionals isn’t just about teaching technical skills, but it’s about creating an environment in which they’re trusted, challenged and encouraged to think independently.