National Tax-deferred Savings Association (NTSA)

Arlington, VA – The National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA) is proud to honor Susan Diehl, QPA, CPC, TGPC, ERPA, BCF™ with the NTSA 2023 Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award (FVSA).

Diehl’s volunteerism has formed and grown NTSA excellence through her leading its Government Affairs and Professional Education Committees and serving on their Awards, Summit and Business Intelligence Committees, as well as co-authoring The Source and Best Practices. Diehl was honored with the NTSA lifetime recognition 2012 Bob D. Schiller Award and served as NTSA 2013 President. Her favorite work is chairing the American Retirement Association’s (ARA) Legislation Relations Committee, making a difference for the entire industry. And Diehl’s firm, PenServ Plan Services, is an NTSA Strategic Partner. “I love volunteering for NTSA and helping other members in teaching some of the programs and assisting in other committees,” says Diehl.

“With her ability to run a successful business while giving so much to NTSA and her community, Sue’s been an incredible role model for me throughout my career,” said Teresa Ward, 2023 Chair of the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Awards Judging Committee. “In my view, Sue is the epitome of what the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Awards are all about,” said NTSA 2000 President and 2014 Elite Advisor, Randy Aranowitz. “Sue is a shining example of all that is good not only in our industry, but within her community as well. I am always impressed whenever I am allowed to spend time working with and learning from Sue. Her experience, knowledge, and willingness to serve others is unmatched,” said NTSA Executive Director Nathan Glassey.

While being a transformational NTSA volunteer, Diehl and her family also are broadly and deeply committed to community service in myriad ventures: Family Promise of Montco PA (formerly the Inter-Faith Housing Alliance) bridging homelessness and independence; Cardinal Opportunities high school mentor program; Operation Christmas Child, gifting internationally; and the Jesus Victory Garden, providing for the local food pantry.  Diehl is the September Host Coordinator for Family Promise of Montco, PA, coordinating the 120 volunteers who bring food, fellowship, transportation, counseling, virtual education assistance, and overnight shelter in their churches and synagogues to moms and kids in transition to housing.

“Sue knows how to get things done and works tirelessly for her community, our families, and our organization. She is the light at the end of a long day for many of our families, who shows compassion, grace, and love to those who are often forgotten and dismissed by society,” said Marsha A. Eichel, Executive Director of Family Promise of Montco, PA.

 “I have always believed that I was put on this earth to help people. With Family Promise, I found something that truly inspired me. Every year when we take in the families for 30 days, I find a new extended family,” said Diehl.

Diehl will be recognized at the NTSA 2023 Summit at the Grand Hyatt, Tampa, FL at their Awards Luncheon Feb. 27, 2023.

About the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Awards

The FVSA honors NTSA members who are role models that exemplify commitment to excellence and extraordinary volunteerism and service in their field and their community. FVSA awardees serve as ambassadors of the NTSA value of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to their clients, communities, and spheres of influence.

The FVSA was established to honor Richard Ford, a founding NTSA member, who exemplified the NTSA values of volunteerism and service through his unique and meaningful contributions to NTSA and his community throughout his career. NTSA established the Awards in Richard’s memory after his untimely passing in 2019 to recognize members who follow Richard’s example of giving back to the retirement industry and the broader community.

About the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA)

Formed in 1989, the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA), a division of the American Retirement Association, represents nearly 6000 practitioners, agencies, and corporate members. For nearly three decades, NTSA has been nationally recognized for its thought leadership and policy expertise with regard to public-sector retirement plans. NTSA represents its membership in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country to address issues and design retirement plans that improve employee outcomes. NTSA also provides high-quality education, professional development, and information resources for those involved in the 403(b) and 457(b) marketplace.

Media Contact:  Nevin E. Adams, JD, Chief Content Officer, American Retirement Association
703.516.9300 Ext 114, [email protected]

Phoenix, AZ – Carla-Ann Goedtke, Virginia Harriett and Alberto Gaglianese were recognized as the 2022 NTSA Elite Advisors at a Feb. 7 luncheon meeting at the 2022 NTSA Summit in Phoenix, AZ.

Goedtke, of Investors Choice Financial Services, serves 1,500 participants in 30 school districts and has $218 million in retirement assets under management. For 25 years, she has served the retirement market in Slayton, MN. She also believes in investing in the future of the industry. And she serves as the private sector representative for Murray County on the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Council and is its Vice Chair. 2021-2022 Elite Advisor Chair Michael Pollakowski characterized Goedtke’s accomplishments as “remarkable.”

Virginia Harriett, of Harriet Financial Group, serves 1,700 plan participants in 10 school districts and has $287,700,000 in retirement assets under management. Constant industry engagement has defined her career, and she says that she has been a lifetime student of improving the client experience and has joined networking groups and has worked on information sharing as well. “She’s been an incredible producer for many years,” said Pollakowski. “It’s not a job,” she remarked to attendees, adding, “You know that.”

Gaglianese, of Clearpath Wealth Partners, LLC, serves 1,401 participants in 12 school districts and has more than $193 million in retirement assets under management.  Gaglianese strives not only to build a strong staff, but also to mentor and foster employees’ professional growth. “I attempt to lead by example. I never ask the junior agents that I have mentored to do anything I’m not doing myself.” He reports that he has succeeded in helping interns to become junior advisors in his practice—and that by empowering employees, he has built a staff that includes long-term employees and is “an exceptional team.”  2021-2022 Elite Advisor Chair Michael Pollakowski hailed Gaglianese’s service and commitment to clients, remarking that Gaglianese is “always concerned about his clients.”

Established in 2014, NTSA’s Elite Advisor Awards recognize and honor the ‘best of the best’ in the retirement industry - financial advisors with innovative, unique, profound and successful best practices for advocacy, leadership, practice management and legacy within the 403(b), 457(b) and ERISA non-profit retirement industry. They directly impact the ability for Americans to build a successful retirement, especially through employer-based retirement plans.

“Elite Advisors are educated, experienced, community-involved professionals that are critical to achieving individual retirement security for those Americans in the tax-exempt non-profit, public and private sectors,” said Mark Luckinbill, Executive Director of NTSA.  “Together with NTSA, these Elite Advisors are committed to open access, professional advice, universal standard of scare, collaboration and ethical behavior”.

The NTSA Elite Advisor Awards judging process continues anonymously with the Award Judging Committee (AJC) seeing only fully redacted stories from the Nominator, the Nominee and those affirming the Nominee’s works.  The 2022 Awards are chaired by Mike Pollakowski, GWN Securities; the Award Judging Committee is: Jody Detillier, ChFC®, RICP®, TGPC, CLTC, LUTCF, CPFA, CRES, Lincoln Investments; Wat Keys, CFP®, CRPS, CRES, CAPTRUST; Randy Lupi, Equitable; Kent Schutte, TGPC, CRES, LUTCD, CLU, ChFC, CFP®, EFS Advisors, and Robert Young, CRES, PlanMember.

More information about the NTSA Elite Advisor Award is available at https://www.ntsa-net.org/industry-intel/elite-advisor-award.

About the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA)

Formed in 1989, the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA), a division of the American Retirement Association, represents nearly 6000 practitioners, agencies, and corporate members. For nearly three decades, NTSA has been nationally recognized for its thought leadership and policy expertise with regard to public-sector retirement plans. NTSA represents its membership in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country to address issues and design retirement plans that improve employee outcomes. NTSA also provides high-quality education, professional development, and information resources for those involved in the 403(b) and 457(b) marketplace.

Media Contact:  Nevin E. Adams, JD, Chief Content Officer, American Retirement Association
703.516.9300 Ext 114, [email protected]

PHOENIX, AZ, (February 6) - The National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA) has honored Kent Schutt and Kris Coffey with its Bob D. Schiller Award for their lifetime achievements and meritorious service.

Coffey and Schutte received the Bob D. Schiller Award at a Feb. 6 session of the NTSA Summit held in Phoenix, AZ.  Schutte, 2015 NTSA President, was recognized as the 2021 recipient of the Bob D. Schiller Award that could not be presented in person in 2021 due to the pandemic, while Coffey, 2019 NTSA President, was acknowledged as the award’s 2022 recipient.

The Schiller Award recognizes individuals who have given freely of themselves, their time and resources to the NTSA and to the 403(b)/457 industry—individuals who have gone above and beyond expectations. It is named in memory of Bob Schiller, an enthusiastic supporter of the NTSA who devoted his time and energy to its success.

Coffey was hailed for her tireless work on and in NTSA governance, her collaboration and service on standing committees, and her effectiveness in recruiting new volunteers.

“To say this person gives freely of herself is an understatement,” said 2018 NTSA President Tamara Indianer. “It’s hard to find an area of NTSA she has not touched.” Indianer also noted Coffey’s service across NTSA’s American Retirement Association sister organizations, including service in ASPPA leadership and her role in starting the NAPA 401(k) Summit and the NAPA Fly-in-Forum. “She does everything with high energy and tenacity,” said Indianer.

“We’re all in this together. It’s a collaboration,” said Coffey, continuing, “When you see something good, own it, and act it, and be it. That’s what NTSA is all about.”

Schutte, President of EFS Advisors, LLC and Educators Benefit Consultants, is a longtime strategic partner of the NTSA and has been working with educators, nonprofit and governmental plans since 1985. He was named an NTSA Elite Advisor in 2018 and received the Ford Volunteer Service Award in 2021.

“Over the past 30 years, I met with thousands of educators and truly believe that most are underpaid and underappreciated, yet society expects them to sculpt the future of America. If I can influence more advisors, regardless of geography, to develop a passion to encourage education employees to participate early and throughout their life, that is one of the best comments I can ever receive,” Schutte said.

About the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA)

Formed in 1989, the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA), part of the American Retirement Association, represents nearly 7000 financial advisors, consultants, administrators, and product creators and providers. NTSA has been nationally recognized for its thought leadership and policy expertise regarding public-sector retirement plans. NTSA represents its membership in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country to address issues and design retirement plans that improve employee outcomes. NTSA also provides high-quality education, professional development, and information resources for those involved in the 403(b), 457 and nonprofit marketplace.

Media Contact:
Nevin E. Adams, JD
(703)-516-9300 Ext 114
[email protected]

ARLINGTON, VA –The National Tax-Deferred Savings Association, part of the American Retirement Association (ARA), is pleased to acknowledge the recipients of the NTSA 2021 Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award..

The NTSA Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award was established in the NTSA’s 30th anniversary year in honor of the unique, lifelong volunteer efforts of Richard Ford, a lively and dedicated NTSA volunteer since the organization was established.  The award demonstrates to the retirement industry, tax-exempt and nonprofit communities—as well as clients and their supporting parties—that the excellence and social responsibility represented by NTSA members enhances their unique relationships.

Joining the inaugural 2020 Awardees David Blask, Donna Caloia and Lisa Stubbs are:

• Tamara Indianer, CFP®, AIF®, CRES, Regional Vice President, New England Lincoln Investment, Waltham, MA
• Adam Pearce, CFP®, CRES, Lincoln Investment, Phoenix AZ 
• Kent Schutte, CFP, TGPC, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, President, EFS Financial Advisors, Cambridge, MN

“What diverse, successful lives they lead—in the retirement industry promoting NTSA and positive client outcomes, as well as in their communities, giving back in meaningful, deep and broad ways,” said NTSA 2020 Past President Kristine J. Coffey, CPC, QPFA, CRES. “Tamara, Adam and Kent clearly are role models and our beacons for hopeful futures.” They.

The Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award will be presented in person at the NTSA 2021 Summit Award Luncheon, Monday, June 28, 2021.

The NTSA also wishes to thank the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award Judging Committee:

• Randy Aranowitz, Kades Margolis, NTSA 2014 Inaugural Elite Advisor;
• Susan Diehl, QPA, CPC, ERPA, PenServ Plan Services, NTSA Bob D. Schiller Awardee;
• Kevin Twohy, PlanMember; and
• Kristine J. Coffey, CPC, CPFA, CRES, Senior Advisor to the committee, Chair of the NTSA Awards Committee.

More information about the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award is available at https://www.ntsa-net.org/news-resources/ntsa-congratulates-2021-ford-volunteer-service-awardees

About the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA)

Formed in 1989, the National Tax-Deferred Savings Association (NTSA), a division of the American Retirement Association, represents nearly 6000 practitioners, agencies, and corporate members. For nearly three decades, NTSA has been nationally recognized for its thought leadership and policy expertise with regard to public-sector retirement plans. NTSA represents its membership in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country to address issues and design retirement plans that improve employee outcomes. NTSA also provides high-quality education, professional development, and information resources for those involved in the 403(b) and 457(b) marketplace.

Media Contact:  Nevin E. Adams, JD, Chief Content Officer, American Retirement Association
703.516.9300 Ext 114, [email protected]