~ E. Holder, 401k Coach® Member
About the 401k Coach Program
Since 2002, The 401k Coach Program has been developing curriculum for retirement plan professionals to build and refine their practice. We organize our sessions to actively engage and energize you. At most conferences and seminars someone stands in front of the room and presents to you with little or no connection. Not at The 401k Coach Program. Our unique and motivational learning environment provides the opportunity for you to create and practice new concepts and strategies while networking and exchanging ideas with your peers.
During your participation in The 401k Coach Program, you will also learn and interact with industry experts in the areas of Marketing, Sales Techniques, Prospecting, Practice Management and Business Development, Plan Design, 401(k) Plan Service and Retention, Ancillary Business Opportunities, Strategic Alliance Development, Litigation Issues and Technology Advancements.
To date, The 401k Coach Program has nurtured the growth and success of over 1,500 retirement plan practitioners around the country.
The 401k Coach®
Charles D. Epstein, CLU, ChFC, AIF®
Charles D. Epstein has over 30 years of professional experience in the financial services industry. As the principal of Epstein Financial Group, LLC and Epstein Financial Services, a registered investment advisory firm, he continually provides corporate retirement plan consulting, as well as wealth management and financial planning services to business owners, professionals and individual plan participants.
In 2010, Charlie was elected to the newly created Legg Mason Retirement Advisory Council, which is comprised of 14 retirement industry leaders in the country. The Advisory Council examines the major challenges facing retirement products, service providers and best practices observed by the industry.
401kWire has named Charlie on their list of the 300 Most Influential Retirement Plan Advisors consistently each year. Charlie has also frequently been named to 401kWire’s list of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the Retirement Industry, ranking #53 in 2012.
Charlie’s first book; Paychecks for Life: How to Turn Your 401(k) into a Paycheck Manufacturing Company, released in January 2012, has sold out of its initial print run of 5,000 copies with pre-orders in for the soon to be available second batch. “My book is not about how to invest your money better. It’s about the nine principles to get you to save smarter, and then how to maximize this mechanism that the government calls the 401(k).”
Charlie’s multi-dimensional business practices and considerable experience provide him with a unique perspective on the challenges that face the retirement plan industry; from individual financial advisors to the financial institutions manufacturing retirement products, as well as the many challenges facing plan sponsors and plan participants in achieving successful retirement plan outcomes.
The 401k Coach Team
Marie is the Director of Events and Client Services and has been with The 401k Coach® Program since 2004. Marie has over 20 years experience in meeting planning and coordinating events. During her career, Marie has worked closely with industry leaders in the medical and financial arenas as well as with international government associations and agencies. Prior to joining the Coach Program, Marie served as Director of Marketing for The Publick House Inn and Conference Center under the ownership of New York City-based Restaurant Associates. Marie brings expertise in site logistics and customer service. A native of Montreal, she is fluent in both French and English.
mforest@the401kcoach.com | (413) 539-2375
Amanda is the Director of Marketing and Production for The 401k Coach® Program. Amanda has more than 12 years of experience with printing, marketing, digital solutions and customer service. Prior to the 401k Coach Program, she was a Senior Account Manager with PIP Printing and Marketing Services. Her expertise is with identifying options, providing resources and in the execution of projects to maximize growth of the 401k Coach Program. Since joining The 401k Coach Program in 2008, Amanda has taken on the responsibility of The 401k Coach brand and streamlining production of session materials and new tools.
awalker@the401kcoach.com | (413) 539-2373
Bettyjean Bouffard has held a fundamental role with the 401k Coach Program since 2006 with her focus on the development and production of new training materials and systems. Bettyjean brings expertise in technical support and research. She has been involved in using Web-based technology in the financial services and educational arena for more than 15 years. She was a key member of the team that created the first MassMutual University, an innovative, Web-based training site for agents. Prior to that, Bettyjean created and managed the University of Massachusetts Continuing Education Division’s first presence on the Internet. While at UMass, Bettyjean worked with Charlie Epstein to bring the UMass Family Business Center into existence.
bbouffard@the401kcoach.com | (413) 539-2377
Danielle Hall
Danielle is the Associate Marketing & Production Coordinator responsible for printing, marketing and graphic support. With a degree in graphic design, Danielle's extensive knowledge of graphic arts and computer programs has brought our team to a new level in maximizing the growth of the 401k Coach Program, Coach member tools and resources, and the website.
dhall@the401kcoach.com | (413) 539-2385
D.J. Ware
DJ joined the 401k Coach Program in 2012 and he has always been passionate about technology. At the age of 13, he taught himself HTML coding and began building websites when he entered high school. He has studied C++, Java, Visual Basic and has extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite. At the age of 17, DJ was hired as the Online Marketing Manager for a major photography company but, after holding the position for over a year, he decided to further his education by studying Database Management and Computer Information Systems. DJ is certainly a jack of all trades and his technological expertise helps him fulfill his duties as part of the 401k Coach Team.
dware@the401kcoach.com | (413) 539-2369
Sheldon spearheads institutional sales by helping The 401k Coach Program connect to the right markets, formulate the right message and execute the right methods. At the age of 12 he made his first of countless mistakes by asking the nuns at his Catholic School if he could take Chanukah off. (Wrong Market and Message!) Proving the adage that good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment, Sheldon failed with four different start-ups before he found a clue. (Troubled Methods!) After four years as an army officer, including the rigorous Airborne jump school, Sheldon traded military discipline, bearing and stamina for a civilian career that required the same attributes: 100% commission-based selling in Boston's corporate jungle. Within two years, Sheldon became a regional sales trainer for Uniglobe Travel along with a series of other sales and marketing leadership positions. Inspired by his success and failures, he launched SteadySales.com to help service professionals sell. (Finally the Right Market, Message and Method!)