Pension Resource Institute Reshuffles Leadership to Scale Plan Services

The appointments represent a strategic effort to integrate the Pension Resource Institute (PRI) with its affiliates, the Group Plan Systems (GPS) and the Fiduciary Law Center. By centralizing leadership, the firm plans to transition from a plan-by-plan service model toward a more scalable, technology-forward infrastructure. Messer, formerly President of Member Relations, will focus on supporting wealth management enterprises as they expand their retirement plan offerings in response to new state mandates and evolving business models.

Erickson takes the helm at GPS, the largest independent pooled employer plan fiduciary, which currently manages or is launching over 30 plans. Her role involves standardizing the client experience across the platform, supported by the recent hiring of fiduciary consultant Justina Feliz. The reorganization also includes the promotion of Erin Fager to Director of Marketing and Communications to meet growing demand for employer-facing resources.

These personnel shifts coincide with a planned transition for Steve Niehoff, the outgoing Chief Operating Officer. Effective August 1, Niehoff will step back from daily operations to launch his own consulting firm while maintaining a controller role for PRI on an independent contract basis. Additionally, the Fiduciary Law Center has bolstered its ranks by hiring Jason Benham, a veteran with over 20 years of industry experience, as a full-time associate.