People
Meet our team of experts: Your trusted retirement plan partners.
A Message from Our President
Throughout the history of our company, we have prided ourselves on our knowledge, our flexibility and our commitment to quality service. We partner with you in order to develop and maintain a retirement solution that fits your individual needs.
Our commitment to quality and our emphasis on Service, Education, Reporting, and Compliance Assistance set us apart from the competition and result in exceptional and long lasting relationships with our clients.
- Service
- Dedicated Plan Specialists assigned to each plan that minimize the burden of plan administration
- Complete and personalized administration
- Education and Reporting
- Initial and ongoing participant education
- Investment Watch newsletter
- Timely and accurate reporting
- Compliance Assistance
- Fiduciary Reviews
- 404(c) Compliance Assistance
- Compliance Testing and Government Filing Preparation
- Client Retention
- Take it from our hundreds of clients—we have a commitment to quality
All of us at Ekon Benefits genuinely care about the success of your company and retirement plan. We partner with you to help you achieve your goals with knowledgeable, personalized service.
Keith Kowalczyk, ASA, EA
President
Ekon Team Mission
Ekon simplifies qualified retirement plan administration and compliance. We combine customized plans, expert consulting, and personalized service – all at a reasonable price. Our dedicated specialists navigate complex regulations and deliver accurate, responsive administration. At Ekon, each client experiences exceptional service and a tailored solution built for their unique needs.
Ekon Leadership Team
Keith Kowalczyk
President
Keith Kowalczyk, ASA, MSPA, AAA, EA is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, a member of the American Society of Pension Actuaries, and an Enrolled Actuary. Since he founded Ekon Benefits in 1981, he has served as President and Chief Actuary. Keith is an expert in all types of retirement programs, including defined benefit plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), 401(k) plans, profit-sharing plans, and multiemployer plans.
Keith has been instrumental in the growth of Ekon Benefits, which is now one of the leading independent retirement plan providers in the St. Louis area. One of Keith’s most significant accomplishments at Ekon was assembling a multi-family, open architecture daily valuation trading platform. As a direct trading partner with the National Security Clearing Corporation, Ekon provides cost-effective daily participant recordkeeping for thousands of participants.
Keith earned his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Eastern Illinois University. He has served as an instructor for several pension seminars at the Bar Association of St. Louis, Washington University School of Law, and countless regional and national conferences. He is also a past chairperson of the St. Louis Actuaries local chapter.
Genelle Brakefield
Vice President of Business Development
Genelle Brakefield joined Ekon Benefits in June of 2006 as a Benefit Administrator. Genelle earned her Qualified 401(k) Administrator certification in 2008, and in 2010 she received her Tax-Exempt and Governmental Plan Consultant (TGPC) and Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) certifications. Genelle is a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries and an expert in the following types of retirement programs: 401(k), 403(b), 457, profit-sharing, and multiemployer plans.
Her knowledge of plan design led to her promotion to Vice President of Business Development in 2009. Genelle has assisted in the growth of Ekon Benefits and is an integral part of the management team.
Genelle has been a featured speaker at national and local retirement symposiums. She is a past President of the Greater St. Louis ASPPA Benefits Council and a chairperson of the ASPPA Annual Conference. Genelle also serves on the Leadership Committee for the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries.
Genelle attained both her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Tulsa.
Kendree Spisak
Vice President of Operations
Kendree Spisak joined Ekon Benefits in August of 2003 as a Benefits Administrator. Soon after, she was promoted to Office Manager and eventually Vice President of Operations due to her plan design and administration expertise. Kendree received her Qualified 401(k) Administrator certification in 2011 and Qualified Pension Administrator certification in 2012. She is also a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries.
Kendree is experienced in administering all types of defined contribution plans, including 401(k), profit-sharing, and multiemployer plans. As Vice President of Operations, Kendree executes plan conversions and oversees the day-to-day operations of several Defined Contribution Administrators.
Kendree holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University. Her education and ambition have played an integral role in Ekon’s growth, and these qualities make her a vital member of our management team.
AJ Stoll
Chief Actuary
AJ Stoll is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), an Enrolled Actuary (EA), and a Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA). AJ joined Ekon Benefits in January 2020 with over ten years of experience in the retirement benefits industry.
AJ coordinates actuarial valuations and other actuarial calculations for defined benefit, nonqualified pension, and postretirement welfare plans. AJ’s expertise includes multiemployer plans, governmental plans, and single employer plans.
AJ earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin with majors in Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance, Finance, Investment, and Banking.
Learn About Our Dedicated Plan Specialists
Every Ekon client has one point of contact for their retirement plan needs: a Dedicated Plan Specialist (DPS).
Our Specialists are handpicked specifically for each plan to ensure you are matched with the associate with the specific expertise that your plan requires. Our Specialists have expertise in all types of retirement plans, including pension plans, cash balance plans, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457s, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), and multiemployer plans.
Most of our specialists are certified or seeking certification from the following associations:
- American Retirement Association
- Society of Actuaries
- American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries
- National Tax-Deferred Savings Association
- Internal Revenue Service
Your Specialist is trained to know the specific provisions of your plan and is assigned based on their experience in helping similar clients and plan types. Having a single point of contact for your retirement plan simplifies administration and gives you and your participants instant access to industry expertise with unrivaled service.
Join the Ekon Team
The Ekon Benefits team is constantly growing. If you think you’d be a good fit for one of our administration, actuary, or software engineering roles, please submit your resume to info@ekonbenefits.com.
