Jere L Cowden - PDF document

1 Jere L. Cowden , CEBS, CMC 412.394.930
Jere L. Cowden , CEBS, CMC 412.394.9303 jerec@cowdenassociates.com J ere L. Cowden, CEBS, CMC Retired Chairman , Cowden Associates, Inc. Jere knows what it means to rise through the ranks and the importance of each experience gained. After graduating from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1969, Jere began his career as a technical writer, trainer and troubleshooter for a software company that sold actuarial and retirement recordkeeping software to consulting firms and major insurance com panies throughout the United States and Canada. Jere is the founder of Cowden Associates, Inc. and Cowden Financial Services , LLC. Cowden Associates is the leading independent actuarial, compensation and employee benefits consulting firm; Cowden Financial Services is a fee based independent Registered Investment Advisory firm focused in delivery independent fee based investment advisory and plan design serviced to qualified retirement plans. Jere’s core beliefs include:  Client interests always come first  Advisors not willing to act as a fiduciary should be fired  Full fee/expense transparency is necessary for informed decision making  Plan Fiduciaries should be aware of their status and act according to the guidelines set by the Department of Labor  Passive management generally beats active management; and related investment management fees are much lower  Open architecture (access to any electronically traded fund) is required for true independence  Participants deserve an opportunity to achieve a dignified re tirement Jere is known and respected throughout the industry for his understanding of employee benefits. Among his many articles published, two in particular were considered so innovative that they were widely used as training and business guides througho ut the industry. The first piece examined defined benefit plans versus defined contribution plans and the second considered hybrid also known as cash balance plans. Jere is active within the industry and within his community. He is a member, past national president and fellow of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS); a charter member of and served on the Advisory Board of United Benefit Advisors (UBA) a member owned organization which is one of , if not the largest privately held employee benefits advisory organizations in the nation. He holds memberships in Global Pittsburgh, North American Actuarial and Consulting Services (NORACS), the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Pittsburgh Regional Al liance and is a Board Member of the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania.