About Us

Jim Raley is the CEO and owner of Pension Planners, Inc. Prior to joining the company, Jim was the CEO and owner of a multi-line insurance agency with offices in Naples, Fort Myers and Marco Island. He was also a Fortune 50 financial services company executive holding various positions including: President of Financial Services and Life Insurance Operations, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Jim has had executive management responsibility for companies that were investment managers, venture capitalists, and pension consultants. He directed the development of several programs including: a Turnkey Defined Benefit Pension Program for small businesses, a bundled third party administrator for 401(k) plans, a deferred compensation program for medical professionals and a computerized asset allocation and asset manager selection program for defined benefit plans. He was certified as a director for the A&E Associates’ unbiased financial literacy education curriculum that is offered by 401(k) plan sponsors as an employee benefit. He was recognized for his achievements by being named as a Finalist – Supporter of Entrepreneurship – Baltimore Region in 1990 by Ernst & Young. He is a member of the AICPA and the FICPA. Jim is past chair of the Diocese of Venice School Board and the Saint John Neumann High School Board. Jim currently serves as a Director and the President of the Notre Dame Club of Greater Naples. Jim has his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and his graduate degree from Loyola University of Maryland.

Joanne Raley – Vice President and Office Manager has administrative and management experience in human resources and small business accounting. She was Office Manager of a multi-line insurance agency with offices in Naples, Fort Myers and Marco Island. She previously worked for Sun Life of America in sales and marketing support. Joanne is a member of HR Collier and is active in the SouthWest Florida Employers Association. Joanne has her undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN.

Gaetano (Guy) Idler - Senior Pension Consultant has worked in all aspects of pension planning since 1956. Guy designs defined benefit plans to meet the clients' objectives and provides projections for tax accountants for the clients' tax planning. His responsibilities include actuarial work, plan documentation and DOL/IRS compliance for both defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans. His years of experience with government agencies have helped guide many companies through the compliance process. Guy has his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Seton Hall University.

Stephen Margolies - Enrolled Actuary has extensive background and experience in the pension actuarial field. His experience includes tenure at the Prudential serving as an actuary with Actuarial Services in Union, NJ, Chief Actuary at the Spencer Organization in Emerson, NJ and ownership of his own actuarial firm. He has given numerous seminars on ERISA to CPAs and Attorneys and achieved his designation as an Enrolled Actuary. He made significant contributions to the construction and graduation of the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table (1971 GAM) for use industry wide. The President's Commission on Pension Policy presented to him the Special Achievement Award for important and valuable service to the President's Commission on Pension Policy. Margolies graduated from Rider College with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree majoring in Accounting, has achieved the designation of Fellow of the American Society of Pension Actuaries, became a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and was a Member of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries.

Kristen Pejakovich, QKA - Senior Pension Administration has over 10 years of accounting and Plan Administration experience and has been with Pension Planners, Inc. since 2003. She works with 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and plan distributions. Kristen has her Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Grand Valley State University. Kristen has completed the American Society of Pension Professions & Actuaries (ASPPA) Pension Administrator Certificate Program and has achieved her QKA designation.

Catherine Mancini - Pension Administrator has five years of Plan Administration experience including new business and take-over plan acquisitions. She has worked with 401(k), money purchase and profit sharing plan administration, which includes trust accounting and tax reporting. She is currently responsible for the annual plan administration of 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plans, as well as assisting with new plan set-up and takeover plans. Catherine received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with an Emphasis in Business from Florida State University, in Tallahassee. She has also completed American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries ASPPA training for daily valued plans.

Jami Raley - joined Pension Planners as a Trust Accountant and Marketing Assistant. She prepares trust accounting spreadsheets for 401(k) and profit sharing plans, produces marketing pieces and generates proposals for 401(k) and profit sharing plan prospects. She also has experience in preparing bank reconciliations, management reports, balance management sheets, review and entering data for Miscellaneous 1099 reporting, state regulatory reports and financial statements for a national medical liability insurance company. Jami graduated cum laude from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. During college, she was Student Manager for the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball and is a member of the Notre Dame Monogram Club.

Maria Huffman – Administrative Assistant with over 25 years of clerical and administrative experience. She has been responsible for the co-ordination of time sensitive projects requiring governmental dealings and maintenance of customer and third party relationships. She received an Executive Assistant Certification from Betz School of Business in Miami, Florida. Her experience varies among a number of industries including finance, legal, health care, construction and real estate. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has been a Notary Public for over 15 years.