Meet Michelle Randazzo, CEBS: Board Member (Co-Education Director), The 401(k) Lady

Hi NYC Benefits Community!

First off, if you are reading this, that means you are engaging with our social media which is so exciting! We have been working hard this year to make our social media presence more engaging and the data tells us that we have been successful! We appreciate all of who read our LinkedIn posts, attend the educational programs, and join us for the in-person meet ups. Please also strongly consider raising your hand to join the Board either as an official Officer or to volunteer your time for projects. The time commitment is reasonable and it’s a great group of individuals.

I joined the Board in January 2023 to help coordinate education programming. What I didn’t expect was all the meaningful relationships I would build and how my ideas have turned into action! Not only have I made friends with fellow Board and chapter members, I’ve connected with many experts in the benefits field! A memorable moment earlier this year was going to lunch with ERISA attorneys Lena and Eric of Nixon Peabody for lunch in Farmingdale Village. There is magic connecting with people in person - which is the real beauty of engaging with our chapter! The networking opportunities are limitless (if you apply yourself of course). When you have a broad network of benefits professionals, opportunities open up. We are a caring group of people who also care about who we serve.  It’s worth it to consider meeting more of our local community to share ideas and learn from one another. For me, I am always willing to talk about retirement benefits and that sharing of knowledge has helped several people in my network that have asked for my help. Conversely, I have sought (and received invaluable) help from others in my network as well which truly demonstrates how TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER!

Finally, for all who are currently hustling and studying for the CEBS exams, I commend your efforts. I received the CEBS designation in 2018, just one month before my first child was born. It was not easy, but I look back on that studying time (I was on the 8-exam track) with pride. Since I didn’t know anyone else studying, I chose to do the hard work in order to gain as much benefit knowledge as possible. They don’t teach you this stuff in college! It’s funny - a former colleague who borrowed my flash cards for an RPA exam, mailed them back to me recently. While it was hard for me to throw them out, I realized that my CEBS studying was in the past and the time was now right to move on in my own career path. If I could do it, you certainly can do it too!

Want to chat more? Contact me on LinkedIn and let’s set up time to chat!