Participant-Level Advisors

Mission Statement

The Alameda County Deferred Compensation Plan will provide financial advice, guidance and education to participants in the program through professional advisors.

Description of Service

Since 1986, the Alameda County Deferred Compensation Program has offered the opportunity for all of its employees to meet with a licensed financial representative to help guide you at no charge. These sessions are done with equal success in person or by phone and may take place on County time and at numerous locations around the County for your added convenience. During these one-on-one conferences, you may discuss your participation in the plan as well as any other subject that you believe relevant or has a bearing on the success of your personal retirement strategy. Many participants have found it helpful to include their spouse or partner in these meetings to keep them involved and informed with the plan itself. Participants can expect to gain a better understanding of the benefits of participation, goal setting, proper asset allocation techniques, retirement distribution strategies and, where relevant, the integration of other retirement plans that may be in place or under consideration. Meetings generally last thirty minutes and are not limited to a specific number of sessions during a plan year. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of this service at least on an annual basis for successful plan management.

Mark Tomei

Mark Tomei is a Senior Vice President - Investments, Financial Advisor, with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. He is a graduate of State University of New York at Buffalo, from which he earned his degree in Business Administration. Mark holds the following accreditations: (1) a Series 7 registration as a general securities registered representative under the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); (2) a Series 63 registration (Uniform Securities Agent State Law); (3) a Series 65 registration (Uniform Investment Advisor Representative); and (4) a license as agent for Life and Health Insurance from the State of California; License #0A03916.

Mark has been a financial advisor and stockbroker since 1982 and has worked in the corporate finance and securities industry since 1979. Mark has provided the Alameda County Deferred Compensation Plan participant level education services since 1982.

Wells Fargo Advisors and its financial advisors provide non-fiduciary services only. They do not provide investment advice [as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended ("ERISA")], have any discretionary authority with respect to the plan, make any investment or other decisions on behalf of the plan, or otherwise take any action that would make them fiduciaries to the plan under ERISA.

Gene Hilliard

Gene Hilliard is a Financial Advisor with the Emerge Financial Group, and has been with the company for 6 ½ years. He is a graduate of California State University Hayward, from which he earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. Gene holds the following accreditations: (1) a Series 7 registration as a general securities registered representative under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); (2) a Series 63 registration (Uniform Securities Agent State Law); (3) a Series 65 registration (Uniform Investment Advisor); and (4) a license as agent for Life and Health Insurance from the State of California.

Gene has over 12 years experience working in the financial services industry. Gene has been providing participant-level education, financial and investment guidance to participants of the Alameda County Deferred Compensation Plan since July 2009.

Emerge Financial Group and its financial advisors provide non-fiduciary services only. They do not provide investment advice [as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended ("ERISA")], have any discretionary authority with respect to the plan, make any investment or other decisions on behalf of the plan, or otherwise take any action that would make them fiduciaries to the plan under ERISA.

Plan-Level Consultant

Mission Statement

The Alameda County Deferred Compensation Plan administrators will be advised, guided, educated, and be provided with investment performance measurements by professional investment consultants.

Description of Service

The Alameda County Deferred Compensation Program has retained Retirement Plan Advisors (RPA), a registered investment advisor, to provide plan-level investment consulting services. RPA will assist the Deferred Compensation Plan Officer and the Plan's Ad Hoc Committee by providing due diligence, benchmarking of investment performance, monitoring of fee structure, and other investment oversight measurements in order to ensure that the plan offerings meet the highest industry standards. RPA has a strategic partnership with Global Investment Company, an Alameda County-based firm with extensive experience in defined contribution plan design and employee utilization. Together, they will assist the Deferred Compensation Plan Officer and the Deferred Compensation Plan Ad Hoc Committee in fulfilling their fiduciary obligation to provide plan participants with a safe, as well as competitive, savings program in the County's Deferred Compensation Plan.

Zachary Karas

Zachary Karas is Vice President for Group Retirement Plans with the Retirement Plan Advisors, LLC. (RPA) since July 2009. Zach has 25 years of consulting experience in all aspects of group retirement plans prior to joining RPA.

Zach is a graduate of Connecticut College, from which he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He holds the following accreditations: (1) a Series 6 license as a limited representative for investment company and variable products under the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); (2) a Series 63 license under the Uniform Securities Agent State Law; (3) a Series 65 license under the Uniform Investment Advisor Law; (4) a Series 26 license as a Registered Principal; and (5) licenses for life, health and accident, and variable insurance products.

Zach will provide plan-level investment advice to the Alameda County Deferred Compensation Plan.

Cathy Jackson

Cathy Jackson is CEO and founder of Global Investment Company, a financial advisory and business consulting firm based in Oakland. Cathy is an investment advisor representative and an accredited investment industry analyst.

Cathy is a graduate of the University of San Francisco from which she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Science. Cathy also earned a Management Development for Entrepreneurs Certificate from the Anderson School of Management of the University of California, Los Angeles, and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst designation from the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Fiduciary Studies.

Cathy will provide plan-level investment advice to the Alameda County Deferred Compensation Plan.