Meet the Team
Jason Roberts, Esq.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Jason is the founder and CEO of Pension Resource Institute, LLC (PRI). The firm helps banks, broker-dealers and registered investment advisers implement and maintain profitable strategies for serving retirement investors. PRI was founded on the idea that compliance with retirement regulations should be accessible and affordable.
In addition to his role as CEO of PRI, Jason is the founder and managing partner of Retirement Law Group (RLG), a firm serving plan sponsors, investment professionals and service providers in all aspects of retirement-related products and services. RLG’s network of leading ERISA, tax and securities lawyers is available to assist clients on a project, flat fee or hourly basis.
Prior to founding PRI and RLG, Jason was a partner and co-chair of the Financial Services Group at a leading ERISA law firm and the head of the Investment Fiduciary practice for a national securities law firm.
Jason has published numerous articles focusing on ERISA and securities compliance, fiduciary best practices and is a frequent speaker at retirement plan and financial industry conferences. He is a contributing author and faculty member for the Practicing Law Institute. Jason has been repeatedly recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential in Defined Contribution” by the 401(k) Wire and a “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine and was selected by InvestmentNews as one of the Top 40 Advisors and Associated Professionals under 40. The Wall Street Journal also tapped Jason for its Ask the Experts series answering readers’ questions relating to the DOL Fiduciary Regulation.
Jason received his B.S.B.A in Finance & Banking from the University of Missouri and his J.D. from UCLA Law School.
Outside of work, you can find Jason deep sea fishing, tending a wide range of fresh citrus in his grove, cooking, and spending time with his wife, Val, daughter, Lola, and son, Spencer.
Steve Niehoff, QKA, TGPC, QPFC, ChFC
Chief Operating Officer
Steve has served as the Chief Operating Officer of PRI since August 2016. Prior to joining PRI, Steve worked for a Fortune 100 insurance company in a variety of roles including Operations, Compliance, Business Development and Internal Audit. A passionate believer in financial literacy, Steve has enjoyed more than 20 years working in life insurance, annuities, health benefits and retirement plans.
With PRI, Steve wears many different hats, but none more important than helping facilitate positive experiences for member firms. He is commonly the first point of contact for helping member firms resolve business issues and for maximizing their relationship with PRI. In addition, Steve leads the design and implementation of improvements in PRI’s technology platform, which serves as the foundation for the service to banks, broker-dealers, and registered investment advisers.
Steve has a B.A. in English from the Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from Ashland University. Steve also holds many industry credentials including the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC), Tax-Exempt and Governmental Plan Consultant (TGPC), and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).
With their daughter Lanie starting her career, Steve and his wife Stephanie are empty-nesters, enjoying newly found time in their schedules by bird-watching, becoming better cooks and bakers, and sharing inane jokes only they enjoy. They recently moved to the country where they look to plant dozens of trees, tend to a large garden, and learn to can fruits and vegetables they grow.
Annie Messer
President, Member Relations
Annie brings more than 14 years of experience to PRI, serving in a variety of roles, including planning, development and support of retirement plan technology solutions, fiduciary resources, regulatory and retirement education, and ERISA compliance. In addition to retirement plan experience, Annie provided wealth management advanced planning support for estate, trust, tax, retirement income, government benefits and education funding and has presented at numerous conferences and webinar events.
At PRI, Annie will focus on enhancing the PRI member experience through marketing, technical content development, rule monitoring, training and direct support for member firms.
Annie holds a B.A. degree from Western International University in Human Resources. She holds the Series 7, 24 and 66 FINRA licenses, Accredited Investment Fiduciary®(AIF®), Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®(CPFA®), Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), Registered Corporate CoachTM (RCCTM) designations and has completed the Cannon Trust Fundamentals and Cannon Financial Professional Course on Trusts.
Annie lives in Iowa with her husband, Justin, and two daughters, Evie and Ella. In her free time, Annie can be found organizing and/or attending any of her daughters’ numerous extra-curricular activities and events, spending time with friends and family, enjoying all things outdoors, completing projects, gardening, and running with her two dogs.
Cherisha Chapman
Products Manager
Cherisha comes to PRI having worked in retirement plans for 16 years. Her time in the industry incudes both public and private sector plans and everything from participant services to underwriting to people leadership.
At PRI, Cherisha is responsible for creating an exceptional experience for our Member Firms. She does this by maintaining the PRI platform, facilitating member requests, and overseeing PRI initiatives among other things.
Cherisha has a B.S. in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University. She also holds an Associate, Secure Retirement Institute (ASRI) from LOMA.
Cherisha enjoys life with her husband, Tim, and their three children, Jacques, Lorenzo, and Parker. You will often find her cheering on her oldest at baseball games or shuttling the younger two to their various extracurricular events. The family loves traveling both around the US and abroad and have many destinations on their must-see list.