Richard Perlin, JD CPC, President and Owner

Education

  • University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, visiting student, 1980
  • DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, JD 1981
  • Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, BA, Mathematics 1978

 

Employment

Principal with E.R.I.S.A., Inc., since 1983

Designations

  • Member of Illinois Bar, 1981-current
  • Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, 2001
  • Certified Pension Consultant (CPC), American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, 2003
  • Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC), American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, 2012

 

Affiliations

  • Member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)
  • Member of the Documents Sub-Committee of the Government Affairs Committee of ASPPA
  • Member of the DATAIR Study Group
  • Member of the Executive Guild networking group

 

Speaking and Writing

Authored various articles in the CCH (Wolters Kluwer Law and Business) Benefits Practice Portfolio from 2006-2018. Subjects included: Issues in Trustee Fee Disclosures, Nuts and Bolts of Roth 401(k) programs, New Issues in Automatic Enrollment under PPA, and Calculating Pass-Through Income Deduction under the Tax Cuts Jobs Act.

Speaker and Presenter on ten occasions (from 1997-2013) at the Great Lakes Benefit Conferences (formerly Mid-States Benefits Conference) jointly sponsored by the IRS and the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries). Topics included: Advanced 401(k) Plan Design, Advanced 401(k) Testing, 412(e)(3) Pension Plans, and the Business of Being a TPA.

Speaker and Presenter, from 2008-2010 at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, Washington, DC. Topics included: 401(k) Testing, Advanced Defined Contribution Plan Design, Compensation Issues, and Plan Conversions.

Author of 2 articles in the Journal of Pension Benefits (Wolters Kluwer Law and Business) in 2004 and 2013, both relating to Section 412(e)(3) Pension Plans.

Speaker and Presenter at the 2002 National Summer Academy, jointly sponsored by IRS/ASPPA, San Diego, California. Topic: Designing and Administering DC Plans After EGTRRA

When I’m Not in the Office

Richard served on the Skokie District 68 School Board from 2000-2005. Since 2009, he has served on the Skokie Zoning Board of Appeals. Richard has also served on financial related committees at Temple Beth Israel where he and Linda are members. Richard enjoys bicycling and likes to commute throughout the year as his schedule permits. He also enjoys kayaking. Richard and his son have competed in the Des Plaines River Canoe Marathon 12 times. Richard and his son spent 5 days kayaking in Glacier Bay, Alaska and in 2010 backpacked across the Grand Canyon. Lastly, Richard attempts to act as an amateur photographer. He likes to take photos at family and Temple events. These days, Richard likes to spend time and take pictures of his grandchild.

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Stacy Markel, ERPA, QPA, QKA

Education

  • BS Degree in Actuarial Science from The University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Retirement plan professional since 1997
  • With E.R.I.S.A., Inc. since 2000
  • Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) approved to practice before the IRS on certain retirement plan issues
  • Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)

  • Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) designation from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)
  • Holds Series 6 FINRA securities license
  • Moderator, National Summer Academy jointly sponsored by IRS/ASPPA, San Diego, CA, “Designing and Administering DC Plans After EGTRRA,” July 2002
  • Expert witness, Federal District Court, Northern District of Illinois 2005
  • Experienced with IRS Voluntary Compliance Program (VCP) for remediation of retirement plan operational and document defects
  • Director of Administration and Chief Installer.

 

When I’m not in the office

Stacy was exposed to horses at an early age and spent many years showing American Quarter Horses in 4-H and at AQHA shows. Growing up she spent a great deal of time on farms where she enjoyed all the basic farm chores. She partially credits these experiences with her work ethic. She is also a dog whisperer and currently whispers to three of them at home.  She owns rescue dogs and will often pick the ones that no one else is likely to select. She has served as Treasurer for her son’s high school lacrosse team. More recently she has taken up power boating. In her spare time, Stacy enjoys doing her own home improvement projects.

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Oren Dragon, EA, MSPA

Education

  • BS Degree in Mathematics from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Enrolled Actuary
  • Member of the Society of Pension Actuaries
  • Experienced with complex testing issues relating to combination cash balance and defined contribution plans
  • Experienced with issues relating to Code Section 412(e)(3) plans
  • With E.R.I.S.A., Inc. since 2010
  • Actuary and Director of Creativity

When I’m not in the office

Oren spent four years working as a vendor at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. He spent a year in Israel studying Talmud after college, and he has continued to study since that time. More recently, studying for actuarial exams and his young family have consumed much of his time. He does enjoy going for long bike rides with his kids in tow when the weather cooperates.

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Tyler Sendt, QKA

Education

  • BS Degree in Mathematics from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Certified in mathematics for secondary school education
  • Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries
  • With E.R.I.S.A., Inc. since 2013

When I’m not in the office

Tyler was past President of The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Interfraternity Council. After graduation, he served as President of the Board of Chapter Advisors for the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity through 2018. In this role, he assisted in developing future responsible leadership for the Fraternity. Tyler enjoys golfing and has acted as our ringer in the annual golf outing from a networking group in which E.R.I.S.A, Inc. participates. He also plays guitar and drums and has, on occasion, performed as a replacement in his brother’s band. Tyler also enjoys fishing, and has for many years. He is currently the company fire marshal, a role in which he takes great pride. Generally, he enjoys doing anything outside, especially if it involves camping. He also looks forward to walking his two dogs daily.

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Jessica Dembo

Education

  • Associates Degree, specializing in marketing, from Oakton Community College
  • With E.R.I.S.A., Inc. since April 2017
  • Supports everyone else’s efforts. Her job involves a wide range of activities from customer support to data uploads and much more.

When I’m not in the office

From 2012-2017, Jessica served as Chairperson of the Foundation Uniting Neighbors of Skokie School District 69. The mission of this organization is to support the education of children in the district, while offering meaningful life experiences. She now volunteers at the schools her children attend, acting as book club reader and discussion facilitator, and monthly book club organizer. She is also a member of the Downtown Skokie Alliance. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children.

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Linda Perlin

Education

  • BS Degree in Mathematics/Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • With E.R.I.S.A., Inc. since 2001
  • Chief Operating Officer

When I’m not in the office

Linda has long been active in the leadership of Temple Beth Israel. She is a past president of the Temple and remains involved in a variety of leadership, educational and volunteer activities. Linda has enjoyed hot yoga and hot Pilates for many years and credits these activities with keeping her sanity. Linda is an experienced seamstress, who sewed her own wedding dress. Her more recent projects involve sewing full size blankets for grand nieces and nephews, as well as her first grandson. The blankets depict scenes from popular children’s books. Finally, Linda is a skilled cook and baker. Her cranberry and pumpkin breads are craved by many. These days, when Linda is not working, she is often watching her grandson.

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Kelly Tomaskovic

Education

  • Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, BS Statistics June 2021
    • Emphasis in actuarial science
  • Completed Retirement Plans Fundamentals Certificate Course from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, July 2021

When I’m not in the office

Kelly is passionate about softball. She played competitively until the age of 18. Subsequently, she transitioned to coaching and now plays recreationally. Kelly is an animal lover who owns a cat, 2 dogs and 5 turtles. She is an open water certified SCUBA diver and loves to dive during her travels. During her down time, she reads romance novels.

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Abigail Greene

Education

  • BS Degree in Statistics with an emphasis in Actuarial Science from Grand Valley State University
  • Completed Retirement Plans Fundamentals Certificate Course from the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries