PANC 2020: Capital Preservation in a Low Interest Environment

Rick Cortellessa has spent his career advocating for the importance of saving through employer sponsored defined contribution plans. When he was fortunate enough to be introduced to the industry he provided worksite education and enrollment services for large employers which led to serving as Regional Branch Manager for the Copeland Companies. In 2000 he joined Smith Barney Asset Management in a Key Accounts role working with retirement platforms and broker dealers which became Legg Mason Investor Services in 2006. In 2007 he joined GSAM as Regional Director for DCIO working with advisors and consultants in the NE and Mid-Atlantic states. Working along-side advisors and consultants to help influence employee behavior and goal setting has been and continues to be extremely rewarding. Through the years there have been many twists and turns on the delivery of these services, however the goal of helping people achieve their goals has always been the focus and is more important today than ever before. Rick lives in Southport Ct with his wife Susan and has two grown children, Nick and Kim.

Erik is the head of the Retirement Solutions Group. He leads a team of regional sales directors responsible for deepening relationships with GSAM’s largest defined contribution
clients and specialist advisors. Additionally, he is responsible for establishing and executing the strategy for GSAM’s defined contribution investment only business, including the Goldman Sachs Stable Value Collective Trust. Erik is a member of both the Stable Value Management team and the GS Trust Company Collective Fund Advisory Committee. He joined Goldman Sachs as a Vice President in 2012. Prior to joining the firm, Erik was a Client Portfolio Manager at Dwight Asset Management from 2006-2012. Prior to joining Dwight in 2006, Erik was a senior accountant with Gallagher Flynn & Company, a Vice President in the Prime Brokerage Client Services Group at Goldman Sachs, and a senior accountant with Ernst & Young. Erik earned a BS in Accounting from Binghamton University in 1997. He is a CFA charterholder and member of the Vermont CFA Society.