Heather Dawson has been named the new leader for OneAmerica’s Participant Workplace Solutions team, where she will bring her extensive industry experience in the areas of financial education, participant services and business strategy and development to this new role.
Sandy McCarthy, president of Retirement Services at Indianapolis-based OneAmerica, announced the hire today. This participant-focused group aims to deliver meaningful education and experiences that drive participants’ financial confidence.
“Participant Workplace Solutions is all about aligning around key participant decision points and deepening our focus on the end-to-end experience for this significant stakeholder group, helping participants to feel more confident in all aspects of their financial lives,” said McCarthy. “Heather is passionate about improving financial security and overall well-being for individuals a view that perfectly aligns with our focus in Retirement Services. She also brings clear vision, shared values and extensive experience to this important role.”
Dawson’s 30 years’ experience includes leadership roles at Principal Financial Group, Russell Investments, Mercer and Morningstar. The Midwestern native, and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum has spent her career in both U.S. and Australian financial service companies.
“My mission is simple: Focus on holistic financial confidence to optimize outcomes for participants.”
Heather Dawson, OneAmerica
“My mission is simple: Focus on holistic financial confidence to optimize outcomes for participants,” said Dawson, who will report directly to McCarthy. “Keeping our focus on the participant journey also fuels our growth as a business and reinforces what’s always differentiated OneAmerica in the marketplace—relationships, education and customization.”
Dawson’s team includes financial professionals who are well-versed in critical areas including participant onboarding, participant financial consultation services and participant engagement.
Dawson’s team is the next step in a multifaceted program kicked off by McCarthy in 2019, to deliver holistic financial wellness programs to participants, including strategically designed persona-driven and personalized education journeys that align to participants’ needs.
OneAmerica provides recordkeeping for plans in asset classes of all sizes for clients related to 401k, tax-exempt, governmental, combo plans, ESOP, defined benefit, cash balance and pension risk transfer.
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Veteran financial services industry journalist Brian Anderson joined 401(k) Specialist as Managing Editor in January 2019. He has led editorial content for a variety of well-known properties including Insurance Forums, Life Insurance Selling, National Underwriter Life & Health, and Senior Market Advisor. He has always maintained a focus on providing readers with timely, useful information intended to help them build their business.