Meet Your Instructors

We have some of the industry’s top ERISA-trained consultants and thought leaders who specialize in employer-sponsored retirement plans, IRAs, HSAs, college savings, education savings, and thought leadership.

Agatha Schmidt

Senior ERISA Analyst

Agatha Schmidt is a Senior ERISA Analyst with Ascensus. Agatha consults with financial organizations on technical compliance matters through our 800 Consulting service and serves as an instructor for webinars and various Ascensus-sponsored seminars nationwide. She lends technical expertise regarding IRAs, HSAs, Coverdell ESAs, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. Agatha also participates in technical reviews of our forms, documents, and publications, and performs compliance reviews for financial organizations IRA departments. She holds the CISP, Certified Self-Directed IRA Professional (SDIP), and CHSP designations.

Barb Van Zomeren

Senior Vice President

Barb heads the ERISA Compliance Department and oversees all technical research and compliance activities for Ascensus Retirement. This includes the technical content of the IRA, health savings account, and qualified retirement plan documents, forms, consulting, and education offerings that Ascensus makes available to financial organizations, financial professionals, employers, and states. Barb is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and retirement plan programs for attorneys, financial organizations, and trade associations. She is a member of the American and Minnesota Bar Associations and the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA). Barb also is a member of the SPARK organization’s Government Relations Committee.

Ben Maas

Senior ERISA Analyst

Ben is a Senior ERISA Analyst at Ascensus. Ben conducts IRA training programs nationwide. His expertise includes IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, health savings accounts, and SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans. He also leads the development, design, implementation, assessment, and maintenance of our IRA and HSA University curriculums. Ben holds the CIS, CIP, CISP, and CHSP designations. He also is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

Carrie Horn

Senior ERISA Consultant

Carrie Horn is a Senior ERISA Consultant at Ascensus. Carrie serves as an instructor for many Ascensus training events, and performs compliance reviews of financial organizations’ IRA departments, which include assessments of internal controls and procedures and compliance reviews of IRA documentation, tax reporting, and tax withholding. Carrie also is one of the primary drafters of IRA, HSA, Coverdell ESA, and SEP and SIMPLE IRA plan forms and documents that Ascensus makes available to financial organizations. She holds the CISP, QKA, QPA, and TGPC designations.

Chad Neumann

Senior ERISA Analyst

Chad Neumann is a Senior ERISA Analyst at Ascensus. Chad conducts IRA training programs nationwide. His expertise includes Traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell ESAs, HSAs, and SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans. He lends his expertise to the distance learning curriculums, including IRA Institute Online, webinars, and IRA Essentials OnDemand. Chad also leads exam development and review of the Certified IRA Specialist (CIS), Certified IRA Professional (CIP), and Certified Health Savings Professional (CHSP) programs. Chad holds the CIS, CIP, CISP, CPTD, and CHSP designations. He also is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and has been designated a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD).

Debbie Shipman

Senior Analyst

Debbie Shipman is an ERISA Analyst at Ascensus. Debbie conducts IRA training programs nationwide. Her expertise includes Traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell ESAs, HSAs, and SEP plans. Debbie leads the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of Ascensus' IRA and HSA workshops, Ascend curriculums, webinars, IRA and HSA University, and IRA Essentials OnDemand. She holds the CIS, CIP, and CISP designations. Debbie also is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD).

Jeff Aga

ERISA Consultant

Jeff is a Senior ERISA Consultant. Jeff assists financial organizations with technical questions through our 800 Consulting service and he also instructs webinars and training programs nationwide. Jeff has extensive technical and compliance expertise on IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, health savings accounts, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. He holds the CPC, QKA, QPA, and CISP designations.

Mary Hopkins

Senior ERISA Analyst

Mary Hopkins is a Senior ERISA Analyst at Ascensus. Mary answers inquiries from financial organizations on compliance issues through our 800 Consulting service. She also instructs webinars and seminars on IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, health savings accounts, and SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans; and contributes to technical reviews of our forms, documents, and publications. Mary holds the CIP, CISP, and CHSP designations.

Stacy Torkelson

ERISA Manager

Stacy Torkelson is a Manager with the ERISA department at Ascensus. Stacy's expertise includes Traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell ESAs, HSAs, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. Stacy holds a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a postgraduate diploma from the College of Law in London. She joined Ascensus in 2015. Stacy holds the CISP designation and sits on the CISP Advisory Board. She also holds the Self-Directed Industry Professional (SDIP), CHSP, QKA, and Certified Flexible Compensation Instructor (CFCI) designations.

Tammy Schultz

ERISA Consultant

Tammy is a Senior ERISA Consultant at Ascensus. Tammy assists clients with technical compliance questions through our 800 Consulting service. She also serves as an instructor for many Ascensus training and education events. Tammy’s expertise includes IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, health savings accounts, and various employer-sponsored retirement plans. She also plays an active role with ERISA Support Services and is involved with technical reviews and updates to forms, documents, and publications. Tammy holds the QKA, QPA, and CISP designations.