Maryland GFOA: Pension Affinity Group - Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Maryland GFOA: Pension Affinity Group

The September meeting of our pension affinity group is planned for Wednesday, September 24, 2025 and is to be held via Zoom.

Death Audits: A Foundational Element of Responsible Plan Management 
Accurate death audit practices are fundamental to preserving the integrity of retirement systems and ensuring sound plan administration. This session will examine the mechanics of death audits, the importance of conducting them regularly and thoroughly, and the distinctions between algorithm-based approaches and more comprehensive validation methodologies. We will also briefly examine how missing participant outreach supports the maintenance of complete and accurate participant records. 

Speakers:

• Vincent Pelligrino, Vice-President, ABL Technologies LLC 
• Ryk Tierney, General Manager, Pensions, The Berwyn Group 

**MDGFOA Affinity Group Meetings are open to current members only.**

Speaker Information:

Vincent Pellegrino | Vice President – ABL Tech

Vincent is a distinguished professional in the longevity risk and life settlement market with an extensive track record in business development and strategic relations. Over his career, he has played a pivotal role in formulating market strategies and boosting operational and sales efficiencies across various prestigious financial institutions, including AIG, Credit Suisse, and Prudential Financial where he held executive leadership positions. His expertise encompasses managing asset portfolios linked to longevity products, negotiating substantial life insurance policy acquisitions, and implementing measures to ensure fund solvency and compliance. With over 25 years of experience, Vincent has held several key positions where he significantly contributed to the optimization of financial operations and the reduction of fraud. His profound understanding of market dynamics and his strategic foresight have positioned him as a respected figure in the financial sector. Vincent’s career is marked by a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the complexities associated with longevity markets. His contributions to the field have not only advanced the interests of the organizations he has been affiliated with but also helped shape best practices in the industry.

Ryk Tierney, CEBS | General Manager, Pensions - The Berwyn Group

Ryk Tierney is the General Manager of Pensions at The Berwyn Group, bringing decades of leadership experience in pension and benefit fund administration. He joined The Berwyn Group in early 2025 following a distinguished career managing complex retirement systems and multiemployer benefit plans.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Tierney served as Executive Director of the Educational Employees Supplementary Retirement System of Fairfax County (ERFC) in Virginia. His previous leadership roles include Executive Director positions at the National IAM Pension, Benefit Trust, and 401(k) Funds in Washington, DC, as well as the New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Benefit Funds, overseeing Pension, Welfare, Annuity, and Apprenticeship programs. Earlier in his career, Mr. Tierney was Vice President and Director of Accounts at Associated Administrators, LLC, a third-party administrator specializing in multiemployer plans. He also held the role of Local Union President with the International Chemical Workers Union Council (ICWUC), a division of the UFCW, and is a proud veteran of the U.S. Army.

Mr. Tierney has been a frequent presenter at national conferences hosted by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), where he has shared insights on compliance, governance, and strategic planning for pension and welfare plans. He has also served as an adjunct professor and internal instructor for CEBS courses, with a focus on retirement and health benefit plan administration. Mr. Tierney holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation, awarded jointly by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.