--- title: Water Cooler Wisdom | Michele Suriano (3) description: "Michele Suriano, founded the firm in 2006. \nHer prior career included serving plan sponsors as a retirement plan adviser for Ceridian (2002-2006) and retail investors with T. Rowe Price, Inc. (1999-2002). From 1994 to 1999 she held several positions in the mortgage industry including Executive Branch Manager for Transamerica Financial Services, Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO and Advanta Finance, Inc. in Vienna, VA. \n \nQualifications and Designations:\nPassed the following FINRA examinations: Series 6, 7, 63, 66, and CO insurance exams for life, health and variable annuities. \n• Tax-Exempt & Governmental Plan Consultant \n• Qualified Plan Financial Consultant \n• Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ \n• Global Fiduciary Strategist from Thunderbird \n• B.S. Degree in Applied Economics from Hofstra University \n• Leadership Development Institute from the Navigators \n• Adviser to two finalists for PLANSPONSOR of the Year (2013 and 2017 \n• Quoted in several industry trade publications \n \nVolunteer Work:\nYoga instructor at https://peaceoutyoga.com/ \nInvestment Committee member for Disability Law Colorado Board of Directors for DLC (2011 – 2017)\nCrew Leader for Keepers of the Rock, in partnership with the Town’s Teen Court program (2005 – 2018)\nBoard of Directors, Denver chapter of the Western Pension & Benefit Council (2007- 2013) (3)" image: https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/Blog%20Picture.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/author/michele-suriano/page/3#main-content) ![Castle Rock Logo](https://castlerockpep.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Castle%20Rock%20Logo%202026-1.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Castle%20Rock%20Logo%202026-1.png) - [Home](https://castlerockpep.com/) - [About Us](https://castlerockpep.com/about) Show submenu for About Us - [Community Page](https://castlerockpep.com/community) - [Blog](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom) - [Contact Us](https://castlerockpep.com/contact-us) - [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/pooled-employer-plan-1) Show submenu for Pooled Employer Plan - [Investment Options](https://castlerockpep.com/investments) - [Pricing](https://castlerockpep.com/pricing-new) - [Plan Design Choices](https://castlerockpep.com/plandesigns) - [Who We Serve](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve) Show submenu for Who We Serve - [Colorado Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/colorado-businesses) - [Women-Owned Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/women-owned-businesses) - [Fiduciary Tool Belt](https://castlerockpep.com/-fiduciary-tool-belt) Show submenu for Fiduciary Tool Belt - [ERISA Plan Governance](https://castlerockpep.com/erisa-plan-governance) - [ERISA Fiduciary Training](https://castlerockpep.com/fiduciary-training) - [Regulators and Audits](https://castlerockpep.com/regulators-and-audits) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://castlerockpep.com/) - [About Us](https://castlerockpep.com/about) Show submenu for About Us - [Community Page](https://castlerockpep.com/community) - [Blog](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom) - [Contact Us](https://castlerockpep.com/contact-us) - [Pooled Employer Plan](https://castlerockpep.com/pooled-employer-plan-1) Show submenu for Pooled Employer Plan - [Investment Options](https://castlerockpep.com/investments) - [Pricing](https://castlerockpep.com/pricing-new) - [Plan Design Choices](https://castlerockpep.com/plandesigns) - [Who We Serve](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve) Show submenu for Who We Serve - [Colorado Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/colorado-businesses) - [Women-Owned Businesses](https://castlerockpep.com/who-we-serve/women-owned-businesses) - [Fiduciary Tool Belt](https://castlerockpep.com/-fiduciary-tool-belt) Show submenu for Fiduciary Tool Belt - [ERISA Plan Governance](https://castlerockpep.com/erisa-plan-governance) - [ERISA Fiduciary Training](https://castlerockpep.com/fiduciary-training) - [Regulators and Audits](https://castlerockpep.com/regulators-and-audits) - [Join the PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/join-castle-rock-pep) [Join the PEP](https://castlerockpep.com/join-castle-rock-pep) [![](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/undefined.png)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/404c-the-c-suites-shield-against-retirement-plan-liability) ## [404(c): The C-Suite’s Shield Against Retirement Plan Liability](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/404c-the-c-suites-shield-against-retirement-plan-liability) Aug 28, 2025, 10:54:56 AM If you’re a CFO/CEO/COO/C--, you know that every line item comes with risk. When it comes to your co... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/404c-the-c-suites-shield-against-retirement-plan-liability) [![Castle Rock Logo](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/Castle%20Rock%20PEP%20Guide%20July%202025_Page_01.jpg)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) ## [Small Plans, Big Challenges...](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) Jul 23, 2025, 10:11:27 AM Some things never change. This post is a flashback to 2011 when I was a panelist at the PLANSPONSOR ... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/small-plans-big-challenges) [![Employee meeting in conference room](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20features%20a%20modern%20office%20setting%20with%20a%20diverse%20group%20of%20professionals%20engaged%20in%20a%20collaborative%20meeting%20around%20a%20sleek%20conference%20table.jpeg)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/are-you-an-hce-and-why-would-you-care) ## [Are You an HCE and Why Would You Care?](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/are-you-an-hce-and-why-would-you-care) Jul 9, 2025, 2:45:07 PM Who qualifies as a Highly Compensated Employee (HCE)? [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/are-you-an-hce-and-why-would-you-care) [![Castle Rock Logo](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/CRIC_logo-emailsignature%20tiny.png)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-is-a-pooled-employer-plan) ## [What is a Pooled Employer Plan?](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-is-a-pooled-employer-plan) Jun 20, 2025, 2:21:48 PM A Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) is a 401(k) solution designed to bring together companies of all sizes—... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-is-a-pooled-employer-plan) [![Picture of Michele Suriano, Founder of Castle Rock Investment Company](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/Cover.jpg)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/so-much-for-trying-to-tie-a-bow-on-q1) ## [So Much for Trying to Tie a Bow on Q1](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/so-much-for-trying-to-tie-a-bow-on-q1) Apr 23, 2025, 5:23:42 PM It's "Hump" day and too much has happened since I tried to tie a bow on first quarter's Water Cooler... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/so-much-for-trying-to-tie-a-bow-on-q1) [![Castle Rock Logo](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/CRIC-logo_main.jpg)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-does-a-safe-harbor-have-to-do-with-a-401k) ## [What does a safe harbor have to do with a 401(k)?](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-does-a-safe-harbor-have-to-do-with-a-401k) Nov 21, 2024, 3:32:19 PM In the retirement industry, we throw around several vernaculars that are foreign to the normal Ameri... [Read more](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/what-does-a-safe-harbor-have-to-do-with-a-401k) [![Castle Rock Investment Company](https://castlerockpep.com/hubfs/CRIC_logo-socialmedia-1.jpg)](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/avoid-penalties-understand-state-mandated-auto-ira-retirement-plans) ## [Avoid Penalties: Understand State-Mandated Auto-IRA Retirement Plans](https://castlerockpep.com/water-cooler-wisdom/avoid-penalties-understand-state-mandated-auto-ira-retirement-plans) Sep 22, 2024, 12:01:42 PM Do you live in an auto-IRA program state? As of June 30, 2024, 17 states established auto-IRA progra... 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