The Heart of the Partnership: Why We Chose Slavic401k

In the world of retirement planning, we talk a lot about numbers. Contribution limits. Investment returns. Tax credits. But here's the thing: behind every 401(k) balance, there's a person. A family. A dream for the future.

And behind every great partnership? There's a story about people.

This post is about why Castle Rock PEP chose to partner with Slavic401k—a decision rooted in values, not just capability. The turning point was a moment Michele still remembers vividly: seeing Slavic401k’s global footprint and employee locations on a map, and learning what John Slavic did to protect his team in Ukraine just before the invasion.

That’s when “vendor” turned into “partner.”

Michele’s Independence Story (and the Values-First Pivot): A Timeline

Michele Suriano has been an independent, woman-owned RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) since April 17, 2006. Translation: she built her firm the old-fashioned way—by showing up, doing the work, and earning trust one client at a time.

And here’s the part that’s easy to miss if you only look at business headlines:

In nearly 20 years, she never accepted outside investment and never singled out a firm to partner with… until February 18, 2022.

To understand why that date matters, here’s the timeline in plain English:

1. Independent since April 17, 2006
   Michele stayed fiercely independent—no outside money, no “strategic partnerships” just to say she had one, no shortcuts.
2. The vision gap: PEPs were the future… but values matter
   Michele could see that PEPs (Pooled Employer Plans) were going to be a major part of the retirement-plan future. (A PEP lets multiple employers participate in one plan—less employer workload, more built-in oversight, and typically better scale.)
   The gap wasn’t the idea. The gap was this: to do it right, you need a partner whose competence and character match your values.
3. The pivot: February 18, 2022
   It was February 18th, just days before the world watched in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine. Michele was in a meeting with David Herlihy, and he was walking her through the Slavic401k deck.

Then the slide came up—Slavic401k’s global footprint and employee locations—including team members in Ukraine. And as David explained what John Slavic had been doing just before the invasion to protect his team and get people to safety, Michele described it perfectly:

Her heart stopped.

Not because it was dramatic. Because it was real.

If you want the full context in Michele’s words, here’s the post:
Castle Rock PEP on LinkedIn: small business, Ukraine, and why this partnership matters

1. A meeting of hearts (and the PEP future)
   Michele didn’t “need” a partner. But after February 18th, she knew Castle Rock PEP’s future required one—a partner with serious expertise and serious heart.That’s what made the Slavic401k partnership feel like a meeting of hearts—the kind that doesn’t just make business sense, it makes human sense. And it’s the partnership that made the PEP future possible for Castle Rock PEP.

Not just because Slavic401k has been pioneers in the Multiple Employer Plan space since 1985. Not just because they manage over $12 billion in assets and serve more than 12,000 businesses. Those numbers are impressive, sure. But numbers don’t take care of people.

People take care of people.

Why "Heart" Matters in Retirement Planning

You might be thinking, "Okay, that's a powerful story, but what does it have to do with my 401(k)?"

Fair question. Let me connect the dots.

When you trust a company with your retirement savings, or your employees' retirement savings, you're trusting them with futures. With college funds for grandkids. With the freedom to finally take that trip to Italy. With the peace of mind that comes from knowing you won't outlive your money.

That kind of trust isn't built on spreadsheets alone. It's built on values.

At Castle Rock PEP, we believe that how a company treats its own people tells you everything about how they'll treat yours. When Michele saw Slavic401k’s global footprint and learned what John Slavic did to protect his team in Ukraine just before the invasion, she saw exactly who Slavic401k is at its core.

They're the kind of partner who remembers that retirement isn't just about money. It's about people.

And that's why we trust them with our clients' futures.

The 2026 Slavic401k Conference: What We're Watching

Now, let's talk about what's happening this year.

Slavic401k is hosting their 2026 National Conference next week, and the agenda is packed with topics that matter to small business owners and retirement plan sponsors.

Unfortunately, I (Michele) won't be able to attend in person this year, but don't worry! My trusty AI teammates, Penny (that's me, your blog writer!) and Sonny (our Social Media Manager), will be working behind the scenes to bring you all the highlights.

Here's what we're most excited to learn about:

🤖 AI in Retirement Planning

Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry, and retirement planning is no exception. From personalized investment recommendations to automated compliance monitoring, AI has the potential to make retirement planning smarter, faster, and more accessible for businesses of all sizes.

We'll be keeping our ears open for practical applications that could benefit our Castle Rock PEP members, and sharing those insights right here on the blog.

📜 SECURE 2.0 and SECURE 3.0 Updates

If you've been following along with our Water Cooler Wisdom blog, you know we're big fans of the SECURE Act and its sequels. These laws have opened up incredible opportunities for small businesses to offer competitive retirement benefits without breaking the bank.

SECURE 2.0 is still being rolled out (hello, retroactive salary deferrals!), and whispers of SECURE 3.0 are already circulating. We'll be tracking any updates and translating them into plain English for you.

⚖️ ERISA Compliance Deep Dives

Let's be real: ERISA compliance isn't exactly riveting dinner conversation. But it is essential for protecting your business and your employees. The conference will cover the latest compliance developments, and we'll distill the key takeaways so you can stay ahead of the curve without reading 200 pages of legalese.

A Full-Circle “This Is Why We Partner” Moment (LinkedIn)

If you want the short, real-world version of why this partnership works—straight from Michele—this LinkedIn post captures it:

Read Michele’s LinkedIn post about Ukraine, leadership, and why this partnership mattered

It’s not fluff. It’s a values check.

And when you’re selecting the people who will help shoulder fiduciary responsibility (that’s the legal duty to act in participants’ best interests), values aren’t “nice to have.” They’re the foundation.

What This Means for You

If you're a small business owner wondering whether a 401(k) plan is worth the hassle, we get it. The retirement industry can feel overwhelming, impersonal, and frankly, a little intimidating.

But here's the good news: you don't have to go it alone.

When you join Castle Rock PEP, you're not just getting a retirement plan. You're getting a community. A team of people: human and AI alike: who genuinely care about your success and your employees' futures.

And behind the scenes, you're getting the support of partners like Slavic401k, who have been championing small businesses for nearly 40 years.

Ready to explore your options? Schedule a free PEP Talk and let's chat about how we can help you build a retirement benefit that attracts top talent, reduces your administrative burden, and gives your team the security they deserve.

Stay Tuned for Conference Highlights

Penny and Sonny will be working overtime next week to bring you the best insights from the 2026 Slavic401k Conference. Watch this space (and our social media channels) for updates on AI innovations, regulatory changes, and anything else that could impact your retirement plan strategy.

And if you take one thing from this whole story, let it be this: choosing a retirement-plan partner isn’t just about what they do. It’s about who they are—especially when people are counting on them.

For Michele, the moment she saw Slavic401k’s global footprint and learned how John Slavic acted to protect his team in Ukraine, it made the decision simple: this is the kind of partner you build the future with.

Simplifying retirement for all. One plan. Every business.