Did you ever say, “I want to be a benefits specialist or retirement plans advisor when I grow up?”

Probably not. Yet these fast-growing, often overlooked careers have become deeply rewarding paths for many people in the benefits industry.

At the center of it all are employee benefits professionals, the people who design, manage, communicate and protect the benefits that support employees’ financial, physical and emotional well-being.

It’s work that touches everyone.

How People End Up in Benefits

Most people working in employee benefits never planned to end up there. They came from backgrounds such as human resources, finance, law, actuarial science, risk management and data analytics. Others arrived from unrelated fields like classics studies, music or the construction trades. Few started with specialized education in benefits. Instead, they learned on the job and eventually realized something important: This work matters.

The hosts of the International Foundation’s podcast, Talking Benefits, recently asked members of the Foundation’s Corporate Board to share stories of how they landed in employee benefits. The following are a few highlights.

“Like many people, I fell into benefits,” said Corporate Board Chair Kristine Karnath, group president of global total rewards at Moog. “I have a finance degree but didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do with it. During my job searching, a regional bank invited me to interview with its benefits team and offered me a role focused on 401(k) plans. I accepted—then immediately looked up what a 401(k) was.”

Nicole Cooper, CEBS, joked that she got her start in benefits because she can say the alphabet backward. Originally hired as a file clerk for a benefits administration firm, she later advanced to an associate role supporting retirement plan administrators and is now a senior retirement compliance analyst with SSA Marine.

“I quickly realized that my experience organizing the card catalog at my college library was surprisingly transferable,” Cooper said. “The attention translated well to reviewing financial statements, reconciling financials and helping calculate pension payments. My math degree also gave me a strong foundation for the analytical side of the work,” Cooper said.

Similarly, after graduating with a degree in mathematics and exploring his options, Ron Krupa, CEBS, a strategic benefits consultant with WTW, answered a newspaper ad for a math-related position, which launched his career in benefits.

“My first role involved reviewing retirement and benefit calculations on annual statements,” Krupa said. “Since then, I’ve held a wide range of roles across the field, including global benefits director, positions with a carrier, work on retiree plans and ACA reporting, and now a focus on benefits strategy.”

A Field Full of Options

One aspect of the employee benefits field that has appealed to Krupa is its variety. “There isn’t just one career path,” he said. “Every role I’ve had has been different even though they were all tied to the same industry.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, many are projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034. Here are a few roles.

• Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk, uncertainty and loss.
• Benefits specialists plan and oversee an organization’s benefits programs.
• Compliance attorneys ensure benefit plans meet complex regulatory requirements.
• Data analytics specialists study health care usage data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Directors of total rewards oversee the organization’s full compensation and benefits package.
• Financial advisors help individuals plan for their financial futures.
• Global benefits analysts harmonize benefits across multinational organizations.

Many Foundation members come from entirely different professions, including acting, construction or other fields. Some serve as trustees of health and welfare or retirement funds, helping oversee benefit plans that support their peers and their families.

Different backgrounds. Different skills. One shared purpose: helping people access the benefits and the resources they need.

Is This Path for You?

One of the greatest strengths of the benefits field, according to Karnath, is its flexibility. Over the course of her career, she has seen professionals from a wide range of backgrounds find rewarding opportunities in the industry.

“You might focus on analytics, communication, customer service or strategy and carve out a niche that fits your strengths. It’s not limited to one type of professional,” she said.

Karnath emphasized that although developing multiple skills can help you grow, it’s also possible to build a successful career by leaning into a particular strength and refining it over time.

Cooper found that her neurodivergence contributed to her ability to hyper-focus on detailed work for long periods and has a strong need to follow rules—an ideal combination in a compliance-focused field.

“I love helping employees prepare for retirement,” Cooper said. “I may not directly impact a company’s performance by selling more widgets, but if I can help employees learn how to maximize the benefits available to them and retire when they want, then I feel like I’ve made a meaningful difference in that person’s life.”

Visit www.ifebp.org/podcast to hear these stories and more.