In the Media: Insights from Jay Gepfert
Trusted Expert. Independent Voice. Fiduciary-Focused.
Jay Gepfert, Founding Partner of Culpepper RFP, is a nationally recognized expert in fiduciary process, retirement and health benefit plan oversight, and vendor evaluation strategy. With decades of experience across every side of the fiduciary table—from investment advisor and recordkeeper to plan sponsor and independent evaluator—Jay brings unmatched insight into the evolving challenges facing plan sponsors, ERISA counsel, and corporate boards.
He is frequently featured in industry publications, invited to speak at legal and benefits conferences, and trusted by ERISA attorneys to provide clarity where compliance, cost, and risk intersect. Below, explore a selection of Jay’s recent podcast appearances, media mentions, webinars and speaking engagements.
featured in…
-
Advance thinking and attention to detail help position plans for greatness.
-
Plan sponsors prepare and plan for 2024.
https://www.plansponsor.com/magazine/whats-around-the-corner/
-
Principal, T. Rowe Price, Vanguard and Ascensus note ongoing system issues due to a cybersecurity problem at a US-based division of Infosys.
-
The clearinghouse alerted more than 10,000 people that private information, including IRA account data, may have been stolen.
https://www.plansponsor.com/participant-data-breach-hits-retirement-clearinghouse/
-
What’s Driving Heightened Plan Adviser RFPs?
HR stability, along with advisory sector instability, are some of the reasons more plan sponsors are putting out adviser requests for proposal.https://www.planadviser.com/exclusives/keys-guarding-retirement-plan-data-human-error/
-
Keys to Guarding Retirement Plan Data Against Human Error
Mistakes managing employer-sponsored plan data often expose vulnerabilities that can be exploited by bad actors.
https://www.planadviser.com/exclusives/keys-guarding-retirement-plan-data-human-error/
-
The ruling shows the increased need to protect client data, as recordkeepers and others could face such fines due to a participant data breach.
-
HR stability, along with advisory sector instability, are some of the reasons more plan sponsors are putting out adviser requests for proposal.I
https://www.planadviser.com/whats-driving-heightened-plan-adviser-rfps/
-
T. Rowe Price, Vanguard, Principal, and Ascensus note ongoing system issues due to cybersecurity problem at US-based division of Infosys.
-
Experts provide insight into an insurance market predicted to grow from $6 billion to $33 billion in coming years.
https://www.planadviser.com/exclusives/advisers-recommend-cybersecurity-insurance/
-
Experts provide insight into an insurance market predicted to grow from $6 billion to $33 billion in coming years.
https://www.planadviser.com/exclusives/advisers-recommend-cybersecurity-insurance/
-
Firm alerts more than 10,000 people to watch out for identify theft after Social Security and IRA numbers may have been exposed.
https://www.planadviser.com/retirement-clearinghouse-issues-alert-ira-data-breach/
-
Requests for proposal from plan sponsors for DC advisory services are on the uptick, according to industry players.
https://www.planadviser.com/retirement-advisers-see-increased-scrutiny-fees-services/
-
As advisers seek more participant personalization from retirement recordkeepers, they also need to ramp up their focus on cybersecurity from providers, according to industry participants.
https://www.planadviser.com/personalization-push-heightens-need-advisers-vet-cybersecurity/
-
Essential to public sector employees, a pension fund is a forgotten benefit for most workers in the private sector.
-
As more and more investment consultants crowd into the discretionary consulting space, perhaps spurred by a fear of missing out (FOMO) mentality, some within the industry say the potential cost of not following the herd could be a problem.
https://www.ai-cio.com/news/the-fomo-element-of-discretionary-consulting/
-
An interview with
Content Strategist and Creator for Financial Services | Podcast Host at The Retirement Space Podcast
-
In this powerful episode, Donovan Ryckis sits down with Jay Gepfert, President of The Culpepper Group, to unpack what employers don't know—and what it’s costing them. With decades of experience on both the retirement and healthcare side of the fiduciary table, Jay brings the receipts on how hidden broker compensation, lack of transparency, and outdated fee structures are draining company resources and exposing employers to serious risk.
See the links below for the full episode
-
Jay delivered this talk to the Houston chapter of ERIC in November 2025.
Listen Up
*
Listen Up *
"Within five years of calling us charlatans, that hospital system was sued for multiple millions of dollars by their participants... You can go from charlatan to change agent fast."
Is history about to repeat itself in the health benefits world?
My guest this week is Jay Gepfert, Managing Partner of Culpepper RFP.
Jay spent his corporate career on the retirement and 401(k) side of the industry, where he witnessed a massive fiduciary paradigm shift 15 years ago. Driven by regulatory changes and a wave of aggressive class-action lawsuits, traditional retirement "brokers" were forced to stop taking undisclosed kickbacks, disclose 100% of their compensation, and legally sign on as fiduciaries for their clients.
Now, Jay warns that a “tsunami” is hitting the health insurance space. With major lawsuits filed at the end of 2025 targeting plan sponsors and major brokers over voluntary benefits and PBM conflicts, employers can no longer hide behind the "we've always done it this way" excuse.
In this episode, we break down exactly what it means for a benefits consultant to legally act as a fiduciary, how hidden compensation and broker overrides create toxic conflicts of interest, and how Jay's firm helps employers run rigorous, process-driven RFPs to audit their vendors and protect themselves from massive legal liabilities.
If you are a CFO, HR leader, or benefits consultant trying to navigate the new era of ERISA compliance and Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) enforcement, this episode is a stark wake-up call.
@SelfFunded on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded
Listen/watch on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02
Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/
Listen Up
*
Listen Up *
The business of benefits podcast: Episode 57, Exposing the flaws in Employer’s healthcare: What brokers won’t tell you with Jay Gepfert
In this powerful episode, Donovan Ryckis sits down with Jay Gepfert, President of The Culpepper RFP, to unpack what employers don't know—and what it’s costing them. With decades of experience on both the retirement and healthcare side of the fiduciary table, Jay brings the receipts on how hidden broker compensation, lack of transparency, and outdated fee structures are draining company resources and exposing employers to serious risk.
You’ll hear:
Why healthcare benefits need the same due diligence as retirement plans
How compensation models drive broker behavior—and what to demand instead
A real case study showing 46% savings in broker fees
Why the current healthcare system is broken—and how litigation and legislation are forcing change
What you need to start doing now to protect your plan, your budget, and your people
If you're an HR leader, CFO, or CEO who’s ready to ask the tough questions and rethink your benefits strategy—this episode is your playbook.
Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments & don’t forget to subscribe for more no-BS insights.
Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.
Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
Speaking in 2026
“Self Funded With Spencer shares inspiring conversations with the most successful influential people in healthcare-company founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, doctors, sales leaders, and more to help educate and inspire YOU to become the best version of yourself.”
Jay joined Spencer in February on the podcast. Stay tuned for drop dates.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1610148527
Jay will be sharing a similar talk that he delivered to the Houston chapter of ERIC in November 2025, “Parallel Paths: Retirement Plan Disruption Foreshadows the Future of Health Benefit Plans” to the NYC chapter of WEB on April 8,2026
Register Here: https://www.webnetwork.org/events/nyc-emerging-trends-in-healthcare/register
Jay is available as a podcast guest or speaker at your event, professional organization or internal meetings, both in person and virtually
In February 2026, Jay delivered his “Parallel Paths: Retirement Plan Disruption Foreshadows the Future of Health Benefit Plans” to the Houston Compensation and Benefits professional organization in Houston.