Fiduciary Governance Leadership
Fiduciary Wise operates as a structured fiduciary governance firm, not a traditional advisory practice.
We provide independent ERISA 402(a) Named Fiduciary services, fiduciary oversight, and retirement plan liability management through a defined governance framework supported by experienced professionals.
Our structure reflects the responsibilities we assume.
Partners
Donald K. Jones
Founder | Partner | Director of Fiduciary Governance
Donald K. Jones founded Fiduciary Wise to bring disciplined fiduciary structure to retirement plan governance. With more than 40 years in the retirement and financial services industry, he focuses on ERISA fiduciary designation, oversight architecture, and risk transfer strategy.
Don serves on the Steering Group for the Committee for the Fiduciary Standard and previously held senior leadership roles, including National Sales Manager for a Fortune 500 401(k) provider. His work centers on ensuring fiduciary responsibility is properly assigned, documented, and defensible.
Thomas R. Bick, QPA, ERPA, RF, APA, APR
Partner | Director of Fiduciary Compliance
Thomas Bick leads fiduciary compliance strategy and regulatory oversight. With more than 35 years of experience, Tom brings deep technical expertise in plan administration, IRS procedure, and ERISA compliance.
He is a Registered Fiduciary with DALBAR® and is enrolled to practice before the IRS. Tom previously served as Chief Operations Officer of a CEFEX-certified TPA firm for 18 years and has worked with national financial and accounting firms advising qualified retirement plans. His focus is operational integrity and defensible compliance execution.
Trevor L. Merrill, AIFA®
Partner | Chief Operating Officer | Fiduciary Oversight
Trevor Merrill oversees firm operations and fiduciary process execution at Fiduciary Wise. Since 2013, he has worked extensively with qualified retirement plans, focusing on compliance oversight, monitoring procedures, and governance implementation.
Trevor is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®). He works closely with plan sponsors, advisors, and service providers to ensure fiduciary responsibilities are carried out with clarity and structure.
Marta Hurst, QKA
Partner | Retirement Plan Consultant
Marta Hurst advises plan sponsors and financial professionals on retirement plan structure, fiduciary outsourcing, and plan design strategy. With over 20 years of industry experience, she works at the intersection of plan governance and sponsor objectives.
Marta provides practical guidance on plan features, compliance considerations, and fiduciary delegation options. Her work supports employers seeking clarity in responsibility and efficiency in administration.
Michael P. Jones, AIF®
Partner | Chief Financial Officer
Michael P. Jones oversees financial strategy and internal fiduciary alignment at Fiduciary Wise. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Michael is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®). His focus includes financial oversight, fiduciary coordination, and supporting the firm’s governance standards across client engagements.
Fiduciary Advisory & Operations Team
Kathleen McBride, AIFA®, CEFEX Analyst
ERISA 402(a) Specialist
Kate works directly with clients on fiduciary governance and investment oversight. She has more than 40 years of experience in the investment industry and has evaluated fiduciary best practices for retirement plans, public pensions, nonprofits, and RIAs. Kate serves as Chair of The Committee for the Fiduciary Standard and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor to the ERISA Advisory Council in 2024.
Kristi Dalley
Retirement Plan Operations Specialist
Ext. 407
Kristi has been with Fiduciary Wise since 2018 and supports plan-level administration and transaction oversight. Her background includes TPA operations, with experience in distributions, loans, and participant transactions.
Jennifer Brown
Retirement Plan Operations Consultant
Jennifer supports plan implementation and ongoing retirement plan operations. She brings over ten years of experience in recordkeeping and TPA services, with a focus on transaction processing and administrative coordination.
Defined Fiduciary Roles
ERISA 402(a) Named Fiduciary
The Named Fiduciary bears ultimate responsibility for plan governance, oversight, and fiduciary compliance. Fiduciary Wise formally assumes this role when engaged, providing structured liability management and documented oversight.
ERISA 3(16) Plan Administrator
The 3(16) Plan Administrator is responsible for plan administration, regulatory filings, and operational compliance. Where structured appropriately, Fiduciary Wise supports or oversees these functions within defined delegation boundaries.
Fiduciary Oversight & Procedural Prudence
Fiduciary governance requires documentation of decision-making processes, service provider monitoring, and compliance oversight. Our framework ensures these responsibilities are structured, monitored, and recorded.
Most firms present a “team.” We present a fiduciary governance structure with defined authority, oversight, and delegation. That structure is what reduces retirement plan liability and creates a meaningfully different fiduciary environment.
“Fiduciary responsibility deserves more than informal oversight. Our approach is meaningfully different; structured, documented, and aligned with the highest standards under ERISA.“
Fiduciary Wise, LLC & Ferenczy Benefits Law Center LLP
Fiduciary Wise retains Ferenczy Benefits Law Center LLP, a nationally recognized employee benefits law firm, to provide independent ERISA counsel and regulatory guidance.
Their role includes:
- Reviewing fiduciary policies and procedures
- Advising on complex or unique ERISA matters
- Providing interpretive guidance on regulatory developments
- Supporting compliance alignment with federal fiduciary standards
This relationship strengthens our governance framework and reinforces confidence in our fiduciary oversight structure.