Jim Kais is Head of Group Retirement for Equitable and a member of the Operating Committee. He is responsible for the strategy, product portfolio, client experience and financial results for the company’s tax exempt 403(b), 457 and small business 401(k) markets. 

Mr. Kais has nearly three decades of experience working with plan sponsors across various retirement plan markets and has a strong track record of transforming and growing businesses. In 2022, he was recognized on 401(k) Wire’s “2022 100 Most Influential People” industry list and has testified before Congress on three separate occasions as a policy and subject matter expert on pooled retirement plans (PEPs), fiduciary regulations and state-run retirement plans. He currently serves on the advisory board for the Spark Institute and is on the Retirement Plans Committee of the American Council of Life Insurers. 

Prior to Equitable, Mr. Kais was Head of Retirement Plans for Ameritas. He also worked at Transamerica for more than a decade, where he held several leadership positions, including Senior Vice President for the company’s Retirement practice. Prior to Transamerica, he held various roles at ADP TotalSource, Prudential and Merrill Lynch. 

Mr. Kais earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College and also holds FINRA Series 6, 63 and 26 securities registrations.