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Retirement specialist vs benefits assistant

The differences between retirement specialists and benefits assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a retirement specialist and a benefits assistant. Additionally, a retirement specialist has an average salary of $40,474, which is higher than the $39,850 average annual salary of a benefits assistant.

The top three skills for a retirement specialist include life insurance, HR and recordkeeping. The most important skills for a benefits assistant are human resources, data entry, and cobra.

Retirement specialist vs benefits assistant overview

Retirement SpecialistBenefits Assistant
Yearly salary$40,474$39,850
Hourly rate$19.46$19.16
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs24,91625,337
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a retirement specialist do?

A retirement specialist is responsible for designing and implementing retirement packages such as benefits, savings, profit sharing, and pensions to the employees of a certain company. They work together with the human resource department to ensure that all retirees can access their benefits and pensions. Their duties and responsibilities include explaining the different retirement packages to the potential beneficiaries and working with HR to resolve any issues.

What does a benefits assistant do?

Typically working in a human resources department, a benefits assistant is in charge of performing clerical support tasks for an efficient workflow. They primarily communicate with employees to answer inquiries regarding benefits and compensation programs, assist in processing documents, and resolve issues and concerns. Their responsibilities also include conducting research and analysis, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, organizing documents, and maintaining records. Above all, it is essential to carry out duties while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Retirement specialist vs benefits assistant salary

Retirement specialists and benefits assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Retirement SpecialistBenefits Assistant
Average salary$40,474$39,850
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $56,000Between $31,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyWashington
Best paying companyAmgenIrving Isd
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between retirement specialist and benefits assistant education

There are a few differences between a retirement specialist and a benefits assistant in terms of educational background:

Retirement SpecialistBenefits Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Retirement specialist vs benefits assistant demographics

Here are the differences between retirement specialists' and benefits assistants' demographics:

Retirement SpecialistBenefits Assistant
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 52.0% Female, 48.0%Male, 15.7% Female, 84.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.9% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between retirement specialist and benefits assistant duties and responsibilities

Retirement specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and resolve participant escalations and requests from DOL.
  • Lead major initiatives in 3concurrent roles successfully manage affluent personal and business portfolio to proactively cross-sell additional products and services.
  • Review social security, Medicare, annuities and tax relate questions.
  • Process recalculations and payroll for retirees resuming their retirement benefits.
  • Utilize ASC and SRT recordkeeping systems.
  • Educate participants, clients and third party facilitators on various ERISA regulations and procedures.
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Benefits assistant example responsibilities.

  • Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
  • Audit HIPAA and outgoing correspondence.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality, observing HIPAA and other policies and guidelines.
  • Post patient payments, verify insurance coverage for new and Medicaid patients.
  • Provide information, education and assistance to clients regarding Medicare and Medicaid by phone and in person.
  • Audit, correct and record all attendance records, vacation records, vacation carryover and vacation/sick accruals.
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Retirement specialist vs benefits assistant skills

Common retirement specialist skills
  • Life Insurance, 11%
  • HR, 10%
  • Recordkeeping, 8%
  • Payroll, 8%
  • Medicare, 7%
  • Financial Products, 6%
Common benefits assistant skills
  • Human Resources, 10%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Cobra, 7%
  • Health Insurance, 7%
  • Open Enrollment, 6%
  • HRIS, 5%

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