Instructors - 2026 Ascend Orlando

Barbara R. Van Zomeren, J.D. heads the ERISA Compliance Department and oversees all technical research and compliance activities for Ascensus. This includes the technical content of the IRA, HSA, and qualified retirement plan documents, forms, consulting, and education offerings that Ascensus makes available to financial organizations, financial professionals, employers, and states. Barb is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and retirement plan programs for attorneys, financial organizations, and trade associations. She is a member of the American and Minnesota Bar Associations and the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA). She is a member of the SPARK organization’s Government Relations Committee.

Brian Giles is the Director of Retirement Products and Solutions (RPS) Sales. RPS carries a 40-year history of providing premier products, expert consulting services, and total business solutions to financial organizations seeking to achieve and maintain compliance, capture market share in the IRA and health savings account industry, and benefit and retirement plans industry. Brian has 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, working in Retail banking as a Regional Manager and Market Director at JP Morgan and most recently, before joining Ascensus, as the Head of US Business Management for HSBC. Brian joined Ascensus in 2022 and is responsible for our Retirement Product Solutions Sales Directors and Representatives who work with 5,100 financial organizations who do business with Ascensus today. His team works with Banks, Credit Unions, Trust Organizations and other financial organizations in providing resources to support their IRA, HSA, SEP, SIMPLE and other retirement products in the retail space.

Carrie Horn is a Senior ERISA Consultant at Ascensus. Carrie serves as an instructor for many Ascensus training events, and performs compliance reviews of financial organizations’ IRA departments, which include assessments of internal controls and procedures and compliance reviews of IRA documentation, tax reporting, and tax withholding. Carrie also is one of the primary drafters of IRA, HSA, Coverdell ESA, and SEP and SIMPLE IRA plan forms and documents that Ascensus makes available to financial organizations. She holds the CISP, QKA, QPA, and TGPC designations.

Chad Neumann is a Senior ERISA Analyst at Ascensus. Chad conducts IRA training programs nationwide. His expertise includes Traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell ESAs, HSAs, and SEP and SIMPLE IRA plans. He lends his expertise to the distance learning curriculums, including IRA Institute Online, webinars, and IRA Essentials OnDemand. Chad also leads exam development and review of the Certified IRA Specialist (CIS), Certified IRA Professional (CIP), and Certified Health Savings Professional (CHSP) programs. Chad holds the CIS, CIP, CISP, CPTD, and CHSP designations. He also is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and has been designated a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD).

Agatha Schmidt is a Senior ERISA Analyst with the ERISA Services Department at Ascensus. In her position, Agatha consults with financial organizations on technical compliance matters through the Ascensus' 800 Consulting Service and serves as an instructor for webinars and various Ascensus-sponsored seminars nationwide. She lends technical expertise regarding IRAs, health savings accounts, Coverdell education savings accounts, and employer-sponsored plans. She also participates in technical reviews of documents, forms and publications, and performs compliance audits.

Stacy Torkelson is a Manager with the ERISA department at Ascensus. Stacy's expertise includes Traditional and Roth IRAs, Coverdell ESAs, HSAs, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. Stacy holds a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and a postgraduate diploma from the College of Law in London. She joined Ascensus in 2015. Stacy holds the CISP designation and sits on the CISP Advisory Board. She also holds the Self-Directed Industry Professional (SDIP), CHSP, QKA, and Certified Flexible Compensation Instructor (CFCI) designations.

Tammy is a Senior ERISA Consultant at Ascensus. Tammy assists clients with technical compliance questions through our 800 Consulting service. She also serves as an instructor for many Ascensus training and education events. Tammy’s expertise includes IRAs, Coverdell education savings accounts, health savings accounts, and various employer-sponsored retirement plans. She also plays an active role with ERISA Support Services and is involved with technical reviews and updates to forms, documents, and publications. Tammy holds the QKA, QPA, and CISP designations.