Leslie Foster started her career in financial services upon graduating from Appalachian State University with a degree in chemistry. What was originally intended to be a part-time position while she searched for a more permanent role in her area of study soon became a full-time job. Three decades later, Leslie is the owner of Compensations Systems, Inc., a third-party administrator that assists financial advisors, brokers and employers with vendor selection, administration and compliance of retirement plans.
A large part of Leslie's role is helping advisors with plan design and documentation. She then works with employers to process contributions, as well as loans, hardships, and distributions. At the end of the year, its time for compliance testing and preparing tax returns for the various retirement plans. “There are many moving parts to what we do,” says Leslie. “We need to keep up with changes in legislation and regulations, in order to make sure that our clients are always up to date and in compliance with the rules.”
Leslie stays current in her field of expertise through continuing education. She is pursuing the Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) and Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) credentials. These credentials are designed for retirement plan professionals who perform the technical and administrative functions of qualified plan administration.
While she spends a considerable amount of time working on her business, Leslie enjoys traveling for pleasure as much as her schedule permits. She is also an avid reader.
Leslie and her husband, Chris, reside in Greensboro, North Carolina.