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A Journey of Alignment, Advocacy, and Employee Support

Annette Emrich-Starry has spent her career at the intersection of people, benefits, and workplace progress, turning everyday HR responsibilities into lasting impact for employees and their families. Today, as a Service Specialist at Align, her story shows how one person’s commitment to clarity, education, and empathy can transform the way employees experience their retirement plan and their workplace.

Where It Started: HR, Payroll, and 401(k) From the Ground Up

Annette began in a one-person HR department for a Lancaster-based manufacturer, managing full-cycle HR, payroll, and 401(k) administration. Her responsibilities stretched from salaried staff to production workers, many of whom spoke only Spanish, making clear communication and genuine support essential. With limited tools, she focused on making sure employees understood their benefits as much as possible, often through paper packets and one-way communication.

Even then, Annette’s commitment to people shaped how she approached her role: benefits were never just transactions; they were part of how employees felt seen, supported, and valued at work.

A New Way of Thinking About Retirement Plans

In the early 2000s, a seminar introduced Annette to a three-part retirement plan model: Recordkeeper + Third Party Administrator + Advisor. This structure brought together operational expertise, compliance oversight, and hands-on employee guidance in a way she had long wished existed for her teams.

For Annette, it was a turning point. She realized that employees deserved more than packets of paper; they deserved real conversations about their futures, their options, and how to make confident decisions. This new model showed her that retirement plans could be built around understanding, trust, and education—not just forms and deadlines.

Turning Insight into Action: Choosing the Right Partners

Annette didn’t stop at learning a new framework; she helped bring it to life. After evaluating partners and RFPs, she and her team selected advisors who could connect with every employee—executives, managers, administrative staff, and production workers alike. The decision went beyond compliance or investment menus; it centered on communication, relatability, and long-term outcomes like retirement readiness.

With the right partners in place, participation in the 401(k)-plan increased, and employees gained regular access to advisors who could educate, answer questions, and help manage emotions during volatile markets. Group education and one-on-one support improved participation, reduced costs, and deepened trust between employees and the retirement plan. As Annette reflects, “We finally had conversations employees could trust.

Building an Experience, Step by Step

Over time, each stage of Annette’s career added clarity to what mattered most: people, purpose, and alignment. She supported a major company rebrand, strengthened benefits education, and became a trusted resource for employees navigating enrollment, changes, and life events. She collaborated closely with leadership and plan partners to enhance plan structure, financial wellness, and the overall participant experience.

Behind every role, she saw a story worth telling—stories of patience, confidence, and the moments that quietly reshape a person’s path. Her work helped employees move from confusion to understanding, from hesitation to engagement, and from generic information to personalized guidance. ​

Finding Alignment at Align

A new organizational direction eventually opened the door to Annette’s next chapter. She joined Align, drawn to a place where values, purpose, and a passion for employee experience were not just spoken but shared throughout the firm. At Align, she found a role where her work and her values finally felt in equilibrium, giving her what she describes as “a certain peace that comes when your work and your values align.

Today, Annette is focused on delivering meaningful support, simplifying the workplace experience, and making sure those she serves never feel alone in their financial decisions. Her journey—from a one-person HR office to a purpose-driven role at Align—shows what is possible when experience, curiosity, and care for people guide every decision.

For employees and employers alike, Annette’s story is a reminder: with the right partners, clear education, and a focus on real conversations, retirement plans can do more than meet requirements—they can change lives.