Why Our Team

Each member of our team has been fully vetted to ensure they have expertise and experience in maneuvering through the challenges federal employees face in achieving the retirement of their dreams. As your guide, a team member can walk you through each step of the process — eliminating the headaches of filling out government forms, analyzing options, and securing your retirement income.

You’ve given years of service, so now, how can we be of service to you?

 

Bill Merecki

William J. Merecki

Federal Benefits Consultant

Phone: (586) 907-2275
Fax: (248) 592-7876
Territory Location: Midwest

    William J. Merecki

    William Merecki is a Federal Benefits Consultant and founder of The Federal Benefits Group, providing federal employees information regarding their unique benefits. In Bill’s eight years working exclusively with federal and postal employees, there was often little support from OPM and Shared Services. Recognizing a need and knowing clients can save time and money when navigating the federal retirement process, Bill has been honored to assist federal employees with understanding their benefits and developing a strategy that allows them to retire with ease.

    He has an Accounting degree from Central Michigan University and uses his proficiency with numbers and years of retirement planning experience to serve federal employees in the Midwest region to achieve the retirement of their dreams.

    He spends quality time traveling with his wife, Shawna, and son, Jameson, as well as cooking on his BBQ smoker, playing poker or Euchre, and watching and playing sports.


     

    Lacie Harmon

    Benefits/Retirement Counselor

    Phone: (818) 370-6490

    CA Insurance License: #0E55837

    Territory Location: Los Angeles, California

      Lacie Harmon

      Lacie Harmon is a Federal Benefits and Retirement Specialist who provides complimentary assistance to federal employees needing answers or guidance. She is privileged to teach regularly at federal agencies including the FAA and GAO, as well as union locals of the APWU and NALC.

      Her main focus is on spreading knowledge that puts the client in the driver’s seat of his/her career and retirement.

       
       

       

      Angelo Berretta

      Federal Benefits Consultant

      Phone: (609) 658-1732

      Fax: (609) 737-0848

      Territory Location: Philadelphia-New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, California

        Angelo Berretta

        A Federal Benefits Consultant with The Federal Benefits Group, Angelo Berretta brings expertise in insurance, retirement income, and estate and elder planning. He is passionate about providing financial education and has led seminars in the tri-state area on various retirement-related topics.

        A member of several financial planning organizations as well as local community groups, Angelo provides relevant retirement planning solutions and remains committed to serving federal employees in achieving their financial goals.

        Since 1982, Angelo has been a resident of Mercer County, NJ and currently lives with his family in Hopewell Township.

         
         

         

        Dana Hampton

        Dana Hampton

        Licensed Agent

        Phone: (586) 585-1333

        Fax: (248) 592-7876

        Office: 23300 John R Rd Hazel Park, MI 48030

          Dana Hampton

          Dana Hampton received a degree from Baker College in Business Management and Administration. She has over 10 years’ experience working in Human Resources, specializing in Group Benefits. Throughout her career she has worked with both Union and Non-Union employees. She is a licensed Insurance agent specializing in life, disability, and financial services and products. Dana is also a Michigan Notary Public, bonded and insured.

          She is married with 3 kids, a dog and hamster. In her spare time, Dana is helping her children with schoolwork, attending their sports games, and working on her garden.

           
           

           

          Shawna Merecki

          Shawna Merecki

          Marketing & Administrative Manager

          Toll Free: (833) 566-5775

            Shawna Merecki

            Shawna Merecki graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 2006. She is married to William Merecki, founder of the Federal Benefits Group and mother to their only child, Jameson. After college, Shawna spent time working in Graphic Design, her true passion and expertise, and then spent several years at a local Credit Union handling financial transactions. Once Jameson was born, she initially dedicated her life to being a stay-at-home mother. When the FBG was founded in 2018, she helped created the original brand for the company and now manages the company’s administration team as well as graphics and marketing.

            In her spare time, Shawna enjoys playing Lego with her son and husband, going outdoors and creating fiber art which she promotes on social media.

             
             

             

            Strauss-Dunahay Insurance Agency

            Phone: (248) 399-4422

            Strauss-Dunahay Insurance
            23300 John R Road
            Hazel Park, Michigan 48030

              Strauss-Dunahay Insurance Agency

              The Strauss-Dunahay Insurance company has been serving Michigan for over 40 years with their home, auto and commercial insurance needs. Their top priority is helping customers find the best coverage in order to protect what matters most in life. As an independent agency, they work with a wide variety of top carriers to help you find the best coverage to suit your exact situation. They work hard find the perfect policy to give you peace of mind without breaking the bank.

               
               

               

              Scott Heitkemper

              Federal Retirement Consultant

              Phone: (800) 449-1504

              California License #0G77922

                Scott Heitkemper 

                For over 13 years, Scott has been helping to educate federal employees with their key benefits and their retirement objectives. He has passion for make retirement a better place for everyone and is grateful that clients trust him with their retirement goals.

                He believes that education is the key to retirement planning & strategies.  Scott has created a process to guide clients toward a successful financial future.  By planning, clients can maintain financial independence to achieve their personal goals.

                Scott had the opportunity to help crowdfund a documentary called The Baby Bloomer Dilemma Movie, which premiered on October 14, 2021. This ground-breaking film has an impressive cast of stars, including Noble Prize-winning economists and distinguished economic professors. It provides much needed clarity to the millions of Americans who are struggling to find the best retirement planning strategies in an ever-changing world.

                 
                 

                 

                Ryan Burmeister

                Licensed Agent

                Phone: (412) 224-9757

                  Ryan Burmeister 

                  Ryan Burmeister comes from a long line of financial advisors. He prides himself on working with a fiduciary mindset and continues to be in the pursuit of knowledge so he may best serve his clients. It is his longstanding goal to help clients realize their financial potential and retirement dreams. With many years’ experience and incredible mentors he has established a reputation for always putting his clients first. Outside of his professional career, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons as well has their Husky, Willow.  He is an avid golfer and an amateur triathlete and marathon runner. With the same determination and mindset needed to complete Iron man triathlons, Ryan brings a deep passion and desire to each client interaction.  He is always in the pursuit of improvement when it comes to every aspect of his personal and professional life.  

                   

                   

                  Andrew Hinshaw

                  Licensed Agent

                  Phone: (918) 210-5959

                    Andrew Hinshaw

                    Andrew Hinshaw is a licensed insurance agent who works hard to help provide resources and solutions to answer the very important question later in life: Are we going to be alright financially?  He has a college degree in Engineering, and he transfers his great problem-solving skills to helping his clients with their financial goals. 

                    He ran a nationwide roadside assistance company for 15 years, then transitioned to sales and services for another 10 years before he made the decision to join the Federal Benefits Group. 

                    He is married to his wife Annette and they have a son Ramsey. 

                     

                     
                     

                    The Federal Benefits Group is not affiliated or associated with any federal, state, or local government or municipality. We are an independent firm designed to help federal employees better understand their benefits.
                    ©Copyright The Federal Benefits Group 2019