Jill Dennis CPC, QPA

Director of Business Development / Shareholder

Jill Dennis has been a key part of the Dunbar, Bender & Zapf team since 1999, becoming a partner in 2012. In her current role, Jill oversees sales and builds lasting relationships with financial advisors, accountants, and other key partners. She works closely with a team of actuarial consultants who manage legal, tax reporting, and other non-investment aspects of corporate retirement plans, such as 401(k)s.

After attending the University of Pittsburgh, Jill started off performing data entry for an actuarial firm. Over time, she gained broad expertise in the retirement planning business and was recognized for her ability to solve complex problems and foster strong partnerships. Her deep industry knowledge and talent for building connections eventually led her to transition into business development and sales, where she now excels.

Jill is passionate about educating clients on retirement plans and thrives on solving challenges alongside her team. She values a hands-on, client-centered approach and takes pride in helping others plan for their futures. A native of Easton, Pennsylvania, Jill enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family and friends when she’s not working.

Nick Zapf CPC, QPA

President

As President of Dunbar, Bender & Zapf, Nick leads the vision to continue to build on the reputation and expert services our partners and employees have provided for more than 30 years.

Nick works with accountants, financial advisors, retirement plan wholesalers, and attorneys to help our clients customize their retirement plan program. With over 20 years of experience, Nick is able to provide guidance to help employers looking to establish a brand new 401(k) plan, modify the design of their existing plan, or add a cash balance plan to increase contribution levels.

Nick regularly attends meetings with current clients and prospective clients with our referral partners. Nick enjoys meeting different business owners to first educate and then enhance their retirement program for both them and their employees.

A graduate of Grove City College, Nick earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance. Nick is a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) and has attained the professional designations of Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) and Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA). He has served on the TPA Leadership Council for both T. Rowe Price and Capital Group/American Funds.

Nick lives in South Fayette and loves spending time with his wife and three daughters. While not traveling for soccer or lacrosse, he likes to cook, travel to the beach—OBX and Hilton Head—as favorites, and find new bourbons to try.

Cari Massey-Sears
CPC, QPA

Director of Operations / Shareholder

Cari is an accomplished, forward-thinking professional with a passion for problem-solving and a wealth of experience in the retirement industry. In 1997, she graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Labor and Industrial Relations, complemented by minors in psychology and communications.

After completing her studies, she joined DBZ in 1998 as a trainee in the special plans unit of the defined contribution group. Cari’s love for intricate calculations and solving complex problems allowed her to excel in the special plans unit at DBZ. The team’s focus on designing atypical plans for maximum cost efficiency aligned perfectly with her expertise and passion. She was recognized for her talent and hard-work, becoming partner in the firm in 2014.

Currently serving as the Director of Operations and a valued shareholder at DBZ, Cari is instrumental in driving the growth of the firm. She embraces technology to maximize efficiency and enhance client experiences. She thrives on challenges and revels in solving problems both for her clients and her team at DBZ.

As an active member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), Cari has earned distinguished designations as a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA) and Certified Pension Consultant (CPC). These accolades underscore her expertise and commitment to excellence in her field.

Outside her professional achievements, Cari treasures her role as a devoted mother and mom to a giant fur baby. Her love for sunny days and delicious food is matched only by her passion for cooking and simplifying recipes to perfection. While not a fan of baking due to her aversion to measuring, Cari’s creative spirit finds expression in varied home projects.

Jill Dennis CPC, QPA

Director of Business Development / Shareholder

Jill Dennis has been a key part of the Dunbar, Bender & Zapf team since 1999, becoming a partner in 2012. In her current role, Jill oversees sales and builds lasting relationships with financial advisors, accountants, and other key partners. She works closely with a team of actuarial consultants who manage legal, tax reporting, and other non-investment aspects of corporate retirement plans, such as 401(k)s.

After attending the University of Pittsburgh, Jill started off performing data entry for an actuarial firm. Over time, she gained broad expertise in the retirement planning business and was recognized for her ability to solve complex problems and foster strong partnerships. Her deep industry knowledge and talent for building connections eventually led her to transition into business development and sales, where she now excels.

Jill is passionate about educating clients on retirement plans and thrives on solving challenges alongside her team. She values a hands-on, client-centered approach and takes pride in helping others plan for their futures. A native of Easton, Pennsylvania, Jill enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family and friends when she’s not working.

Sara K. Defilippo
EA, MAAA

Director of Actuarial Services / Shareholder

Sara is an Enrolled Actuary and shareholder at Dunbar, Bender & Zapf. She has over 22 years of experience in the actuarial profession. Sara currently manages an actuarial group of 15 employees and is responsible for overseeing the administration of approximately 500 defined benefit plans. Sara joined the firm as an entry level analyst in December of 2000 and was offered an ownership share in July of 2011. She is familiar with all aspects of the retirement plan process, including a wide variety of defined benefit and cash balance plan designs. She is actively involved with design implementation, primarily working with small business owners and other TPA firms to further increase their retirement plan capabilities.

Specifically, Sara has gained extensive knowledge in the area of cash balance plans and their aggregation with 401(k) plans in order to maximize contribution ability for small business owners while providing their staff with competitive benefits. She has spoken at several actuarial conferences in recent years, primarily involving topics related to cash balance plans, DB/DC combination plan design and nondiscrimination testing.

Sara graduated from Westminster College in May of 1999, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science. She received her Actuary Enrollment in August of 2008 and is an active member of both the American Academy of Actuaries and the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA).

When not running actuarial calculations, Sara is busy running around with her 5 children. She enjoys all things coffee and organization. And if there’s time left at the end of the day, she is always up for a good crossword.

Kevin Hefke CPC, QPA

Consultant / Shareholder

Kevin works with financial advisors, accountants, and retirement plan wholesalers to help clients customize their retirement plans. With over 12 years of experience in both annual administration and business development, Kevin provides customized solutions to help employers looking to establish a brand new 401(k) plan, modify the design of their existing plan, or add a cash balance plan.

A graduate of Duquesne University, Kevin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Finance. Kevin is an active member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) and has attained the professional designations of Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) and Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA).

Always on the move, Kevin enjoys biking around the city, listening to live music, and hiking with his dog Stella. In the Fall you can catch him at Buffalo Bills games hoping that this might finally be their year.