Nicole L. Fender

Nicole joined the firm in 2026 and is the Compliance Manager in the Employee Benefits division. She brings more than 20 years of employee benefits compliance experience and a strong record of helping employers navigate complex federal and state requirements.

Nicole advises employee benefits clients on federal and state compliance obligations and works closely with service teams across the organization to deliver coordinated support. She helps develop and deliver tools, training, and educational resources that promote compliance awareness and risk mitigation. Her work includes conducting employee benefits compliance audits, supporting regulatory inquiries, and translating legislative and regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance for clients.

An experienced speaker on employee benefits compliance, Nicole has presented at educational seminars and industry conferences focused on federal benefits laws and regulatory updates. Her sessions have covered COBRA, ERISA, ICHRA, Transparency Rules and other key compliance topics.

Before joining the firm, Nicole spent several years with The Baldwin Group as Director, Benefits Compliance, where she also led the internal compliance department’s operations as BRCC Operations Leader. Earlier in her career, she served as a Health & Welfare Compliance Officer for a large insurance brokerage and held senior consulting and account management roles. These experiences built a strong foundation in employee benefits compliance that directly supports her work today.