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Penelope

Penelope Expands Its Bench of Retirement Experts to Better Serve the Underserved Small Business Market

Penelope, the modern 401(k) provider focused on expanding retirement access for small and micro businesses, is accelerating its mission with the addition of several high-profile advisors. These leaders bring deep expertise in ERISA, retirement research, and small business finance—reinforcing confidence in Penelope’s business model and its ability to serve a historically overlooked market.

The advisory additions include veteran voices from Wagner Law Group, Bank of America, McKinsey, American Express, and DCIIA—each recognized for shaping the retirement and financial services landscape. Their backing signals more than strategic alignment—it’s a vote of confidence in Penelope’s ability to help financial services intermediaries (TPAs, PEOs, banks with wealth advisors, etc.) efficiently and effectively serve the SMB market.

As CEO, Jean Smart shared in a recent press release, “We’re tackling one of the most important financial gaps in the country—retirement access for small and midsize businesses. These new advisors bring unmatched insight and relationships to help us close that gap.”

In parallel, Penelope continues to lead conversations across HR and fintech. In a recent KWP Works thought leadership roundup, the company was highlighted for driving innovation at the intersection of fintech, DEI, and financial security. For many SMBs struggling with how to support financial wellness for their teams, Penelope offers a clear, compelling solution: retirement plans that are inclusive, scalable, and simple to implement.

The excitement is also reflected in media coverage. HR News America framed Penelope’s growth as a timely response to rising demand for modern, accessible retirement solutions, especially among smaller businesses underserved by legacy platforms.

With a strengthened advisory bench, growing industry traction, and a clear vision for how to support the next generation of retirement plan sponsors, Penelope is helping redefine what’s possible for small business retirement.

 

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Est. 1919 · Des Moines, Iowa

HOTEL FORT DES MOINES

A century of stories, one remarkable address

Famous Guests
Scandals & Secrets
Firsts & Innovations
The Beginning
1922
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1922

Helen Keller rang in the New Year here, staying at the hotel while in Des Moines for performances over New Year's Eve.

1927
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1927

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig had breakfast here before an exhibition game. Two of baseball's greatest, at the same table, in Des Moines.

1927
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1927

Charles Lindbergh hosted a banquet here after his famous transatlantic flight. The menu featured boneless squab — reportedly a rare Des Moines delicacy at the time.

1933
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1933

Amelia Earhart visited the hotel to speak about her solo flight across the Atlantic — a rare chance for Iowans to hear her story firsthand.

1947
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1947

Mae West stayed here during her performance of "Come on Up" at the KRNT Radio Theater. One imagines she made an impression on the staff.

1959
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1959

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev occupied the Presidential Suite during the height of the Cold War. This hotel has seen history made.

1960
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1960

JFK, LBJ, and Hubert Humphrey all attended dinner here and held a meeting on farm policy — three future or sitting presidents under one roof.

1980
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1980

Elizabeth Taylor stayed here during a Des Moines appearance. Hollywood glamour, right here in the heartland.

1980
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1980

Elizabeth Taylor stayed here during a Des Moines appearance. Hollywood glamour, right here in the heartland.

2003
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2003

Cher requested her own personal mattress be placed in room #1025. The hotel obliged. Room 1025 has never quite been the same.

2008
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2008

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both stayed here during the Iowa caucuses — rivals for the presidency, sharing the same address for a night.

1939
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1939

Police raided the Log Cabin Room on the 11th floor, seizing liquor and gambling equipment. The tip reportedly came from the men's own wives.

1927
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1927

When Lindbergh dined here post-transatlantic flight, he reportedly insisted on serving boneless squab, an extravagance that raised eyebrows across Iowa.

1959
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1959

The FBI monitored Khrushchev's stay closely. Guests on nearby floors reportedly had no idea who was sleeping down the hall.

1971
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1971

President Nixon greeted supporters in the lobby during his stay — a reminder that this hotel has always been where Iowa's political drama plays out.

1919
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1919

When it opened, every single room had a bathtub, purified chilled circulating water, and a window. Unheard of luxury for its era.

1938
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1938

The hotel announced the first air-conditioned guest room in Des Moines, a genuine technological milestone that made front-page news.

1953
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1953

100 rooms received TV sets in what was reportedly the largest single installation of televisions in Iowa at the time. The fee to operate yours? 25 cents.

1982
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1982

Governor Terry Branstad nominated the hotel to the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its place in Iowa's official history.

1919
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1919

The hotel opened on July 15, 1919, built for approximately $1.5 million and designed by the architectural firm Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson.

1919
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1919

Its opening was a statement of ambition: every room had a private bathtub, purified water, and a window. In 1919, this was genuinely extraordinary.

1974
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1974

Ronald Reagan attended WHO Radio's 50th anniversary celebration at the hotel, proof that Fort Des Moines has always been Iowa's premier gathering place.

2021
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2021

After major renovations, the hotel reopened as part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, a century of history, restored for the next hundred years.