Earning your CEBS designation is a learning journey. Along the way, you acquire valuable employee benefits knowledge and relevant new skills. As you apply what you’ve learned to your work, you can forge a unique career pathway that is truly your own. Here’s a designee’s CEBS story.

A Chat With Jen Minute, CEBS

Jen Minute, CEBS

Retirement Plan Senior Manager

Genuine McCarthy Enterprises, Inc.

Could you describe how expanding your professional network has helped you attain success?

“Expanding my professional network has been a major driver of my professional success. Early in my career, as I pursued a (now inactive) actuarial designation, mentors and peers I met through study groups and online forums helped me build disciplined study habits and resilience—skills that I still rely on today.

Now, after attaining the CEBS designation and growing in my career, that same network supports my broader development. Conversations at local events, webinars and workshops give me fresh perspectives on plan design, compliance and participant communication that I can bring back to my day-to-day work and my team. With an undergraduate degree in education, I approach networking as a two-way learning opportunity—sharing ideas and best practices, not just collecting business cards. That ongoing interaction has helped me refine my expertise, gain visibility and take on more strategic responsibilities over time.”

Could you share some insight about how pursuing your CEBS designation demonstrates that you’re a lifelong learner and an expert in your profession?

“Pursuing the CEBS designation is a continuation of a career built on learning—starting with my education degree and extending through my actuarial exams and retirement-focused roles. The actuarial track proved I could master complex, technical material; CEBS refines that with deep, practical expertise in benefits, retirement plans and compliance. By investing my time in CEBS, I’m signaling that I actively update my knowledge rather than relying on what I learned years ago. It reinforces my role as a go-to resource who blends formal education, exam discipline and current best practices.”

Could you share a story about how you prepared for your CEBS exam and applied what you learned to your work?

“I approached my CEBS exams by leveraging skills that led me to success with the actuarial exams. I set weekly goals, kept pace, used flashcards and utilized practice questions. As I studied, I tried to find connections to the work I’ve done over my career as well as in my current role. I would think about how a concept would impact employee communications or plan design discussions. By making it more meaningful and relatable to me, I found myself able to remember more for both the exam itself and in future application.”

Could you describe how earning your CEBS designation has supported you in your role and professional growth?

“The CEBS designation adds a clear, benefits-focused credential on top of my actuarial experience and education degree, which strengthens my credibility with leaders, peers and external partners. The courses have helped me connect day-to-day plan administration to bigger organizational goals like total rewards strategy and financial well-being. That broader, strategic perspective I’ve gained combined with a track record of pursuing demanding professional exams, building my professional network and ongoing development has led to greater trust, more responsibility and a stronger platform for future advancement in my career.”