Eric Karno

Eric Karno is an accomplished legal and financial professional providing tax-advantaged executive compensation and employee benefits financing solutions for Fortune 500, large private, and not-for-profit organizations over the past 25 years. He has served as a leader in his field at global accounting, law, and consulting firms, gaining extensive IPO and M&A experience, as well as expertise in the design, implementation, and administration of executive benefit arrangements. Eric provides innovative solutions using his legal research and writing skills, knowledge of applicable tax, securities, and labor laws, as well as financial accounting standards and actuarial principles. A creative problem solver, with well-developed oral and written communication skills, Eric has worked successfully with numerous “C” level executives, Human Resource managers and before Compensation Committees and Boards of Directors.Eric is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles and Tulane University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate in Law, respectively. He is a husband and father of four children and lives in the Atlanta, GA area.

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Eric Karno is a legal and financial professional providing tax-advantaged executive compensation and benefits financing solutions for Fortune 500, large private, and not-for-profit organizations over the past 18 years, as well as wealth, trust & estate, and succession planning for closely-held businesses and their owners. A go-to problem solver with expert legal research and writing skills, Eric possesses in-depth knowledge of applicable tax, securities, and labor laws, as well as financial accounting standards and actuarial principles. Persuasive technical expert possessing superior oral and written communication skills, and an extensive track record of success advising business owners, "C" level executives, Human Resource managers and Compensation Committees and Boards of Directors. Eric is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles and Tulane University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate in Law, respectively.

Principal at Executive Retirement Income Consulting

January 2010 - Present | Smyrna, GA

Advise small business owners and individuals in preparation for healthcare reform mandates. Provide technical expertise and marketing strategies/ tactics to advisors looking for entry into the executive benefits marketplace.

Vice President -- Executive Benefits at Aon Consulting

2000 - Present | Atlanta, GA

Marketed and delivered executive benefits consulting services and COLI/BOLI financing solutions Managed team of case design consultants and analysts, serving as chief technical expert and directing the proposed design and financing of executive benefit plans. Developed and marketed a systematic program to assist clients with new SEC proxy disclosure requirements for executive compensation and benefits programs Authored numerous articles and bulletins published by the firm in response to changes in tax and accounting requirements affecting executive compensation and benefits programs. Designed proprietary solutions to fund nonqualified plans and post-retirement medical obligations that maximized tax-efficiency and improved P&L impact to plan sponsors. Identified and corrected erroneous tax and accounting treatment of various executive compensation and benefit programs maintained by clients across the firm. Consulted numerous tax-exempt clients regarding the special limitations imposed on their ability to offer nonqualified plans, provided strategies to mitigate such limitations, and most efficiently finance related obligations.

Vice President Risk Assessment at Clark Consulting

2008 - 2010 | Dallas, TX

Served as head of risk management for all technical matters pertaining to design, funding, implementation, and administration of client executive compensation and benefit programs. Kept abreast of legislative and regulatory changes relevant to executive compensation and benefits and drafted corresponding internal and client bulletins. Responded to tax, legal, and accounting questions from plan design and administrative staff. Counseled field consultants on technical matters to assist with sales efforts while maintaining compliance with relevant regulations. Implemented processes and procedures to mitigate risk in plan design and administration.

Senior Tax Manager -- Compensation & Benefits at Arthur Andersen Business Consulting

January 1999 - March 2000

Business development, team management, and tax and accounting consulting on all matters pertaining to corporate executive compensation and benefits programs.

Senior Associate Attorney -- ERISA at Seyfarth Shaw

January 1998 - January 1999

Provided management-side legal advice, drafted documents, and contributed to Board meetings for large collectively bargained pension and welfare benefit plans / trusts, including the largest collectively bargained plans in Hawaii and Nevada. QDRO and plan distribution approvals and processing. State Department of Insurance filings for self-funded multi-employer benefit plans. Drafting of plan amendments, new plan documents, and EPCRS and VFCP filings. Executive compensation, estate planning, and taxation of business entities.

Senior Manager -- Employee Benefits Tax at Deloitte

August 1996 - January 1998

Associate ERISA Attorney at Guarisco, Weiler & Cordes

1994 - 1996

Consulted on all of the firm's retirement and employee benefits tax matters, plus assorted Estate Planning and some general tax issues.

Law Clerk at Louisiana Supreme Court

1990 - 1993

Processed Habeus Corpus petitions, researched criminal law issues presented by state prisoners, and drafted recommended action by the Court.

Tulane University Law School

JD

University of California, Los Angeles

B.A.

Concentration: Psychology

Travel, reading, movies, and college football (Go Bruins).