Our Team

Our Team

Retirement planning is far more than a bulleted item in a list of fiduciary services. It’s a highly specialized area of financial expertise—one we’ve practiced with passion since 1945, right here in Western Massachusetts. Meet the specialists whose knowledge, experience, and client-focused commitment have made Pension & Benefits Associates the region’s premier independent resource of its kind. 

Michael P. Shea, AIF®

Owner & President

Michael earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Isenberg School of Management in 2010. Michael joined Pension & Benefits Associates in 2018 after several years of working for some of the largest retirement service providers and asset managers in the industry. He first helped clients move their 401(k) plans at Empower in Denver. He then moved back to the East Coast and made the switch into selling investment solutions to retirement plan advisors for Columbia Threadneedle Investments and, finally, for BlackRock. He currently holds his insurance and FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network®. He also has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation. Michael will call on all his previous experience to help clients solve financial problems, plan for their future, and plan and meet their financial goals.

Michael resides in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, with his wife, Marissa, and their dog, Nugget. He is an avid Boston sports fan, an outdoor enthusiast, and a self-proclaimed retirement geek.

Krista Krupa AIF®

Retirement Plan Coordinator

Krista joined Pension & Benefits Associates in September 2021 after spending more than 10 years working in the retirement industry. Krista began her career with MassMutual Retirement Services and later moved to work with 401(k) and pension clients on the advisor side. She focused on helping plan sponsors with all aspects of running their retirement plans and assisting participants with saving for retirement. Krista has a passion for education and worked for Equitable Advisors by helping educators in K-12 schools enroll in their 403(b) plan and focusing on financial planning so they could invest in their futures. She currently holds FINRA Series 6,  63, and 65 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network® and has also earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation.  

Krista resides in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, with her husband, Wayne, and her daughter, Autumn. She is also an active community theater actress, singer, and dancer and participates in productions around Western Massachusetts.