When people talk about shaping the future of retirement and workplace benefits in the United States, the name Lisa Gomez often comes up. She has spent decades building a reputation as both a sharp legal mind and a thoughtful policymaker, and her work has touched millions of American workers and retirees.
Gomez is best known for her role as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), where she oversaw the rules and protections around health, retirement, and welfare benefits. Today, she continues her mission in the private sector, working with innovative companies to bridge the gap between government policy and financial technology. Her career is a mix of public service, private practice, and advisory work that highlights her ability to navigate complex systems while keeping her focus on the people those systems serve.
Early Career and Legal Background
Before stepping into the national spotlight, Lisa Gomez built her expertise in the law. She earned her undergraduate degree at Hofstra University and went on to graduate from Fordham University School of Law. From there, she joined the law firm Cohen, Weiss & Simon, LLP, where she quickly became a respected voice in employee benefits law.
At the firm, she advised labor unions, benefit plan trustees, and employers on how to manage and administer employee benefit plans. She rose through the ranks, eventually serving as chair of the management committee, which showed not only her legal skills but also her leadership ability. Her time in private practice gave her an up-close understanding of how benefit plans work in the real world and how workers depend on them for financial security.
Leading EBSA
In 2022, Gomez was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Labor in charge of EBSA. The agency’s mission is massive: to protect the retirement, health, and welfare benefits of millions of American workers, retirees, and their families. This includes overseeing compliance with ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act), which sets the standards for most private retirement and health plans in the country.
During her time at EBSA, Gomez faced challenges that came with a shifting workplace landscape. From the rise of the gig economy to the lasting impacts of the pandemic on health and retirement plans, she worked to ensure that benefit protections stayed strong. She was known for balancing technical knowledge with an approachable style, helping employers and plan administrators understand their obligations while keeping workers’ interests at the center.
Transition to Fintech and Advisory Work
After leaving government service, Gomez entered the private sector again, this time in a role that shows how retirement policy is evolving. She became a strategic adviser to Pontera, a financial technology company focused on retirement savings.
Her move reflects a bigger trend: technology is reshaping how people interact with their retirement plans. Many workers want more transparency, easier access, and tools that can help them make better decisions about their futures. By joining a fintech firm, Gomez positioned herself at the intersection of policy and innovation, helping to shape solutions that could reach people in more practical and user-friendly ways.
Why Her Work Matters
Retirement security is one of the biggest financial challenges facing the United States. Millions of Americans don’t have enough saved, and the rules around retirement accounts can be complicated. At the same time, employers face pressure to provide benefits that attract and retain workers while staying compliant with federal laws.
Lisa Gomez has spent her career navigating those complexities. She understands the law, she knows the needs of employers, and she has worked directly with policymakers. That combination gives her a unique ability to help design systems that actually work for people. Her leadership helps ensure that rules are fair, protections are strong, and innovations are aligned with long-term security for workers.
Looking Ahead
What comes next for Gomez will likely continue to blend her skills in law, policy, and innovation. As retirement savings continue to move into the digital era, her insights can help guide fintech companies, employers, and regulators toward solutions that are both compliant and effective. Her presence in advisory roles shows that she is committed not just to shaping policy from the top down, but also to making sure new tools are accessible and practical for everyday people.
FAQs About Lisa Gomez
Q: Who is Lisa Gomez?
A: Lisa Gomez is a lawyer and policy leader who served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration. She now works as a strategic adviser in the retirement savings industry.
Q: What is EBSA?
A: EBSA stands for the Employee Benefits Security Administration. It is part of the U.S. Department of Labor and is responsible for protecting retirement, health, and other employee benefit plans for workers and retirees.
Q: Why is Lisa Gomez important in the benefits world?
A: She has decades of experience in benefits law, has led the nation’s top benefits oversight agency, and is now helping shape how technology can make retirement savings more accessible. Her decisions and guidance impact millions of workers.
Q: What challenges has she worked on?
A: Some of the biggest issues she has tackled include retirement plan compliance, health benefit protections, the rise of non-traditional work arrangements, and the integration of technology into benefits management.
Q: What does her current role involve?
A: As a strategic adviser, Gomez helps fintech companies and industry leaders connect with policy goals, improve retirement savings tools, and make sure innovations align with regulatory standards.
Q: Why does her career matter to everyday people?
A: Retirement and health benefits directly affect financial security. The work Lisa Gomez does helps protect those benefits, improve access to them, and ensure that workers have reliable tools for planning their futures.
