---
title: "Kevin J. Donovan"
date: 2013-03-29
author: "Site Admin"
featured_image: "https://pinnacle-plan.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2017-0920-PPD-Quick-Turnaround-Banner_compressed.avif"
---

# Kevin J. Donovan

Kevin J. Donovan founded Pinnacle Plan Design in 2001 and served as the firm’s managing member through 2022. He currently serves as a senior advisor, where he specializes in designing retirement plans to maximize the benefits for business owners and principals. Kevin is a leading actuary in the pension field, specifically in the area of cash balance plan design and administration. Kevin, along with fellow actuaries at Pinnacle have [authored](http://pinnacle-plan.com/2016/02/defined-benefit-answer-book/) the 2016-2024Editions of the *Defined Benefit Answer Book*, published by Wolters Kluwer.

### Awards

- [2024 NIPA Lifetime Achievement Award](https://www.nipa.org/)
- [2019 ACOPA Edward E. Burrows Distinguished Achievement Award](http://pinnacle-plan.com/2019/08/ed-burrows-award/)
- [2015 ASPPA Educator’s Award](http://www.asppa.org/Education/Retirement-Plan-Academy/Educators-Award)

### Publications

- Author of the 2016-2024 Editions of the *Defined Benefit Answer Book*, published by Wolters Kluwer

Kevin is also published in a number of industry publications including:

- Journal of Pension Benefits 
    - [Managing the 4980 Excise Tax on Overfunded Terminating Plans](http://pinnacle-plan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IJPB_Spring24_Donovan.pdf)
    - [New Section 199A Deduction for Pass-Through Entities and Its Impact on Qualified Retirement Plans](http://pinnacle-plan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Kevin-Donovan-Article-New-Section-199A-Deduction-for-Pass-Through-Entities-and-Its-Impact-on-Qualified-Retirement-Plans.pdf)
- Journal of Taxation of Employee Benefits
- The Benefit Law Journal
- The ASPPA Journal
- AICPA publication, “Adviser’s Guide to Retirement Plans for Small Businesses”
- Plan Consultant Magazine

### Areas of Specialty

- Retirement Plan Education
- Cash Balance Defined Benefit Plans
- Traditional Defined Benefit Plans
- Combination Plans

### Certifications/Designations

- Enrolled Actuary (EA)
- Fellow, Society of Enrolled Actuaries (FSEA)
- Fellow, Conference of Consulting Actuaries (FCA)

### Education

- Syracuse University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting

### Professional Associations and Activities

- American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA)
- College of Pension Actuaries
- Conference of Consulting Actuaries (CCA)
- National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA)
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Past Member
- Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA), Past Member


### Get to Know Kevin

Father of three adult children. Die-hard New York Giants and Yankee fan. Lover of the Grateful Dead and other improvisational music.