Founded in April 1975 by Panayotis "Pano" Koumantaros as a sole proprietorship, Spectrum Financial Planning, the company was incorporated July 3, 1978, as Spectrum Pension Consultants, Inc. The company marked its 30th anniversary in 2008.

Pano’s vision was to create a company that would provide consulting and administrative management services to sponsors of qualified pension and profit sharing plans. Since the 1970s, Spectrum has provided services to more than 2,400 employer-clients and currently administers retirement benefits for more than 50,000 employees predominantly in the Northwest.

The company today is headed by the founder’s sons, Chief Executive Officer Petros P. Koumantaros and Yannis P. Koumantaros, marketing director. Both men assumed leadership roles following the untimely passing of their father in December 2005. Their mother, Mary Koumantaros, serves as a director of the company. Also on the board of directors is Brendan O'Farrell, former Howard Johnson & Company executive, retired HCM International CEO, and consulting actuary.

Spectrum’s Growth

By January 1979, Spectrum Pension Consultants had two employees, Pano and a receptionist, and 24 clients, several of whom continue with the firm to this day.

Mary Koumantaros joined the firm in 1981 to oversee its bookkeeping.

The company initially assisted employers in establishing and maintaining employee retirement plans. In the early ‘80s, Congress passed legislation providing tax-deferred savings through 401(k) plans and Spectrum established those arrangements for most of its clients.

A major milestone was reached both for Spectrum and for Pano personally on March 25, 1988, when client #1,000 retained the firm. Later that year, the firm moved from downtown Tacoma to its current location in Southwest Tacoma. The firm has continued to grow and now has 35 staff members and clients ranging in size from sole proprietorships to interstate corporations with thousands of employees.

Technology plays a very significant role in Spectrum’s services, with on-line information access available to employers and employees alike. Participants can see daily updates of their accounts and can initiate transactions via the Internet.

Spectrum now provides design, management and compliance services to employers for all types of qualified and non-qualified retirement and deferred compensation plans, as well as Cafeteria Plan Management services.