Pinnacle Health & Benefits Adds COBRA Capabilities, Hires Veteran Advisors to Lead New Program

Pinnacle Financial Partners has added COBRA services to its Health & Benefits platform, further expanding the ways the firm can manage the benefits programs of its clients’ companies and employees. To lead this new capability, the firm welcomes two seasoned professionals to the team: Marianne Johnston as health and benefits COBRA account manager and Scott Littleton as health and benefits COBRA advisor. With decades of combined experience in COBRA administration, Scott and Marianne bring a depth of knowledge and a personal, service-focused approach to their work.

“Scott and Marianne bring a level of expertise that’s unmatched,” said Mary Wettstein, health and benefits strategy and sales manager at Pinnacle. “Their knowledge, leadership and service first approach align perfectly with Pinnacle’s values. With them on board, we’re excited to offer COBRA administration that’s compliant, efficient and personal. Together, Scott and Marianne represent Pinnacle’s continued investment in hiring top-tier talent who provide the responsive and comprehensive service that sets the firm apart.”

Pinnacle’s COBRA services are designed to meet Federal COBRA standards and offer clients the confidence of full compliance. These services include mailing legally required notices, managing elections, payments, and communicating enrollment updates to clients and insurance carriers. A secure, user-friendly web portal gives employers and their qualified beneficiaries access to real-time data, a wide range of reporting tools and a centralized member portal for enrollment and premium payments.

Pinnacle also supports data feeds from a wide variety of vendors, streamlining integration and reducing client workloads. The firm’s COBRA team offers daily mailings of COBRA notices and enters renewal information into the system on behalf of clients each year, which helps reduce plan-year renewal burdens. Additionally, the firm provides a single-vendor solution for employer benefit needs, giving clients one point of contact and delivering greater operational efficiency.

Littleton joins Pinnacle from ProBenefits and Flores & Associates, where he most recently served as senior account manager and COBRA team lead. With more than eight years of dedicated experience in benefits administration, Scott oversaw a team of 22 professionals managing COBRA for more than 5,000 clients and 130,000 participants. His background spans software integrations, vendor coordination, and managing client transitions. Prior to benefits, Scott led operations and project management for a national electronics manufacturer.

Johnston brings a deep understanding of client service and COBRA renewal operations, having held senior roles at both Flores & Associates and ProBenefits, Inc. Since 2014, she has worked extensively with brokers, employers, and carriers to administer COBRA plans, assist with reinstatements, and manage client onboarding. Her experience coordinating open enrollments and serving as a key point of contact for COBRA participants makes her an invaluable asset to Pinnacle clients.

Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2024 deposit data from the FDIC. Pinnacle is No. 9 on FORTUNE magazine’s 2025 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its ninth consecutive appearance and was recognized by American Banker as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For 12 years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets in 2024.

The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $54.8 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025.  As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in several primarily urban markets across the Southeast.

Additional information concerning Pinnacle, which is included in the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index, can be accessed at www.pnfp.com.