Art by Subin Yang

Transamerica Hires RVP for Large-Market Team

Jason Bouldin has joined Transamerica as regional vice president for its large-market retirement plan sales team. Based in Atlanta, Bouldin will focus on sales efforts in Florida and Georgia. He reports to Robert Goldman, national sales director, Large-Market Retirement Plans.

“Transamerica continues to attract outstanding talent, and we have an opportunity that allows us to expand our team,” says Goldman. “I am delighted that Jason Bouldin is joining Transamerica, and I have every confidence he will be a valuable resource to financial advisers and their retirement plan clients in the Peach and Sunshine States.”

With more than two decades of retirement plan experience, Bouldin will work with financial advisers on acquiring retirement plans with $50 million or more in assets. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in statistics.

Former Wells Fargo Advisers Open RIA Firm

Sarah Berry and Michael Machnowski have launched The Berry Group, a fee-only, registered investment advisory (RIA) firm in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The duo previously practiced at Wells Fargo Advisors. Berry and Machnowski are joined by Oliver Cragan, wealth adviser, and Cathy McGinty, senior client service officer to support the growth of the firm. 

“The financial needs for the families and institutions that we serve are wide-ranging and unique to each,” states Berry, managing partner and namesake of The Berry Group. “As registered investment advisers, we can help clients realize each financial goal with the same distinctive approach in which it was imagined. As advisers, our first and foremost priority is our clients’ well-being. We feel this evolution of our business allows us to best serve our clients today and we look forward to serving our clients across the country and the entire Worcester community as an independent wealth management firm.”

Berry serves on numerous boards and committees as past president of museums, foundations and organizations that work to preserve the vitality of Worcester. In 2011, Berry was recognized by Wells Fargo for her professional and philanthropic contributions with the Spirit Award.

Berry’s partner, Machnowski, started in the industry 20 years ago while attending College of Holy Cross. He went on to earn the certified financial planner (CFP) designation after passing a course of study via the College for Financial Planning. 

“I have been following the evolution of the fee-only business model for nearly a decade,” says Machnowski. “I knew this transition to an RIA was something that our clients would greatly benefit from, and especially since it was going to be a relatively painless process.”

With the new RIA structure, Berry Group clients will have expanded access to investment solutions. The Berry Group will be adopting the latest technology and providing ready insight into their clients’ investments and overall financial well-being. 

Past PIMCO and Goldman Sachs Exec Joins Retiree, Inc.

Sean Murray will join as principal and chief revenue officer to Retiree, Inc.

Formally, he was a managing director at a global investment management firm and had a successful experience driving defined contribution (DC) growth with Goldman Sachs and PIMCO.

Murray will lead partnerships and initiatives to consultants, plan advisers, plan sponsors, recordkeepers, and asset managers to help bring important new methodology to employees. Retiree, Inc. is launching a new financial wellness program for the DC market called Retirement Snapshot, which Murray will be promoting.

“[William Meyer, CEO of Retiree, Inc.] and his team have done extensive research and product development and are poised to disrupt the retirement market with a unique solution that Boomers truly need,” says Murray. “This innovative approach to the complex problem of managing your income during retirement provides consumers with a strategy to actually make their nest egg last longer.”