Deals & People July 25, 2023

Alera Retirement Unit Adds Large-Plan Expert

Insurance, retirement and wealth management aggregator’s hire of Bryan Hissong is part of strategic effort to build out retirement plan services.

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Bryan Hissong.

Insurance and financial services firm Alera Group announced Monday the addition of a senior retirement plan consultant to build out its focus on large-company retirement plans.

Bryan Hissong, formerly of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., will serve in a national role as senior retirement plan consultant and report to Christian Mango, national practice leader of retirement plan services for Deerfield, Illinois-based Alera. The hire extends the firm’s reach to large defined contribution, defined benefit and nonqualified plans, according to the announcement.

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“Bryan’s background in both recordkeeping and retirement plan sales—and his specific experience developing pension de-risking strategies and building and developing large market sales teams—will help us build out a large-market presence,” Mango said in a statement.

Hissong has a combined 35 years in the retirement industry, with prior roles at Transamerica Corp., Lockton, Prudential Financial and Lincoln Financial Group.

“Alera Group has built a substantial and impressive national benefits practice, and I am excited to join the team and further the Retirement Plan Services division’s success as it expands in the large-market space,” Hissong said in a statement.

Alera is seeking to build out its retirement plan solutions “up and down the retirement plan spectrum,” the firm wrote in the announcement.

“Look for us in the near future to continue to expand our solutions to meet the demands of an evolving employer marketplace,” Mango said.

Alera Group, along with retirement advisory services, is an insurer and financial services company focused on employee benefits; property and casualty insurance; and wealth services solutions. It has more than 4,000 employees in more than 180 locations and annual revenue of $1.1 billion.

Tags: New Hire; Alera Group; Christian Mango; Retirement Plan Advisers

Deals & People July 25, 2023

Fiducient Advisors Names Long CIO

Bradford Long, current chair of the firm's investment committee, will be replacing Matthew Rice as chief investment officer. 

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Bradford Long, a managing partner in Fiducient Advisors, is stepping into the role of chief investment officer, replacing Matthew Rice, the company confirmed Tuesday.

Long, who joined Fiducient in 2012, will now lead the firm’s investment strategy and research efforts. In addition, Long chairs the firm’s investment committee and is a member of its discretionary committee, research forum, capital markets team and mission-aligned investing committee.  

“As Deputy CIO, I had the opportunity to lead our Investment Committee for the last 18 months,” Long wrote in an emailed statement. “While the title change is effective this week, our broader succession plan has afforded us ample time for a very thoughtful transition.” 

Prior to joining Fiducient, Long worked in various research capacities at Citigroup and Wells Fargo in New York. 

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Rice wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday that: “With a heart filled with both excitement and nostalgia, I share with all of you that after an incredible journey of 23 years, I will be bidding farewell to Fiducient Advisors later this year. This decision was not an easy one, as this firm has been my second home, a place where I have grown both professionally and personally, and where I have had the privilege of working with some truly remarkable individuals.” 

The move comes shortly after Fiducient named Sabrina Bailey as its new CEO last week. Bailey will join from the London Stock Exchange Group plc, where she was global head of investment and wealth solutions. She will succeed Bob DiMeo, the co-founder of Fiducient, who will become chairman.  

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