Deals & People March 3, 2011

ING Retirement’s CEO Departs for State Job

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has named Catherine Smith, CEO of ING Retirement Services, as head of the state's Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
Reported by

Currently the Chief Executive Officer of ING U.S. Retirement Services, a position she’s held since 2008, Smith has worked for ING for 10 years. In her capacity as CEO, Smith managed 3,000 employees and had oversight of sales, marketing, operations, customer service, product development, risk management and finance.

“For far too long, DECD has been too insular and not welcoming enough to potential businesses who wish to locate or expand here. That stops now,” Malloy said in a statement. “Catherine’s business acumen, her knowledge of Connecticut, and her passion to grow and expand business opportunities here made her selection a no-brainer.”

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Prior to this position at ING, Smith served in several other capacities at ING, including in its  retail and insurance groups. While working at Aetna from 1983 through 2000, Smith worked in a variety of areas, including investment management, corporate planning, health plans, investor relations and financial services.

Smith graduated from Hampshire College and received her Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale University.

Products March 3, 2011

Ascensus Joins with 3D for ETF Offering

Retirement plan solutions provider Ascensus has been selected by 3D Asset Management (3D), a registered investment advisory firm, to partner on its ETF AdvisorPlan product.
Reported by

The new product, based on Ascensus’ fee-based platform, provides cost-effective exchange-traded fund (ETF) asset allocation portfolios managed by 3D, which include ETFs from iShares, WisdomTree, and others, a news release said.

In addition, Ascensus said 3D’s new program offers advisers a suite of materials to make it easier for them to offer an all-inclusive, fee-based retirement program.

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For participants, the ETF AdvisorPlan solution provides online tools as well as individualized investment policy statements. Plan sponsors also benefit by being able to ensure proper education is provided to all plan participants, the company said.

More information about the new ETF offering is available at http://www.etfadvisorplan.com/.

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