Deals & People

Towers Watson has hired Edward Root as a senior pension risk transfer expert.

Zachary Karabell has joined Envestnet Inc. as head of global strategy, where he is tasked with helping advisers navigate the global economy’s impact.

Bank of America is moving its $19 billion defined contribution (DC) plan, currently with Fidelity, to the Merrill Lynch platform.

Raymond James announced Jim Bunn will become co-head of the firm’s investment banking practice starting January 1, 2014.

Householder Group, a network of 40 independent hybrid advisory practices, joined LPL Financial’s suite of broker/dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) custodial platforms.

Mike DiCenso joined MassMutual’s Retirement Services Division as institutional segment market leader.

Andrew Gracan joined Great-West Financial as regional sales director of national accounts in the Northeast.

John Hancock Investments has hired three new managing directors for its Institutional team.

Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC, an investment management firm, has named five new partners.

About 3,500 wealth management firms that custody at Fidelity will gain access to alternative investment funds, including hedge funds and private equity funds, through a strategic alliance with...

ING Financial Partners (IFP), a registered broker/dealer and one of ING U.S.’s component companies, named Thomas Halloran as the firm’s president, effective November 18.

BPAS, a provider of retirement plan services in partnership with financial intermediaries, added Brian Nicholson to its sales team as a relationship manager and external wholesaler.

Putnam Investments appointed Steven McKay as national sales manager for its adviser-sold defined contribution business.

Great-West Financial appointed Torry LeRoux to a new regional director position created within the firm’s financial institutions business.

LIMRA and LOMA President and CEO Robert A. Kerzner announced the board of directors for the newly established Secure Retirement Institute.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has named Constance (Connie) Donovan to the newly created Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate position.

Charlotte West moved within Mercer to become health and benefits principal at the firm’s Minneapolis office.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) opened a branch in Phoenix, Arizona, establishing the company’s first corporate office in the western United States.

fi360 has acquired IPS AdvisorPro, a cloud-based technology that helps financial advisers develop customized investment policy statements (IPS).

401(k) recordkeeper and plan administrator PAi has agreed to provide support for United Planners’ advisers.