Retirement Industry Moves

Morningstar Expands Executive Leadership Team

Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor has appointed Tricia Rothschild as chief product officer and Danny Dunn as chief revenue officer.

As chief product officer, Rothschild is responsible for product strategy, innovation, development, and execution. She joined the firm in 1993 as a fund analyst and later served in leadership roles across research, products, and business development. Most recently, Rothschild was head of Global Advisor Solutions. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and sits on the board of directors of Y-Charts, a financial terminal provider based in Chicago.

Dunn joined Morningstar as its first chief revenue officer. He led the company’s sales philosophy, strategy, and execution. Beforehand, Dunn held several sales leadership roles at IBM. Most recently, he served as vice president of IBM’s Midwest enterprise unit, responsible for sales, marketing, strategy, and customer service in the region for the complete IBM portfolio including cloud, software, services, systems, and IBM Credit.

“We have a deep bench of talented leaders at Morningstar, balanced between long-tenured individuals who know the company inside and out as well as relatively newer executives who bring a diverse set of experiences across industries and geographies,” says Kapoor. “While our mission remains the same, we have new opportunities in 2017 and beyond to further develop our offerings to serve today’s investor.”

NEXT: Mercer Advisors Acquires Novos Planning Associates

Mercer Advisors, a national registered investment adviser (RIA) firm, announced the acquisition of Novos Planning Associates, an RIA firm managing $100 million in client assets, located in New York City.

“We continue to identify outstanding adviser firms as part of our ongoing efforts to build our national presence and Novos is an excellent fit for our organization,” says CEO David Barton. “Madeline Noveck, founder of Novos, has been a vibrant part of the New York financial community for over 30 years and she and her team look forward to continuing their journey under the Mercer Advisors umbrella.”

Barton added, “Aligning with complementary firms is a key component of our growth strategy and the acquisition of Novos is a significant step forward in New York City, and we anticipate further growth in the greater metropolitan area.”

Mercer acquired three investment advisers and a trust company in 2016.

NEXT: FPA and T. Rowe Price Launch Active Management Education Initiative

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) and T. Rowe Price have announced a strategic partnership to support active management investment education initiatives among FPA members. The alliance will allow FPA’s 24,000 members and certified financial planners (CFP) to access T. Rowe Price’s thought leadership content about investment and retirement. They can also share it with their clients.

“T. Rowe Price has been a leader in active investment management for more than 75 years, which means our members and CFP professionals will benefit from their knowledge and approach,” says 2017 FPA President Shannon J. Pike. “We are committed to forging a long-term relationship with T. Rowe Price, while delivering more tools that support our members and chapters. Our goal is to help those in our diverse FPA community better serve their clients active investment needs.”

FPA and T. Rowe Price will explore and collaborate on specific initiatives for the benefit of practitioners. This will coincide with the additional integration of T. Rowe Price’s experts and thought leadership with select FPA chapters across the country. Participation by select chapters in activities with T. Rowe Price will be optional, and participating chapters will help shape how T. Rowe Price will be incorporated into their programming.

“Active management plays an important part in the investment process for financial planners and their clients,” says George Riedel, head of U.S. Intermediaries for T. Rowe Price. “We are excited to expand upon our relationship with the Financial Planning Association, which has a solid track record and reputation for providing financial professionals with the tools and resources they need to build their businesses and support their clients’ long-term investment and retirement goals.”

NEXT: PNC Hires Asset Liability Management Specialist

PNC Institutional Advisory Solutions has hired Kimberlene Matthews as senior sales product specialist. Matthews will be tasked with providing asset liability management (ALM) solutions to pension, endowment and foundation clients of PNC’s Institutional Asset Management business.

Matthews brings to PNC 12 years of experience in the financial services industry, with specific attention to the pension space. She most recently served as a pension risk strategist for Northern Trust Investments. She has also held roles in ALM and actuarial retirement consulting with Aon Hewitt and Mercer. She is versed in designing liability-driven investment (LDI) solutions for outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) clients, as well as developing pension investment strategies for defined benefit (DB) plans.  

Matthews earned her bachelor’s degree in actuarial science and finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a CFA charter holder. She is also an Enrolled Actuary and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.

NEXT: TRA Acquires Benefit Planning and Administration

The Retirement Advantage (TRA)—an employee benefits, consulting and technology firm—has announced the acquisition of Benefit Planning & Administration, (BPA) a Pittsburgh-based third-party administrator (TPA). 

"We are pleased the BPA staff joining TRA will be able to continue to provide the exceptional guidance and service their clients have grown accustomed to," says TRA President Matt Schoneman. "BPA has been an innovative leader for decades. Both of our companies have substantial expertise in delivering industry-leading solutions to our clients, built upon a shared commitment to technology innovation, customer service and strong financial and operational discipline." 

Schoneman adds, "The agreement with BPA supports TRA's corporate strategy, with a vision to become the largest independently owned national employee benefits consulting and technology firm and provides an accelerated growth opportunity which will offer us additional marketing opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic region." 

BPA specializes in 401(k) strategies for small to mid-sized companies including retirement plan design, administration and oversight. It was previously affiliated with MacWhinnie Financial Group. 

NEXT: John Hancock Appoints Regan Muldoon as Regional VP

John Hancock Appoints Regan Muldoon as Regional VP

With more than 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, Regan Muldoon of John Hancock has recently been appointed as regional vice president in the firm’s Southeast division.

Having worked at John Hancock since 2008, Muldoon previously served as internal sales manager and business development director in the Southeast division, but will now hold responsibility for sales and relationship development concerning financial representatives and plan consultants in North Georgia and East Tennessee. Muldoon will also be reporting to John Hancock Vice President Joe Smith.

"In the last eight years, Regan has been instrumental in the growth and success of our Southeast sales division," says Bob Carroll, national sales manager at John Hancock. "Given the changing landscape in the retirement plan industry, her expertise will continue to bring value to our clients and partners."

NEXT: Lincoln Financial Group Hires Institutional Retirement Head

Lincoln Financial Group Hires Institutional Retirement Head

Gregg Holgate has joined Lincoln Financial Group as senior vice president and head of Institutional Retirement Distribution (IRD) for its Retirement Plan Services (RPS) business. He will be responsible for expanding the firm’s full-service retirement plan offerings for corporate and nonprofit/tax-exempt plan sponsors. He will also focus on supporting the overall strategic vision of the business, which includes helping participants achieve the retirement they envision, as well helping plan sponsors recruit and retain top talent.

Holgate brings to the firm more than 20 years of experience working with plan sponsors on retirement plan solutions. He comes from Voya Financial, where he most recently served as senior vice president of Institutional Clients. In that role, Holgate created and led a senior team of sales and relationship management professionals responsible for consultant relations, sales, retention, government affairs, and reporting.

“Lincoln remains committed to the full-service retirement plan business,” says Jamie Ohl, president of RPS. “Gregg has a proven track record as a successful sales leader with a wealth of retirement industry knowledge and experience. He understands the market, the clients and what they need and will be a strong addition to the RPS senior leadership team and to Lincoln.”

Holgate earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and holds series 7, 24 and 66 FINRA registrations.

NEXT: Bogdahn Group Rebrands

The Bogdahn Group, an institutional investment consulting firm, announced that it has rebranded to AndCo Consulting.

“We have always sought to set the highest standard for what true independence should look like in our industry,” says Mike Welker, chief executive officer at AndCo Consulting. “With this name change, we hope to further demonstrate our commitment to maintain our core practices of independence, objectivity and transparency, and that we will always put clients first. Our new name will be a constant reminder that we can never compromise our core service tenets or do anything that violates where we put our clients in the service equation. Without our clients, we are incomplete. We believe putting clients first leads to an enhanced client service experience and the ability to deliver tremendous value.”

Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with offices around the country, AndCo Consulting offers a full range of investment consulting services for multiple types of institutional plans including defined benefit (DB), defined contribution (DC), taxable and tax-exempt deferred compensation, OPEB, VEBA, operating reserves, endowment and foundations. 

NEXT: Arnerich Massena Announces Long Term Succession Plan

Arnerich Massena Announces Long Term Succession Plan

Investment firm Arnerich Massena has laid out its long-term succession plan. As outlined, a group of senior employees including co-founder and long-term CEO Tony Arnerich, will share equity ownership of the firm. Arnerich will continue serving as senior adviser and chief investment officer, while also sitting on the firm’s Board of Directors.

Dave Nute has assumed the position of CEO for the firm as of January 1, 2017, and will also serve on the firm’s Board of Directors. He previously served in the role of COO. Prior to joining Arnerich Massena, Nute served as CFO and director of operations for a top-ten nationally recognized institutional investment advisor; as founder, COO, and CFO at Monsoon Commerce; as a consultant with Bain & Company; and as a portfolio manager for Sumitomo-Mitsui Trust. 

“Arnerich Massena is committed to carrying forward the independence, integrity, passion, and innovation that has made the firm successful under the guidance of founder Tony Arnerich,” says Nute. “As we move forward to the next stage of the firm, we look forward to bringing our clients our unique investment philosophy and approach with a renewed purpose and fresh perspective.”

Regarding these developments, founder Tony Arnerich said, “This transfer of ownership and succession plan carries forth our legacy and ensures a continuity of the service Arnerich Massena has come to be known for since 1991. The transition has been carefully planned to ensure seamless service to all clients and complete continuity in operations.”

For more information about Arnerich Massena shareholders, visit www.arnerichmassena.com.

NEXT: Vanguard Explores Behavioral Finance Through Investor Research Center

Vanguard Explores Behavioral Finance Through Investor Research Center  

Vanguard has opened its Center for Investor Research (CIR), an enhancement of the company’s efforts to drive investor success through behavioral research and experimentation.

Initially dedicated to study of the behavior of individual investors, CIR will examine how investors make decisions through observational studies based on Vanguard’s administrative data and the growing pool of digital interactions. Vanguard says The Center will also design experimental interventions—or “nudges”—to directly improve investor outcomes.

“Ultimately, Vanguard’s mission is to propel better investor outcomes,” says Steve Utkus, principal and head of the Center for Investor Research. The Center will take a data-driven, scientific view of investor behavior, and transform this knowledge into practical application. Our research agenda will advance our understanding of the fundamental nature of investor decision-making and uncover strategies to improve the financial lives of our investors.”

CIR is an evolution of the Vanguard Center for Retirement Research. Founded in 2001, it is recognized for its proprietary research covering developments in the defined contribution (DC) space, plan participant behavior, and retirement plan design.

“We know that successful investors exhibit smart behavior—they keep costs low, diversify their portfolio, and refrain from trading,” says Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb. “Investor behavior is at the heart of successful outcomes, and the aim of our new Center is to advance the case for better investor outcomes through research and experimental techniques in an increasingly digital world.”

NEXT: The Standard Hires Central Sales Region Consultant

The Standard Hires Central Sales Region Consultant 

The Standard hired Joshua Burnett as a retirement plan consultant for its Central Sales Region. He is based in The Standard’s Kansas City retirement plans sales and service office.

Burnett has more than 10 years of experience in the financial and insurance industry, specializing in retirement plans. Prior to joining The Standard, Josh worked as a regional sales director for Mutual of Omaha where he also held previous roles as a national wholesaler and retirement new business consultant.

“Josh’s background in retirement plan consulting will enhance the service and support we’re able to provide to our advisers in the region,” says Rita Taylor-Rodriguez, regional sales director for The Standard’s Central Sales Region. “We are thrilled to have him join our Central Sales Team.”

Josh graduated from Bellevue University with a master’s degree in management and a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. He sits on the board of directors of the Omaha Society of Financial Services Professionals and holds the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist designation, as well as Series 6 and 63 licenses.