Retirement Industry People Moves

Paychex’s 401(k) recordkeeping clients supported by LPL Financial now have access to LPL’s Employee Advice Solution (EAS). This online system provides plan participants with tailored financial advice and education, the firm says.

The EAS can help employees digitally visualize their entire financial pictures, and they can elect to receive advice throughout retirement. Individuals also have access to advisers who can help them personalize their retirement savings strategies.

Paychex points to a study by Morningstar which showed that participants who received professional online advice for retirement planning increased savings rates by nearly 28%, and 87% of respondents acted on recommendations to save more.

“Paychex is committed to providing 401(k) participants with the tools and education they need to navigate the retirement planning process with ease, flexibility, and service at every step,” says Tom Hammond, vice president of corporate strategy and product management at Paychex. “The ability to offer plan participants access to financial advice from LPL Financial is another way Paychex focuses on helping our retirement services clients optimize this important employee benefit.”

EAS adds to the suite of tools and services that Paychex offers through LPL’s employee Worksite Financial Solutions. The worksite offers retirement guidance, education, and managed accounts. Enrollment in Worksite includes LPL Small Market Solution, which Paychex began offering to its customers in 2016. The Small Market Solution is designed to help advisers and plan sponsors met fiduciary requirements, while enhancing efficiency.

NEXT: Amerilife Names New CEO

Insurance industry veteran Scott R. Perry has been named CEO of AmeriLife. He will succeed Timothy O. North, who announced his plans to retire last year, and will now serve as chairman of AmeriLife’s Board of Directors.

“The life and health insurance industry is facing monumental disruption driven by shifts in demographics, consumer preferences, technology and the regulatory environment,” says Perry. “AmeriLife, with its diverse insurance product portfolio, powerful distribution and advanced technology platform, is well positioned to respond to these changes. I intend to build on the tremendous legacy that Tim and the AmeriLife team created, and further position the company as the first choice and most-trusted insurance provider, serving Americans across the country.”

Perry’s experience in the insurance industry spans more than 30 years which included time spent as chief business officer of the CNO Financial Group in Chicago, and president of Bankers Life. While at CNO Financial, he was responsible for multichannel operations across each of its three insurance subsidiaries: Washington National, Colonial Penn and Bankers Life.

“We are excited to have Scott take the helm,” says AmeriLife Board Member Eric Rahe. “As an industry thought-leader whose intuitive and innovative stewardship have led several insurance and financial institutions to profitable growth, we welcome the perspective he brings to AmeriLife. His experience and implementation of best-in-class practices in market analytics, customer acquisition and agent recruitment will accelerate AmeriLife’s continuing expansion.

AmeriLife specializes in developing, marketing and distributing annuity, life and health insurance solutions.

NEXT: New Sales Consultant Joins The Retirement Advantage

Grant Livingston has joined The Retirement Advantage as its regional sales consultant serving the firm’s New England clients.

Focusing on retirement plans, Livingston has more than 20 years in the financial and insurance services industry. Before joining TRA, she served as a marketing director for Paragon Alliance Group. He’s also held regional sales director positions with MassMutual, Transamerica and WisdomTree Asset Management.  

"Grant's background in retirement plan consulting will enhance the service and support we're able to provide to our financial advisors and recordkeeping wholesalers in the region," says Craig Mazzini, national sales manager of TRA. "We are thrilled to have him join our sales team." 

Livingston will succeed David Egel, who is retiring at the end of February after a 40-plus year career in the retirement plan industry. With TRA, Egel focused on providing consulting to financial advisers and plan sponsors throughout New England. He is also an attorney and a member of the Massachusetts and U.S. Supreme Court Bar Associations. 

TRA is a third party administrator (TPA) specializing in administration, consultation and compliance of retirement plans for privately held businesses nationwide. The firm services more than 5,800 plan sponsors, 350,000 plan participants and has more than $5 billion in retirement assets under its administration.

NEXT: Custodia Financial Adds Staff to Retirement Loan Eraser Program

Kim Zimmerman and Kevin Crews have joined Custodia Financial with key roles in the firm’s Retirement Loan Eraser program, a platform designed to help plan sponsors prevent 401(k) loan defaults.

Zimmerman will serve as senior project manager responsible for establishing new users on RLE. With more than 20 years of experience in the retirement services industry, she has held several roles with Fidelity Investments. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Dallas, and a bachelor’s degree from Westminister College.

Crews joins the firm as operations director overseeing insurance premiums, claims processing, and other factors. Beforehand, he led an administrative unit supporting retirement plans with Newport Group. He brings to his new role a decade of experience in the financial services industry. He earned a master’s degree from Amberton University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma. 

"We are thrilled to have talented professionals like Kim and Kevin join our team,” says George White, executive vice president. “Their experience supporting large clients at leading retirement firms and their unique familiarity with the widespread issue of 401(k) loan leakage will help Custodia move the industry forward to safeguard and protect retirement loans.”

To learn more about RLE, visit Loaneraser.com

NEXT: Cetera Financial Group Names New President

Thomas B. Taylor has been named president of Cetera Advisor Networks, part of the Cetera Financial Group. He most recently served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Cetera Advisor Networks, and will replace Douglas S. King.

Taylor will bring more than 26 years of experience to his new role. He joined the firm in 1997 and has served in numerous leadership positions including chief operating officer. Prior to joining Cetera, he worked for Securities Corp. where he spent five years as a registered representative before being promoted to sales manager.

Taylor, with more than 26 years of financial industry experience, joined Cetera Advisor Networks in 1997 and worked across a series of management roles, becoming chief operating officer of the firm in 2006. During that time, he has been instrumental in developing many of the company's new operational, technological and sales initiatives. Before joining Cetera Advisor Networks, Taylor spent five years as a top-producing registered representative at Liberty Securities Corp./IFMG before being promoted to sales manager. He also ran an investment program and managed a corps of advisers for a financial institution in southern California.

Cetera CEO Robert J. Moore says, "As a longstanding and highly effective member of the senior leadership team at Cetera Advisor Networks, Tom has earned tremendous respect from the firm's advisers, regional directors and staff for not only his leadership ability, but his depth and breadth of knowledge of all aspects of the business. I am confident that Tom's extensive familiarity with the firm's culture, coupled with his business expertise, will enable him to continue to drive enormous success at Networks through the delivery of exceptional support for years to come."

NEXT: Fiduciary Investment Advisors Expands Retirement Practice  

Tyler Polk has been named partner and senior consultant of Fiduciary Investment Advisors (FIA). Since joining the firm in 2011, he’s served on numerous committees including the defined contribution team and the 403(b) Committee. Polk specializes in advising institutional clients and guiding them through fiduciary liability, plan benchmarking, and participant education planning, and fee analysis.

After joining FIA in 2009 and serving as senior consultant, Michael Chase has been named a partner. He’s versed in portfolio construction, capital markets and governance oversight. Chase chairs the firm’s Endowment & Foundation Committee and is a member of the firm’s Discretionary Investment Services Committee, which is responsible for the oversight and management of the firm’s discretionary investment portfolios. 

Christian Coleman has been named a partner and director of business development and marketing of the firm. Coleman joined in 2008, and he leads FIA’s sales and marketing team.

Matthew Kaminski, CFA, has been named a partner and director, manager research of the firm. Joining the firm in 2009, he now leads the firm’s manager research group and due diligence effort. He’s covered several asset classes during his time at the firm and continues to maintain coverage in fixed income and private equity, and also is a member of the 401(k)/403(b) Strategic Oversight Committee which sees him conducting research on target-date and stable value strategies.

“We are pleased to announce these well-deserved promotions, which recognize the hard work and substantial contributions these individuals have made in helping serve our clients,” says FIA President Mark Wetzel. “FIA continues to grow in all of our major businesses; advising retirement plans, endowments and foundations, and families, now exceeding $50 billion, and we remain dedicated to providing the highest level of service and advice to all our clients through qualified associates like Mike, Chris, Matt and Tyler.”

NEXT: Segal Group Makes Executive Promotions

Segal Group Makes Executive Promotions

The Segal Group has named John Flynn the firm’s new chief operating officer. Flynn serves as vice president and has lead the East region for the past decade. In his new role, he will oversee the regional Leaders from the East, Midwest, New York and West. Flynn also will continue overseeing Segal Group’s Canadian business.

Senior vice president John Gingell has been named The Segal Group’s chief practice officer. For the past decade, he has lead the firm’s Midwest region. He will now be responsible for the company’s practices spanning health, retirement, and compliance; as well as special practices such as administration and technology consulting, communications consulting, and Segal Select Insurance Services.

Stuart Wohl, a senior vice president, has been named East Region Leader. In the last decade, he has served as East region health practice leader. He joined the firm in 1988, and has also served as Segal’s retiree health practice leader.

Mitchell Bramstaedt was named the Midwest region Leader. Throughout his 24-year span with Segal, this senior vice president has held several Midwest leadership roles while working with large multiemployer and public-sector clients.

“I am excited by what these changes mean for our ability to better serve clients and to aid in growth and professional development opportunities for my Segal Group colleagues going forward,” says David Blumenstein, president and CEO of The Segal Group.

NEXT: The Standard Hires Retirement Plan Consultant

Matt Daniels has been hired by The Standard as the firm’s new retirement plan consultant for the East Sales Region.

Daniels brings to his new role 14 years in the financial services industry which he spent working as a sales consultant for a boutique retirement consulting group and as wholesaler for a recordkeepeing firm.

“Throughout his career Matt has served in various roles within the industry, from wholesaler to financial adviser, which makes him a well-rounded addition to the team,” says Mark Bransford, regional sales director for The Standard’s East Sales Region. “He’s able to step right into the role of being a resource to our adviser partners.”

Daniels holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies, as well as FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. He also earned Michigan Life and Health Insurance licenses. Daniels graduated from Wayne State University.

The Standard offers financial products and services including group and individual disability insurance, retirement plan products and individual annuities.