Retirement Industry People Moves

DWS Names Paul Kelly Head of Alternatives Business in Growth Push

Asset Manager DWS Group appointed Paul M. Kelly global head of its roughly $133 million alternatives business. Kelly will oversee the division managing assets in real estate, infrastructure, liquid real assets and sustainable investments.

“Paul is an industry veteran with an extensive track record across private and public markets,” DWS CEO Stefan Hoops said in a press release. “We expect that, despite near-term market volatility, alternatives will continue its growth trajectory, fueled by the rise in retail demand and the attractive yield opportunities presented in areas such as real assets and private credit.”

Kelly joins DWS from Blackstone, where he was a senior managing director and chief operating officer of Blackstone Credit and was a key partner in driving growth in direct lending, insurance and other private credit strategies. Prior to Blackstone, Kelly spent nearly 20 years at J.P. Morgan in a variety of leadership positions. He will join DWS in February 2023 and will be based in New York.

WTW Appoints Erica Johnson as Rewards Data Intelligence Leader for North America

Insurance company Willis Towers Watson appointed Erica Johnson rewards data intelligence leader for North America in the company’s work and rewards division. Johnson will be responsible for driving the growth strategy of RDI in the region and be a member of the RDI global leadership team.

“Erica’s industry knowledge, combined with her experience in sales, business development and commercial strategy development, makes her well positioned to lead our team in North America,” Sambhav Rakyan, global business head for data and compensation software, said in a press release.

Johnson was formerly at Mercer, where she was the North American career products sales and commercial strategy leader and served on the products leadership team.

PGIM Hires VP of DEI Strategy and Industry Engagement

PGIM, Inc., the $1.2 trillion global investment arm of Prudential Financial, has expanded its global office of diversity, equity and inclusion  with the appointment of Natalie Gill as vice president of DEI strategy and industry engagement.

Gill will be based in London and will report to Kathy Sayko, the firm’s chief DEI officer. In the new role, Gill will drive the continued evolution of PGIM’s DEI strategy, bringing best practices and innovation from across the asset management industry, financial services and DEI practitioners to inform and develop the approach.

 “We are thrilled to welcome her to the PGIM team and are excited about the many ways her experience, passion and deep knowledge can ensure we continue to offer our people a diverse and inclusive environment and to create a more equitable industry, where all people can thrive,” Sayko said in a press release.

Gill previously worked at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, where she was head of diversity and inclusion, EMEA, and responsible for designing the DEI strategy across the region for the firm. Prior to that, Gill was an inclusion and diversity lead in the human resources, culture and inclusion team at the Santander Group.

Deals

Mercer Advisors Acquires $5B AUM Regis Management

Mercer Advisors acquired Regis Management Company, a wealth management firm based in San Francisco with $5 billion in assets under management.

Regis is focused on ultra-high-net worth clients by offering customized services in investment management, tax efficiency and philanthropy. Through the acquisition, Regis will be able to leverage Mercer Advisors’ expansive array of in-house family office services, such as estate planning, trustee services and tax consulting and return preparation, the companies said. The Regis investment offering spans marketable securities, concentrated equity positions, alternative investments and private investments.

“Regis manages the multigenerational wealth of our clients. By definition, their wealth will exceed many lifetimes, including my own and those of my partners,” Bob Burlinson, Regis co-founder, CIO and managing partner, said in a press release. “Partnering with Mercer Advisors will allow us to attract, train and retain world-class talent to ensure best-in-class service beyond our lifetimes.”

Berkshire Global Advisors LP served as the exclusive financial adviser to Regis.

RetirementInvestments.com Buys Personal Finance Brand 

RetirementInvestments.com bought Personalincome.org, a personal finance brand for new investors that was founded by the current founder and CEO of RetirementInvestments.

RetirementInvestments.com’s business focuses on teaching and educating consumers about how to become financially savvy and make their own investment decisions. The acquisition of Personalincome.org will bring resources to the site geared to entrepreneurs, investors and finance enthusiasts.

“As the original founder of Personalincome.org, it has been a blessing in disguise to be able to acquire a business that I originally launched in 2016, and then sold in 2018,” Donny Gamble, founder and CEO of RetirementInvestments.com, said in a press release. “This acquisition will help us continue to grow into one of the leading websites of financial education for the average person.”

Personalincome.org will merge with RetirementInvestments.com to become one independent financial website and brand, the release said.

Perigon Wealth Acquires $330M Nauset Wealth Management

San Francisco-based Perigon Wealth Management acquired Nauset Wealth Management of Westport, Connecticut, to add its $330 million in assets under management.

Nauset is a four-person registered investment adviser with $330 million in AUM and a focus on financial planning and portfolio management. The firm was founded by Michael Lombardo, who will join Perigon as a partner and wealth adviser. David Bauer of Nauset, who was a founding partner in investment-company consultant Casey Quirk, will join him in the same position as partner and wealth adviser.

Perigon, which manages more than $4 billion in client assets, will enhance its presence in the Northeast and Southeast, Perigon CEO Art Ambarik said in a press release.

Perigon also said in the release that financial advisor Tom Tolleson, previously a wealth advisor at Catalyst Wealth Management in Atlanta, will join Perigon’s new Atlanta office—its first office in the city. 

Perigon has added teams and offices across four major markets since December 2021. In September, the firm announced a merger with PM Wealth Management and formed a strategic alliance with Prager Metis tax advisory firm.