Retirement Industry People Moves

Newfront Adds Sakata, Nelson to Retirement Services Team

Miki Sakata.

Newfront Insurance Services LLC, an insurance and retirement solutions firm, has hired Miki Sakata  as a retirement plan consultant and Zach Nelson as an account executive on the retirement services team.

Sakata joins from Three Bell Capital and will add tax-exempt expertise to Newfront’s team, according to an announcement. Nelson joins Newfront after almost two decades with Fidelity Investments, where he was most recently a managing director. He will work on client experience with a focus on enhancing the service model a

Zach Nelson.

nd scaling the service practice.

“Both Zach and Miki bring stellar reputations and years of experience to our accomplished, data-driven team,” Greg Kaplan, Newfront’s retirement services practice leader,  said in a statement.

Newfront has 800 employees operating in offices throughout the U.S., with headquarters in San Francisco.

“Newfront Retirement Services is well-known within the industry for its comprehensive and innovative consulting approach,” Sakata said. “I’m excited to bring our best-in-class solutions to my clients.”

Bartlett Joins Choreo From Creative Planning

Craig Bartlett.

Registered investment adviser Choreo Advisors has named Craig Bartlett senior vice president of advisers, according to a spokesperson.

Bartlett joins the financial planning and wealth management firm from Creative Planning, where he was director of wealth manager support and head of adviser success. He will be based in Minneapolis.

“I’m delighted to start the next chapter of my career with Choreo,” Bartlett said in a statement. “The chance to join the team and play a part of its very exciting growth story was an opportunity that was impossible for me to pass up.” 

Choreo has more than 185 employees in 39 locations managing $14.8 billion in assets, according to its website.

AdvisorCheck Names Tam CEO Ahead of Seed Funding Round

Adriel Tam.

AdvisorCheck, an investment management and resource analytics company and consumer-focused technology platform owned by AIMR Analytics Inc., has named Adriel Tam CEO.

The firm made the announcement as it opened a seed funding round in August and on the heels of seed funding of $1.8 million earlier this year. Tam joins from a role as CEO and co-founder of registered investment advisory Viridian Advisors, which had almost $1 billion AUM when it was acquired by Edelman Financial Engines in 2021.

“We currently are tracking over two thousand visitors a day on our site, and I want to see these numbers significantly increase for the benefit of consumer transparency and advisor advocacy,” Tam said in a statement. “I believe strongly in the value a good financial adviser and their team can add to every investor. Our next round of funding will take us from a proof of concept to a market disruptor.”

Principal Names Goosay Managing Director of Global Fixed Income

Michael Goosay.

Principal Financial Group has named Michael Goosay managing director of global fixed income and portfolio manager on select strategies for its asset management division.

Goosay will build on the firm’s multi-sector fixed-income investment strategies and solutions, according to an announcement. He will also be portfolio manager on Principal fixed income’s flagship short-term income, core, core plus and US/global multi-sector strategies and associated products.

“Michael’s experience, leadership, and creativity will further bolster our already strong global fixed income capabilities,” Kamal Bhatia, Principal’s global head of investments, said in a statement. “We look forward to his leadership and overall contribution in helping best serve our clients worldwide,”

Goosay joins Principal after 14 years at the Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s asset management division, where he was head of global pensions and multi-sector fixed-income portfolio management. Prior to that role, Goosay held senior positions at Drake Management LCC, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Prudential Financial Group and GE Asset Management.

Principal Asset Management’s fixed-income platform has $135.7 billion in assets under management across fixed-income sectors with global investment centers and more than 110 investment professionals.

RPAG Promotes Taylor to SVP of Business Development

Jess Taylor.

Retirement Plan Advisory Group promoted Jesse Taylor to senior vice president of business development, according to a company spokesperson. 

Taylor is responsible for sales, marketing and partnerships of its technology and resources to retirement plan advisers, RIAs and broker/dealers.

“With Jesse’s leadership, RPAG—which broke away from former owner NFP in May 2023—continues to launch new systems and solutions, as well as develop enhanced customization and data aggregation features,” a spokesperson wrote by email. “Jesse’s leadership at the firm, as well as his innovative ideas, have led RPAG to transform its branding, as well as its technology offerings.”

Taylor will serve on RPAG’s senior leadership committee, reporting to Nick Della Vedova, RPAG’s president.

Taylor has worked at RPAG since 2010, formerly serving as director of marketing, and has led sales and business development since 2020.

Voya Financial Promotes Thompson to Chief HR Officer

Branningan Thompson.

Voya Financial Inc. has promoted Brannigan Thompson to executive vice president and chief human resources officer, reporting to CEO Heather Lavallee, effective August 16.

Thompson will be responsible for human resources, corporate responsibility and the Voya Foundation and will direct strategy for attracting, retaining and developing world-class employees and incentivizing them, according to an announcement. He also will serve on Voya’s executive committee.

Thompson has been on Voya’s HR team for 23 years, joining from predecessor company ING in 2000.

“During Brannigan’s two decades at Voya, he has earned the trust and confidence of leaders across our organization, with a remarkable track record of success in key roles across the HR function,” Lavallee said in a statement. “Whether as an HR partner to our businesses or as talent development leader, where he has positively influenced the careers of numerous Voya executives, including me, Brannigan has played a key role in defining and advancing the Voya culture.”

Before being named co-lead of Voya’s HR team in May, Thompson was senior vice president of HR, workplace, corporate functions and talent and leadership. He began his career as an executive compensation consultant for Towers Perrin, which is now Willis Towers Watson.

Voya has 7,200 employees serving 14.7 million individual, workplace and institutional clients through health, wealth and investments.