Retirement Industry People Moves

Art by Subin Yang

TRA Brings Back Former Sales Rep

The Retirement Advantage Inc. (TRA) has re-hired Phil Kennedy as its latest regional sales consultant, covering a territory that includes Colorado, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Kennedy will report to Jeff Schreiber, director of Sales with TRA.

Kennedy will be responsible for partnering with plan advisers, recordkeeping wholesalers and plan providers in the retirement plan arena. His primary focus will be on the design and implementation of optimal employer sponsored retirement plans for both the private and public (not-for-profit) sectors of the market.

He has worked in the financial services and retirement plans industries for more than 13 years and was most recently employed as a regional sales rep for Ameritas. Prior to TRA, he held various sales roles with Lincoln Trust, Great West Financial and a regional third-party administrator (TPA).

“With his expertise in retirement plan design, adviser practice management, marketing and communications, Phil will enhance the service and support we’re able to provide to our advisers in the region,” Schreiber says. “We are delighted to have him re-join our sales team.”

Kennedy graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in finance and financial management services. He currently holds the FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities licenses.

Alan Biller and Associates Announces New CEO

Alan Biller and Associates has announced that John D. Skjervem will join the firm in April as its new chief executive officer. In that role, Skjervem succeeds founder Alan Biller, who will retain the role of chairman and will remain active in both the firm’s operations and client service initiatives.

Prior to joining the Oregon State Treasury, Skjervem was an executive vice president at Northern Trust, where he held portfolio management and leadership positions, including as chief investment officer for that firm’s $180 billion assets under management (AUM) wealth management division.

In addition to his leadership responsibilities in Oregon, Skjervem is the chair of the Pacific Pension Institute’s Board of Directors and chair of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s Investor Advisory Group. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Skjervem also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

At Alan Biller and Associates, Skjervem will be involved in all aspects of the firm’s activities, including investment strategy, client service and daily operations management. Joining Skjervem and Biller in senior management are Vice Chair Nancy Melton, President Jennifer Newell, and Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer Jim Rankin.

National Sales Director Joins Aspire

Aspire Financial Services LLC has hired Matt Drummond as national sales director, Individual Accounts. 

Drummond reports to Pete Kirtland, CEO of Aspire, a division of PCS Retirement LLC. In this role, he is responsible for growing Aspire’s position in this marketplace while driving additional product innovation.

Drummond began his career in the financial services industry in 2001 as an AXA Advisor financial consultant for public school employees. In 2010, he moved into a role focused on helping AXA grow its tax-exempt markets across the country. Most recently, Drummond was managing director, head of Tax-Exempt Sales and Business Development for AXA Equitable and was responsible for sales, government relations, key accounts and strategy.

Aspire is a provider of retirement plan solutions in the individual tax-exempt retirement plan market with a focus on 403(b) and 457 plans.

“I am thrilled to join the PCS|Aspire team. Their low-cost, fee transparency and adviser-friendly platform are features that I have always admired. Aspire is in a wonderful position to help reshape the non-ERISA [Employee Retirement Income Security Act] retirement plan market and I am proud to be a part of it,” Drummond states.

PGIM Adds Retirement Investment Solutions VP

PGIM Investments hired Steven Krauszer as vice president, Retirement Investment Solutions. In this new role, Krauszer will cover the southern division of the United States (including Texas, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas).

Krauszer is based in Austin, Texas, and reports to Tony Fiore, SVP, DCIO national sales manager at PGIM Investments.

Prior to joining PGIM Investments, Krauszer spent 25 years with Invesco in various institutional DCIO (defined contribution investment only), business development, national account and consultant relations roles. Most recently, he was senior vice president, senior retirement plan consultant for the Invesco DCIO retirement division covering Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Krauszer earned his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in political science from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He also earned his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation through the Investments & Wealth Institute and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

“As the retirement industry continues to evolve, our Retirement Investment Solutions team is committed to helping advisers and consultants strengthen their relationships with plan sponsors, providing the resources they need to address the changing dynamics of the retirement business,” Fiore says. “Steven’s 25 years of experience in the retirement space will be a tremendous asset to the team and to our clients. We are thrilled to have him join us.”