Retirement Industry People Moves

Art by Subin Yang

Business Development Manager Joins Transamerica

Transamerica announced that Steven Geisert joined the company as senior manager of Business Development for retirement plans. He will report to Charmaine Hughes Lee, director of Business Development, Workplace Solutions.

Geisert will oversee the business development efforts for retirement plans across the country. He will focus on managing national account relationships, creating firm-level business planning, and implementing business development strategies with Transamerica’s top distribution partners.

During more than 25 years in the retirement plan industry, Geisert has experience in retirement plan management and distribution, including sales, product design, adviser training, qualified plan regulations, and compliance.

Geisert earned a bachelor’s degree from Queens College of the City University of New York and holds Certified 401(k) Professional and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor credentials.

TRA Increases Regional Sales Team with New Hires

The Retirement Advantage, Inc. (TRA) has added Bryan Foard and Jeremy Noland to its Regional Sales Consultant team, reporting to Jeff Schreiber, TRA’s director of Sales.

Both will be tasked with partnering with financial advisers and wholesalers, in their respective territory, to design and implement optimal retirement plan concepts for privately-held businesses. 

Foard has 20 years’ experience in the industry and has developed hundreds of satisfied plan sponsors, adviser relationships and wholesaler partnerships. His territory consists of Southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining TRA, Foard was a manager of retirement plan compliance with LeTort Trust in the Pennsylvania area; overseeing the operating compliance of the Retirement Services Group. Prior to his time with LeTort Trust, he spent the previous 15 years as a vice president and administrator with Valley Forge Pension Management and Sterling Financial Trust Company.

“This is a great time to join TRA, with multiple new initiatives and a product roadmap in place that aligns with this continually growing market,” says Foard. “I look forward to working with my clients and helping them find the best solutions that will help their business.”

Foard is a graduate of Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and currently holds his Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA) designation through ASPPA. 

Noland also has 20 years’ experience in the industry and has the ability to simplify complex plan designs providing custom solutions for each client. His territory is comprised of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Noland is joining TRA from Heartland Retirement Plan Services where he operated as a business development manager. Before Heartland he had various roles with Ascensus, Montage Investments, and Ivy Funds. 

He says, “Retirement plans require specialized expertise in managing fiduciary risks and efficiently administering the plan. It is my desire to maximize our strength and penetration of our products which are known as some of the most competitive in the industry”.

Noland acquired his bachelor’s degree in finance/minor in sociology from Baker University. He has his FINRA Series 7, 6, 63, 65 licenses’.

Morgan Stanley Adds Hires to Financial Solutions Team

Morgan Stanley has hired two financial professionals for its Morgan Stanley at Work team.

Krystal Barker Buissereth, who served on the Digital Strategy team at Goldman Sachs and is a CFA charterholder, has joined Morgan Stanley to lead Financial Wellness, reporting to Marc McDonough. In her previous role, Buissereth provided leadership for the development of new product and service offerings across employer financial wellness programs and direct to consumer wealth management services for the Ayco and Goldman Sachs wealth management businesses.

Marc McDonough, former SVP of Workplace Financial Solutions at Charles Schwab, joined Morgan Stanley in mid-May as head of Workplace Experience and Sales Enablement, reporting to Brian McDonald, head of Morgan Stanley at Work. In this role, McDonough is overseeing Financial Wellness, Education and Content, Field Sales Support, Digital Experience, Field Training and Corporate Participant Experience. In his previous role at Schwab, McDonough’s teams supported over 2,200 clients with equity compensation, designated brokerage, and financial wellness programs.

Morgan Stanley at Work offers a suite of workplace financial solutions, including Retirement, Financial Wellness and its new equity management offering, Shareworks by Morgan Stanley.

The Standard Promotes Defined Benefits Director

Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) has promoted Rob Vidin to second vice president and actuary for Retirement Plans.

In his new role, Vidin will run the defined benefits (DB) business within the Retirement Plans team, evaluating adjacent opportunities to complement the existing DB offering.

Vidin joined The Standard in 2016 as the senior director of Defined Benefits. Prior to joining The Standard, he served as a consulting actuary at Venuti & Associations, Rael & Letson and Mercer.

Vidin earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at Portland State University. He is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, and Enrolled Actuary and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

PCS Hires VP of Service

PCS, LLC (PCS) has hired Stephen J. Carney as vice president of service.

Carney will optimize PCS’ approach to customer service for clients in the qualified retirement market, leveraging more than 20 years of leadership experience in financial operations, risk and sales.

Prior to joining PCS, Carney managed the delivery of regulatory, financial and consultative services to clients at Ascensus. Earlier in his career, he directed service operations for CitiStreet Total Benefits Outsourcing and State Street in Jacksonville, Florida. He managed teams responsible for defined contribution, defined benefit and health and welfare platforms, plus benefits consulting for qualified and non-qualified defined contribution plans.

“I’ve dedicated my career to improving the customer experience for clients in need of comprehensive benefit solutions,” says Carney. “I’m excited to join PCS to help advisers, plan sponsors and participants better prepare for retirement by improving their experience with our platform.”

Carney received a bachelor’s degree in finance and financial management services from Saint Anselm College.