Reliance Trust Hires Buckles to Lead Expanded Retirement Unit

A news release said Reliance Trust has hired Kent Buckles, former CEO of Invesmart Inc., and former Senior Vice President of Standard Insurance Company, to lead the unit that will address the emerging fiduciary risks of qualified retirement plans, public company stock funds, ESOP transactions, and stable value funds. 

Buckles will join Reliance Trust senior consultants Stephen Martin, Howard Kaplan, and Lance Studdard, who have been responsible for growing the company. Buckles will direct all Special Fiduciary Services operations and contribute to the strategic development of fiduciary activities for Reliance Trust. He will also work with Reliance Financial Corporation’s senior leadership to advance several of the company’s long-term initiatives and programs for its Special Fiduciary Services team.

Prior to joining Reliance Trust, Buckles was the Vice President of Retirement Plans of Standard Insurance Company where he managed the merger of two sales organizations, developing an institutional sales unit, and integrated an investment advisory unit as well as developing a fully integrated marketing organization. He has also served as the CEO of Investmart Inc., First Vice President CEO of Merrill Lynch & Company, and President and COO of Howard Johnson & Company.

Buckles received a Juris Doctor from the Seattle University School of Law, a Master of Laws-Taxation (LLM) from Boston University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington.