Retirement Industry People Moves

Pentegra Hires Regional Director

Mark L. Smith has joined Pentegra as the firm’s regional director for its supplemental benefits and bank owned life insurance (BOLI) business in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas.

Smith brings to Pentegra more than 36 years of experience in the banking industry, which saw him lead various roles including agricultural loan officer and vice president of lending. He also served as CEO of community banks in Iowa and Missouri. Furthermore, Smith served as chairman of the board for the Missouri Independent Bankers Association (MIBA).

“We are pleased to have such an extraordinarily and accomplished industry veteran joining our team,” says Chuck Coldwell, Pentegra’s vice president and national directorof Consulting and BOLI Services. “Mark’s expertise and knowledge of the industry will be of great benefit to our organization and will certainly help us expand our reach in these key Midwestern states.”

Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University. He is a fully licensed insurance agent.

NEXT: PSCA Establishes HSA Committee

PSCA Establishes HSA Committee

The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) created a new committee to address Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as they relate to plan management and participants’ overall financial wellness and retirement readiness.

The new committee will be chaired by Tom Gordon, HR director, Total Rewards, Aon.  Other preliminary committee members includeHeather Cambray of Greatland Corporation, Carla Nelson of Robert W. Baird & Co., Pat Jarrett of Health Savings Administrators, Kelley Long of Financial Finesse, and Karin Rettger of Principal Resource Group Inc.

“In the coming months, we will look to refine the committee’s focus and add other interested members to this committee,” explains Gordon. “Plan sponsors are always looking to collaborate and gain better insight in order to help achieve optimal wellbeing and performance for employees and the organization.” 

Assets held in HSAs have doubled since 2012 and are expected to continue to grow, according to PSCA research. In fact, the House GOPs American Healthcare Act, which is aiming to replace the Affordable Care Act, is designed to increase HSA savings limits to match that of high deductible health plans (HDHP) at $6,550 for an individual and $13,100 for a family. 

NEXT: Hub Califronia Hires Benefits Leader

Hub Califronia Hires Benefits Leader

Martin Ryan has joined Hub California as its new employee benefits market leader for northern California. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUB International Limited, a global insurance brokerage, risk advisory and employee benefits firm.

His tasks include overseeing all regional employee benefit producers and recruiting new ones, while leading client service teams. He also will assist in identifying regional specialists in wellness, communications, and data analysis.

Most recently, Ryan served as senior director of employee benefits consulting for NFP, a national employee benefits and risk-management consultancy based in San Francisco, California. There, he was responsible for the design and service of employee benefit plans, HR programs, retirement plans and business insurance for employer groups of ten to twenty thousand employees. Prior to joining NFP, Ryan owned his own benefits consulting firm, Bay Benefits.

Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Arizona. He has served as legislative chair – NorCal for the National Association of Health Underwriters as well as numerous HR and employee benefit advisory groups.

"HUB California is dedicated to building a team of experts with local market specialization and industry experience in Northern California,” says Shannon Taylor, president of Western Regional Employee Benefits for HUB International. “John Ryan's expertise in management, recruiting, compliance, HR permutations and employee benefits plan design will provide our clients with much needed consultative resources in this area, and will support our employee benefits mission with value added solutions and innovative products that are specific to this market. John is the right guy for this very large job; he is a leader, a visionary and a pragmatist. I look forward to working with him for years to come."

NEXT: MPI Hires Tech-Focused Execs

MPI Hires Tech-Focused Execs

Markov Processes International (MPI), a provider of risk-management analytics tools, announced the addition of two new executives, Rohtas Handa and Aleksey Matiychenko.

Both will focus on product development and the integration of technology to enhance current tools and devise new solutions.  

Handa joins MPI as executive vice president, head of Institutional Solutions. He will be tasked with delivering MPI’s quantitative research and risk management solutions including transparency of alternative investments to asset owners and consultants. Throughout his career, Handa has worked with asset owners in the U.S. and Europe to adopt various indices and quantitative risk tools. Before joining MPI, he served as a partner at Optimal Asset Management, a boutique asset-management firm specializing in providing factor-based investment solutions to asset owners around the globe. 

Matiychenko joins as executive vice president, head of Transparency and Analytics. He will oversee product development and delivery of MPI’s software, data and analytical solutions. Prior to joining MPI, he founded Risk-AI, an award-winning risk management technology and consulting firm with a focus on hedge funds, fund-of-hedge-funds (FoHFs) and family offices.

There, he focused on enhancing the adoption of applications through emerging technologies including cloud and mobile software. Beforehand, Matiychenko served as vice president in the Risk Management and Quantitative Research Group at Ivy Asset Management, a FoHFs within BNY Mellon.  

“We are proud to bring Rohtas and Aleksey on board,” says Michael Markov, CEO and co-founder. “These professionals are an integral part of MPI’s next stage of growth and development as the leading independent provider of solutions to the investment management community. Our clients and partners will definitely benefit from their expertise and future contributions.”

NEXT: The Standard Names VP of Strategic Accounts

The Standard Names New VP of Strategic Accounts

Standard Insurance Company has named Graeme Queen as the second vice presidentof Strategic Account Services. He will focus on driving service strategy for key employer group clients and leading the team responsible for onboarding new customers. His tasks include responding to complex requests for proposals and administering data feeds. He will also be responsible for creating enrollment materials, as well as communications and technologies to service customers.

Queen joined The Standard in 2008 as an IT manager and has served in a number of IT leadership roles at The Standard supporting Claims Processing, Retirement Plans, Employee Benefits and the Contact Center. Most recently, he co-led the Voluntary Products program, which introduced The Standard’s Supplemental products to the market. Prior to his time at The Standard, Queen led an application development team at PacifiCorp and has served in various IT, business and customer service roles.

Queen earned his bachelor’s degree in physics at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, and his master’s degree from Portland State University.

“Graeme has demonstrated technical and market expertise that will be critical in helping us achieve our National Account service strategy,” says Todd Johnston, vice presidentof Customer Service and Shared Services. “He is a valuable and important addition, and I am thrilled to have him join our team.”

NEXT: Unified Trust Company Expands Retirement Services

Unified Trust Company Expands Retirement Services

National fiduciary-services provider Unified Trust Company has announced a new line of business focusing on providing administrative services for retirement plans. The Plan Administration and Service unit grew out of the firm’s retirement plan consulting group. It will be led by Justin Morgan who will serve as managing director overseeing plan administration and recordkeeping services, while also providing leadership direction throughout the firm’s defined contribution line of business.

The new unit will leverage tech-driven enhancements and administration services in a values-driven culture, the firm says. Morgan’s responsibilities include working with managers at Unified Trust Company to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of plan operation workflows with a focus on high-touch service and participant outcomes.

Morgan is a Qualified Pension Administrator (QPA), Qualified 401(k) Administrator (QKA), Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF). He joined Unified Trust Company in 2005.

“Justin Morgan has a deep understanding of the complex interplay of the plan sponsor’s day-to-day needs and the role of the retirement plan adviser,” says Gregory Kasten, Founder and CEO of Unified Trust Company. “I am confident his administrative group will work collaboratively to help both advisers and plan sponsors, so more employees are on track to retire successfully.”

NEXT: Hooker & Holcombe Expands Retirement Services

Churchill Asset Management Hires Senior Adviser

Kevin Burke has been hired as a senior adviser with Churchill Asset Management, a majority-owned affiliate of Nuveen.

Burke will be responsible for helping Churchill develop middle-market private credit investment funds, and strategies designed to meet the current income needs of institutional and high-net worth investors across the globe.

Prior to joining Churchill, Burke served as senior managing director of Antares Capital, where he led the firm’s loan syndication, sales and trading division. During his 30-year career, he has held senior roles at GE Capital and Bankers Trust (now Deutsche Bank). He’s also a member of the Board of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association.

Churchill is led by a senior management and investment team that has an average of more than 25 years of experience in middle-market lending. Today, it has approximately $2.7 billion of committed capital under management. Nuveen offers range of investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors.

NEXT: Arnerich Massena Announces Senior Consultant Promotion

Arnerich Massena Announces Senior Consultant Promotion

Portland-based investment firm Arnerich Massena has promoted Corrie Oliva, CFA, to a senior consultant position. She will be tasked with consulting corporate, public, and not-for-profit organizations in Arnerich Massena’s institutional group. She’s versed in various aspects of defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) plan administration including investment menu design and investment manager research.

Oliva has more than 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Arnerich Massena, she served as the vice president of advisory services for Northwest Capital Management and as a principal and consultant for RVK. She graduated cum luade with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with finance and real estate concentrations from the University of San Diego. She earned her master’s degree in financial analysis from Portland State University. She is member of the Portland Chapter of the CFA Society, serving as the Membership/Education Chair of the Board of Directors. She also was named one of Top Women Advisors MVP List in 2015 by the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA).

“This promotion is an acknowledgement of Corrie’s dedication to doing excellent work for her clients,” says Terri Schwartz, managing director of Institutional Services. “Corrie has an understanding of the retirement plan landscape and how to help plan sponsors navigate through it effectively. She is a very skilled and knowledgeable consultant.”

NEXT: intellicents Adds Financial Planning to Services Menu

intellicents Adds Financial Planning to Services Menu 

Formerly Alliance Benefit Group Financial Services, intellicents has added fee-based wealth management and financial planning to its services menu with the addition of David Busselman.

A previous employee of Charles Schwab, Busselman has more than 12 years of industry experience primarily focusing on wealth management and retirement planning for individual clients. He’s held various roles at Fidelity Investments.

“We have 24 retirement plan clients covering almost 6,000 participants throughout the Twin Cities,” explains Brad Arends, CEO of intellicents. “A new client this past year required that we not only provide retirement education and advice to their participant base, but actual on-site financial planning services. David is our solution. We now plan to introduce this service to our other area clients as part of our broader financial wellness efforts; and we have already started the search for other Certified Financial Planners in other locations like Mankato, Albert Lea, and Rochester, Minnesota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.; Des Moines, Iowa, and Kansas City, Kansas, where we have a large population of 401(k) clients and participants.”

Arends anticipates on-site financial planning services to become part of intellicents’ core 401(k) participant service offering. “In fact, we are actively working to develop a program that provides financial planning services as part of an employer’s general voluntary benefits menu,” he says.

The firm intellicents offers group insurance consulting, retirement plan design, fiduciary investment consulting, and personal wealth management services.

“My training in the branch system at Schwab was invaluable to my role here at intellicents; plus their allmymoney financial wellness app really focuses the participant into organizing his financial life and establishing a plan for successful financial outcomes,” says Busselman. “A 401(k) participant can’t be expected to contribute more money toward his retirement if he is maxed out on numerous credit cards, doesn’t have a budget, and can’t balance his check book.”