Retirement Industry People Moves

CBIZ Inc. has acquired The Cottonwood Group Inc. of Overland Park, Kansas, effective December 1.

Cottonwood, with 15 employees, provides pension plan consulting, actuarial and investment services for institutional pension plans, retirement funds, endowment funds and foundations. The firm reports that it recorded approximately $3.1 million in revenue over the past year.

Janet Thompson, principal of Cottonwood, says joining CBIZ will allow the company to offer the national resources that will help them compete in today’s market. “We think joining CBIZ will also give our associates more room to grow in their careers and that will directly benefit our clients as well,” she says.

Steve Gerard, chairman and chief executive of CBIZ, cites Thompson and John Dykes, principal of Cottonwood, for their experience and reputation.

CBIZ acquired a pension administration firm in October and bough Tegrit Retirement Planning last year.   

NEXT: Arnerich Massena names new leadership in institutional services

Terri Schwartz has been named managing director of the institutional services group at Arnerich Massena Inc.

Previously, Schwartz was director of business development. She will be responsible for the strategic development of Arnerich Massena’s institutional and retirement plan services team, providing oversight of the firm’s services to corporate and non-profit clients. She will continue to oversee the firm’s business development team.

Schwartz has more than 30 years of experience in financial and investment consulting, client relations, and executive business planning. She previously served as director of consultant relations for Cutwater Asset Management, a BNY Mellon company, and as a financial consultant/principal and director of client relations for another consulting firm. She has also held various sales and marketing roles at Arnerich Massena & Associates, Inc., the Investment Consulting Group of Dain Bosworth, and Salomon Smith Barney.

Tony Arnerich, chief executive, cites Schwartz for her depth of experience and knowledge of the investment consulting industry.

Barry Salkin, a New York ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act) and employee benefits attorney, will join The Wagner Law Group as of counsel, effective January 1.

Salkin is a prolific ERISA and employee benefits lawyer, with substantial expertise in both qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, executive compensation, welfare plans, and Title I ERISA matters.

He has been published on a variety of ERISA topics and is an editor of the “Benefits Law Journal.” Salkin has also been selected as a New York Super Lawyer from 2011 to the present.

Marcia Wagner, managing director of The Wagner Law Group, says Salkin will add a strategic element of “outstanding expertise” to the firm’s attorneys.