Retirement Industry People Moves

Art by Subin Yang

TPA Firm to Join Ascensus

Ascensus has entered into an agreement to acquire HR Simplified, a third-party administration (TPA) firm that services consumer-directed health (CDH) plans and provides COBRA administration. HR Simplified’s offerings include health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), pre-tax commuter benefit programs and other benefit continuation services. It will immediately become part of Ascensus’ Health and Benefits line of business.

HR Simplified, based in Minneapolis, has been providing national employee benefit administrative solutions since 1997. The firm offers a full suite of pre-tax spending account administration options, COBRA and retiree billing solutions, and employee benefit compliance services.

“HR Simplified is a well-regarded firm that is renowned for offering a ‘no noise’ approach to benefits administration and serving their clients with passion, enthusiasm, and integrity,” says David Musto, president of Ascensus. “When combined with the fact that they’ve developed and cultivated a solid reputation for reliability and dependability, it’s easy to understand why we believe that they’ll play an important role in the growth of Ascensus’ Health and Benefits line of business.”

“I’ve always stated that the foundation of HR Simplified’s success is the human touch,” says Mike Melnychuk, HR Simplified’s president. “In Ascensus, we’ve found an organization that will allow us to continue to offer the very best in benefits administration; they share our dedication to providing excellent service and finding solutions that best fit clients’ needs.”

EGPS Acquires Feldman Benefit Services

Economic Group Pension Services (EGPS) Inc., a third-party consulting and administration firm, has acquired Feldman Benefit Services Inc., based in Springfield, New Jersey, as of January 1.  

“Their unique organization, expertise, and technique greatly aligns with EGPS’s overall vision,” says Daniel Liss, CEO of EGPS. “Providing personalized service while having access to top national resources is an advantage that will guide the combined companies in the continued direction for strategic growth.”

Elise Feldman, previously president of Feldman Benefit Services Inc., is now regional vice president for the New Jersey regional office for EGPS.

“We are structured through a solutions-driven approach,” explains Feldman. “This transition will significantly improve and exceed our clients’ needs by still providing a tailored approach while adding greater resources, which will allow us to influence a greater market.” 

Mutual of Omaha Announces 401(k) Team Promotion

Laura Huscroft has been promoted to vice president of 401(k) at Mutual of Omaha.

In her new role, Huscroft will focus on product management and development. Huscroft has spent her entire career in the financial services industry. Prior experience includes life and annuity product pricing, Medicare supplement product pricing and enterprise risk management.

Huscroft earned her bachelor’s degree in actuarial science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She’s also a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Mutual of Omaha is a full-service, multi-line organization providing insurance, banking and financial products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States.

Segal Consulting Adds VP and Consulting Actuary to San Francisco Office

Todd Tauzer has joined Segal Consulting as vice president and consulting actuary in the San Francisco office. In this role, Tauzer will be supporting public sector clients.

Tauzer joined Segal from S&P Global Ratings where he was director of municipal pensions. There he developed an analytical framework to assess the sustainability of public sector pension plans and other post-employment benefits plans. Prior to joining S&P Global Ratings, Tauzer was a senior pension actuary with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) for close to 10 years. While at CalPERS, he led in the development of a risk-mitigation policy that earned the 2016 Award for Excellence in Government Finance from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Tauzer is a frequent speaker at industry events, including those sponsored by the Brookings Institute, the National Federation of Municipal Analysts, the Society of Municipal Analysts, the National Conference of State Legislators and the GFOA. He is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and a fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries as well as an active committee member with these organizations. Tauzer is also a chartered enterprise risk analyst.

Tauzer was a Regents Scholar at the University of California, Davis, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and in Economics.

Relationship Manager Joins BPAS San Juan Team

BPAS is expanding its Puerto Rico service team. Effective July 1, Steven Graciani will join BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico as a relationship manager based in San Juan.

Graciani will service Puerto Rican plan sponsors and financial advisers associated with the BPAS PR 1081 business. His role will focus on onboarding new plans, client and financial adviser training, plan audit support and general client communication. Graciani has spent the past 15 years working with plan sponsors in Puerto Rico.  He has extensive experience with BPAS services and clients.

“We are excited to have Steven join the BPAS team,” says Alfredo Matheu, president of BPAS Trust Company of Puerto Rico.  “Through a strong combination of expertise in local regulations, PR Trust capacities, DC and DB services, and local staff, BPAS is uniquely positioned to assist plan sponsors with operations in PR.”

Aviva Investors Hires Chicago-Based Portfolio Manager and Equity Analysts

Aviva Investors will be expanding its U.S. equities business.

Robert Plaza has joined the firm as portfolio manager from Key Private Bank, where he was director of equity research, while Nick Nikitas and Adam Schmitz have joined as equity analysts from Robert. W. Baird and Harris Associates, respectively.

Their roles are based in Chicago, and they will report to Susan Schmidt, head of U.S. Equities at Aviva Investors.

Including the latest hires, 18 investment professionals have joined the equities platform since the Aviva Investors expansion in January 2018.

“We are excited about the expansion of our U.S. equities team. It will complement our growing global equities platform and our expanding North American fixed income capabilities, allowing us to better serve clients regionally and around the globe,” says Tom Meyer, head of Americas client solutions at Aviva Investors.