Retirement Industry People Moves

Art by Subin Yang

Wilshire Phoenix Announces Partner in New Division

Mason Stark has been named a partner and head of Wilshire Phoenix Asset Management’s new alternative investments division.

Stark joins Wilshire Phoenix Asset Management with decades of experience as an equity analyst, trader and portfolio manager, focusing on managed hedged-equity and long/short portfolios.

Stark’s mandate is to help deliver alternative investment solutions that help institutional and private clients achieve their performance goals.

Drinker Biddle & Reath Continues ERISA Litigation Team Expansion

Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP announced that Kimberly Jones has joined the firm’s employee benefits and executive compensation group as a partner, based in its Chicago office. She comes to the firm from Ogletree Deakins.

Jones has represented clients in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and non-ERISA employee benefits matters at both the U.S. federal and state court levels. Her clients include insurance companies, employers, plan administrators, claim administrators, and multiemployer benefit funds. Jones has worked with these clients on a variety of benefit claim litigation matters, including disability, life, health, pension claim denials, and ERISA breach of fiduciary duty claims.

Jones has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and has represented clients in administrative employee benefits matters. She also provides counseling and guidance to clients regarding benefit claims and plan design.

Jones earned her J.D. degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from the University of Florida.

In addition to Jones, the firm added Gregory Ossi and Jason Luter earlier this year to its Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. Based in Washington, D.C., Ossi’s practice is focused on multiemployer pension plan withdrawal matters, while Luter, residing in the firm’s Dallas office, has experience in ERISA, tax controversy and employment litigation matters.

Ascensus Acquires Health and Welfare Provider

Ascensus has entered into an agreement to acquire Wrangle, a provider of health and welfare Form 5500 preparation and related ERISA compliance services.  

Based in Junction City, Oregon, Wrangle supports employee benefits brokers and plan sponsors across the U.S. by providing Form 5500 filing services for clients. The firm helps brokers by taking on all aspects of the Form 5500 process from beginning to end, including collecting information from carriers, managing schedules and deadlines, and e-filing information with the Department of Labor (DOL).

“Joining Ascensus will allow us to continue to meet the compliance needs of our clients with the support of a nationally recognized, benefits-focused organization,” says Lynda Taylor, Wrangle’s chief operating officer.