Reader Responses July 3, 2017

SURVEY SAYS: Additional Time Off for Independence Day

The 4th of July falls on a Tuesday this year, and it has always felt weird to me when a holiday breaks up the work week like that.
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Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “Are you taking additional time off surrounding the 4th?”

More than half (50.7%) of responding readers indicated they are taking off Monday, the 3rd, while 39.4% said they are not taking any additional time off. Seven percent are taking off the whole week, and 2.8% are taking off Monday and Wednesday.

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In verbatim comments, several readers expressed they didn’t need to take additional time off because their employers also gave them Monday, the 3rd, as a day off. Some decided to make it a really long weekend, and took off Friday as well as Monday. One reader expressed that holidays that break up the week are difficult because it seems like you have two Mondays in the week. Readers that are not taking time off expressed that they can be more productive since many in the office will be taking time off. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “I’ll take a 4 day work week regardless of how it falls. :)” 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey!

Verbatim

Holidays that break up the week are difficult. The week seems off, like you have 2 Mondays. I was very happy when I switched jobs that went from Friday after Thanksgiving from being a regular work day to a Holiday. Very happy I don't have to use a PTO day for that Friday anymore.

We are closed on Monday the 3rd, won't pay to turn on the lights. And a company can buy it self a lot of good will have really engaged and happy employees with a long weekend. There are so few of them.

My company must assume employees will be leaving early on Monday as the cafeteria is only serving breakfast, so I'll be going out for lunch!

Usually a very quiet week. If one is working, an opportunity to be productive with fewer than usual interruptions!

Our company decided to close on both the 3rd and the 4th. 🙂

Working Monday then the rest of the week off, pretty sure there will only be a small handful of people in our office that day.

If only I didn't work for a bank....

Some Companies like the one I work for added Monday the 3rd to our holidays for this year. So Holidays mid week with an extra paid day off I say add more.

This is my opportunity to catch up.

Will be here on Monday but that's fine with me. I get more done on the day before a holiday even with early release!

The best part about working the day before and the day after a holiday is that with so many other people gone, the days are quiet and productive!!

We get two days for July 4, so the Monday before was a "given." What's weird for us is when those two-day holidays (July 4, Christmas, New Year's Day) fall on a Wednesday! We get two days for Thanksgiving, too, but that's always a Thursday/Friday thing.

Verbatim (cont.)

Unfortunately, it is in the middle of quarterly report time so I don't have the luxury of taking addtional days off.

I am also taking off Friday, June 30th for a fiver!

Everyone else in my department is taking the day off on Monday, so someone has to be here. I'll take the Wednesday off.

Everyone in our office is taking the 3rd as vacation, but the office isn't "officially closed"!

Our company has a floating holiday that is used around holidays that break up the week--If there are no holidays that break up the week it is used a another vacation day!

I'm very fortunate to work for a small company. Our boss gave the OK to close the office on Monday, too. Yippee skippee!!!!!!

The only extra time off will come when the big boss decides we get to leave early.. Love her!

Hoping everyone else takes it off!!

Our organization has one floating holiday that is assigned by management. This year that holiday was assigned to 7/3.

If Independence Day fell later in the month like Christmas and Thanksgiving, I would take extra days. Have to get invoices out to clients the first week so we can get paid the following week.

I love the USA and celebrate it everyday! God Bless America!

Verbatim (cont.)

I am not, but since everyone else will out Monday will be very productive.

Hate 'em! Thank goodness Christmas falls on a Monday this year!

Everyone else takes off time so it is a good opportunity to catch up on work with out all those pesky customers and co-workers bothering me. Just need to be wary of "THE ONE", you know the one Customer/Auditor that wants to finish up something that sucks up all your time while you are covering for their regular contact.

Small business operations, elected to close the office on Monday, the 3rd. So not employee's leave time/paid time off.

How about Friday? I am sure people are taking Friday and Monday off.

Everyone would like the extra long weekend. I wonder how many people who forgot to ask for time off will be sick!

We have an out of town wedding on Sunday night, so I will be taking Monday off even though the office is officially open (as I suspect many of my co-workers will).

Actually, just taking off the afternoon of the 3rd - I expect that the day will be quiet but someone needs to be around just in case

I typically take the whole week off each year to spend time with my family. There is an added benefit of only needing to utilize 4 of my vacation days for the week!

Its nice to convert them into 4 day weekends!

Verbatim (cont.)

Our company chose to designate Monday as a floating holiday so we're closed for regular business.

Since I've accepted a buyout from my employer, effective June 30, I'm taking ... um ... a lot of time off (until I find my next job). Anybody need an IT manager with experience in risk management?

Our company gave employees Monday off as well. We work for a great company!

The stock market is closing early on Monday so our office will too, so I will take a half day vacation and take the whole day off.

I don't know why my company doesn't just make this particular Monday a holiday. Those not taking Monday off will get nothing done...I bet there will be well less than 50% of the normal staff here, so more than likely anyone you need to talk to won't be around anyway.

We have a floating holiday and corporate chose to use it on July 3 this year. It fluctuates between Christmas and Independence Day to make one of them a longer holiday.

Our company is giving us July 3 as a floating holiday!

Friday 6/30 and Monday 7/3

The 3rd is not a company holiday for us and I'm going to use that day to catch up on emails as I guessing most employees will take a PTO day.

We need more holidays that break up the work week!

Verbatim (cont.)

Being as July 3rd is my birthday, I like when the 4th falls mid-week. That means I can make it a 4 or 5 day "week-end."

Holidays tied to weekends are nice if you want to travel, but sometimes it is nice to have a free day in the middle of the week without any expectations!

I'll take a 4 day work week regardless of how it falls. 🙂

This particular extra day off, however, I won't be doing anything "fun". I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Monday the 3rd. Yay, me!

Taking the opportunity on Monday, July 3 to get some projects completed without interruptions.

Our office is closed Monday, I took that as a sign I should take the rest of the week off.

We are open but give the option of using holiday or vacation time on Monday. Most choose to take the time off.

Having taken a week's vacation in June, I will be working next week. Looking forward to a quiet day at work on July 3rd!

Coincidentally, I'm retiring June 30th and have cause to celebrate independence on a whole different level. In conjunction, of course, with the home of the brave.

My employer is giving us the 3rd and 4th off.

NOTE: Responses reflect the opinions of individual readers and not necessarily the stance of Asset International or its affiliates.
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Deals and People June 30, 2017

Retirement Industry People Moves

Pentegra hires 403(b) consultant; Ascensus acquires Retirement Plan Administrative Service; Voya hires 401(k) leader; and more.
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Pentegra Hires 403(b) Consultant

Maegen ‘Meg’ Chaudry has joined Pentegra as a 403(b) consultant. She will be responsible for managing relationships with Pentegra’s non-ERISA 403(b) clients and advisers throughout Texas.

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Chaudry began her career with Edward Jones as a financial adviser in Houston, Texas. She also worked as an area sales representative for American Funds. She worked with financial advisers and intermediaries for pensions, corporations and retirement plans to provide practice management and investment services to help protect and grow assets. Most recently, she led a sales team for Legg Mason and its affiliates, where she was responsible for creating and maintaining relationships to drive sales across 13 territories.

“We are excited to have Meg join our team,” says Chuck Coldwell, Pentegra’s vice president-national director, Consulting and BOLI Services. “Her combination of industry experience, relationship management skills and ability to cultivate adviser relationships will benefit all of our business partners.”

Chaudry is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where she attended the Mays Business School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing. She also holds FINRA Series 7, 66 and insurance licenses.

NEXT: Strategic Retirement Partners Expands Northern California Team

Strategic Retirement Partners Expands Northern California Team

Stig Nybo has joined the Northern California team of Strategic Retirement Partners. He brings 25 years of experience in leadership roles within the retirement business spanning all aspects of the business. Nybo has led strategy, operations, sales and marketing, and technology teams as president of Transamerica Retirement Services. He’s also served several advisory board roles, including RetirementJobs.com, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), and Betterment for Business.

“Stig is a perfect addition to our team,” shares Jeff Cullen, managing partner, Strategic Retirement Partners. “Like us, he believes that every American deserves the opportunity to retire with dignity and confidence. He is an award-winning author for Transform Tomorrow: Awakening the Super Saver in Pursuit of Retirement Readiness (John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013), which received the USA Best Book Award for “Social Change” and “Business: Investing.” And he was named the 5th most influential person in the retirement plan industry by 401kWire.com.”

NEXT: T. Rowe Price Expands Global Investments Team

T. Rowe Price Expands Global Investments Team

T. Rowe Price Group welcomes Lowell Yura to its Asset Allocation division as head of Multi-Asset Solutions for North America. Yoram Lustig joins as head of Multi-Asset Solutions for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).

Yura is based in Baltimore and Lustig is based in London. Both report to Peter Austin, head of Multi-Asset Solutions and a member of T. Rowe Price’s Asset Allocation investment team.

Yura was most recently managing director and head of Multi-Asset Solutions for BMO Global Asset Management in Chicago. Prior to BMO, he was managing director, and head strategist, Americas and UK, for Global Investment Solutions at UBS Global Asset Management. Earlier in his career, Yura was a consulting actuary at Towers Perrin and investment consultant at Mercer. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Lustig was most recently head of Multi-Asset Investments UK for AXA Investment Managers in London. Prior to his time at AXA, he was head of Multi-Asset Funds for Aviva Investors in London. Earlier in his career, Lustig served as head of Portfolio Construction - EMEA at Merrill Lynch. A published author, Lustig holds a law degree from Tel Aviv University and a master’s degree from London Business School. He is also a licensed lawyer.

NEXT: Barrow Hanley Hires Director of Responsible Investing

Barrow Hanley Hires Director of Responsible Investing

Value-oriented investment managers Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss (Barrow Hanley) has hired Ross M. Campbell as director of responsible investing. He will provide further depth to Barrow Hanley’s integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into the firm’s fundamental, research-driven investment process. 

He also brings more than 14 years of experience to the Barrow Hanley investment team, where he will assist in managing the recently-launched U.S. Value and Emerging Markets Value ESG strategies. 

Prior to joining Barrow Hanley, Campbell was president of SRI Research Group, a consulting firm focused on assisting companies with their corporate disclosures and corporate sustainability reports. He completed the US SIF (The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment) training on Fundamentals of Sustainable and Impact Investment. He also completed certificate training from Deloitte for the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards of Corporate Sustainability Reports. Before founding the SRI Research Group, he managed the Sustainability and Investor Relations efforts for AECOM (ACM) and Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR). 

He earned a master’s degree from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College.

NEXT: Ascensus Acquires Retirement Plan Administrative Service

Ascensus Acquires Retirement Plan Administrative Service

Ascensus, a technology and solutions provider, has announced the acquisition of independently owned Retirement Plan Administrative Service (RPAS). This actuarial, consulting, and administrative services firm is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. It specializes in qualified plan design, installation, government compliance, and administration. 

RPAS will add to the Ascensus Consulting line of business.

"RPAS is recognized as a premier administration firm for qualified retirement plans," says Shannon Kelly, Ascensus' president of retirement. "This acquisition is in line with our goal of aggressively expanding our Ascensus Consulting business as well as Ascensus overall. I'm pleased to welcome RPAS' clients and associates to Ascensus Consulting and am excited to add ESOP services to our product offering."

Burl V. Bachman, president of RPAS adds, "Becoming part of Ascensus Consulting and gaining access to its resources will allow us to provide the best possible plan design and operation while remaining committed to personal service. Our clients can rest assured in the knowledge that we'll continue to always act in their best interests and maintain loyal relationships that are based on trust and integrity."

NEXT: Arnerich Massena Names Co-CIO

Arnerich Massena Names Co-CIO

Portland-based investment firm Arnerich Massena has named Bryan Shipley as co-chief investment officerand a member of the firm’s shareholder group. Shipley will serve alongside Tony Arnerich, the firm’s founder. As co-CIO, Shipley is responsible for overseeing the firm’s investment strategy and providing thought leadership, while helping to establish Arnerich Massena’s investment philosophy and future investment considerations. He directs the Investment and Product Committees and manages Arnerich Massena’s Analytics team.

Shipley joined Arnerich Massena in 2003. He has held several leadership roles including senior research analyst and head of the firm’s traditional and real asset research. He has more than 19 years of experience in the financial industry, having served prior as an associate for Wurts & Associates, where he conducted traditional and alternative investment manager research and due diligence. Shipley holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance.

Dave Nute, CEO, says: “Arnerich Massena is known for its award-winning analytical team and dedication to performing rigorous, proprietary research. Mr. Shipley has had a key role in the development and maintenance of the firm’s investment philosophy and research process, and the move to co-CIO is a natural progression of his work.” He notes that with the recent transition to 100% employee ownership, “we are working to codify the principles and philosophy Tony Arnerich brought to the firm, and sharing the CIO role will make it possible to bring in the next generation of leadership.” Nute is also pleased to welcome Shipley to the shareholder group as a principal of the firm.

NEXT: Voya Hires 401(k) Leader

Voya Hires 401(k) Leader

Voya Financial welcomes Bill Harmon as president of Retirement Corporate 401(k).

Harmon will oversee all aspects of the Corporate 401(k) market including sales, relationship management, strategy and profitable growth for all segments of the market. Harmon will join CEO of Retirement Charlie Nelson’s leadership team, as well as Voya’s Operating Committee.

Most recently, Harmon served as senior vice president, Core Markets for Empower Retirement. He spent more than two decades with the firm.

“I am delighted to announce that Bill is joining the Voya team to lead our Corporate 401(k) market,” says Nelson. “Bill brings a proven track record of building strong, high-performing teams – and driving profitable growth. With his deep experience and commitment to this industry, Bill will be a great addition to our Retirement leadership team as we continue to focus on solutions that deliver value and help Americans become financially and emotionally ready to retire.”

Harmon holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

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