Benefits industry newsmakers: Club Vita, Alyfe Wellbeing Strategies, Corestream, Innovest Portfolio Solutions
News from Willis Towers Watson, Wagner Law Group, The SRI Conference, PSCA, Pentegra, ADP, and more.
Here’s the latest news about promotions, new hires, partnerships, funding, and more for organizations involved in the employee benefits and retirement industry. Congratulations!
Willis Towers Watson announced the appointment of Karen K. Delaney as Brokerage and Advisory (B&A) market leader for Orange County and San Diego. Delaney will work with regional and national leadership to support the growth of the B&A business, which serves middle market clients across the full spectrum of health and group benefit programs. She is based in Irvine.
The Wagner Law Group announced that Kim Shaw Elliott has joined the firm in its St. Louis office. Elliott is an ERISA investment lawyer who represents broker-dealers, investment advisors, insurance companies and other entities nationwide, with a focus on fiduciary responsibility and best practices.
Organizers of The SRI Conference announced the first winners of the “SRI Conference 30 Under 30 Award,” created to spotlight and nurture 30 millennial and Gen Z leaders who will guide the SRI/ESG/impact investing industry well into the second half of the 21st century. They will be recognized at the 30th SRI Conference taking place November 11-15, 2019 at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, CO.
The Plan Sponsor Council of America announced Will Hansen, chief government affairs officer for the American Retirement Association will take the PSCA reins from current PSCA executive director Jack Towarnicky, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Towarnicky, having led the PSCA during a critical period of integration with the ARA, will now help build and expand the organization’s current research capabilities as part of a new initiative.
Pentegra announced its enterprise partnership with ADP Retirement Services to offer 3(16) Fiduciary Solutions to complement ADP’s retirement recordkeeping services. The new solution aims to help businesses of all sizes reduce administrative responsibilities, simplify retirement plan complexities and minimize risk.
New York Life announced that Alain Karaoglan has joined the company as senior vice president with oversight of a portfolio of strategic insurance businesses that includes Group Membership Association Division, Institutional Annuities, Institutional Life, New York Life Direct, and Seguros Monterrey New York Life. Karaoglan joins New York Life after serving as chief operating officer for Voya Financial from 2012 to 2018.
Movencorp announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued its US Patent No. 10,217,162 covering the “Methods and Apparatus for Promoting Financial Behavioral Change.” The patent provides coverage for real-time analysis and advice designed to encourage the type of ongoing financial behavior that, over time, leads to financial well-being.
The Minnesota Health Action Group has received a Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The award will expand the current initiatives of The Action Group’s Mental Health Guiding Coalition to include funding the following:
- Conducting Mental Health Community Dialogues in three communities across the state
- Conducting community-driven, outcomes-focused research
- Facilitating ongoing collaboration among stakeholders
McDermott Will & Emery announced that Ted Becker has been inducted as a fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. ACEBC is a national professional organization of lawyers recognized for their expertise, intellectual excellence, exemplary character, ethical behavior, and significant contributions to the field of employee benefits. ACEBC membership is by nomination only and limited to those who have at least 20 years of experience in the practice of employee benefits law.
Lively announced a $27 million Series B round led by existing investor Costanoa Ventures, with participation from Ally Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Ally Financial, Liquid 2 Ventures, PJC, Teamworthy Ventures, Streamlined Ventures, and Y Combinator. This brings the company’s total funding to more than $40 million.
Innovest Portfolio Solutions announced that Jared Martin, CFP, AIF and Sloan Smith. CAIA, CPWA, MBA, have been named partners of the firm, bringing the total number of partners to 13. Jared is a member of Innovest’s Retirement Plan Practice Group and provides consulting services to committees, boards and individuals. Sloan is a member of the Investment Committee and serves as a consultant working primarily with institutions and families.
Corestream, a platform for connecting employees with voluntary benefits, announced LLR Partners’ investment in the company, which Corestream will use to further accelerate its adoption among Fortune 500 companies and innovation of its SaaS platform.
International longevity analytics specialist Club Vita has made its longevity model available in the U.S. Earlier this year, Mercer announced it would offer Club Vita’s longevity risk reporting to its clients in the United States. As part of the 5-year agreement, Mercer’s pension plan clients in the United States will have access to Club Vita’s proprietary longevity assumptions, analytics and reporting.
Alyfe Wellbeing Strategies announced it has expanded its product development team and advisory board:
- David Anderson, Ph.D., and Priya Lakhi, JD have been named to the newly formed Alyfe Advisory Board.
- Aubrey Olson has been hired as vice president of product management.
- Erin Rademacher has been hired as vice president of strategy and performance.
- Lesley Lesch has joined Alyfe as vice president of client success.
- Angelee Richards has been named vice president of people and culture.
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