Benefits industry newsmakers: Alliant, Fierce Conversations, Income America, MetLife

Sometimes we forget in the daily news grind about the talented people making news in companies and organizations in the employee benefits and retirement plan industry.  Here’s a brief overview about recent newsmakers.

Voya Financial announced that the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and Voya Cares have published Financial Wellness: A guide for individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. The financial wellness guide is designed to provide information and solutions to address the unique, and oftentimes fluctuating, financial needs of the underserved disability and special needs community.

Transamerica was chosen to be the retirement plan provider for an exchange created for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The new offering lets member companies offer retirement plan benefits to their employees under one umbrella, called an exchange. The Chamber has selected a team of providers to support the exchange, including:Transamerica as the plan’s recordkeeper; TAG Resources, LLC, as Plan Administrator and a Signatory Named Fiduciary, as defined under ERISA sections 402(a), 3(16), and 3(21); Fiduciary-Plus as the 3(38) investment manager; and Christian Lauter, Gallagher Benefits Services as the financial advisor.

Symetra Life Insurance Company announced the promotion of Lisa Marecki to senior vice president of its Group Life and Disability (LAD) and Select Benefits voluntary benefits product lines. Most recently vice president of underwriting for LAD and Select Benefits, she reports to Harry Monti, executive vice president, Benefits Division. As SVP, Ms. Marecki will be responsible for growing Symetra’s presence in the group insurance market, and the division’s ongoing expansion into the voluntary products marketplace. She joined Symetra in 2018 from AIG, where she was vice president and head of Group Life and Disability Product and Underwriting.

Reams Asset Management announced that Dimitri Silva, CFA, joins the firm as a Portfolio Manager. Silva’s areas of focus will be Global Interest Rates, FX, and Securitized Assets. Previously, he was a Portfolio Manager with AllianceBernstein, where he also led the Fixed Income Tactical Interest Rate Group. Reams Asset Management is an affiliate of Carillon Tower Advisers.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) announced the appointment of Nicholas J. Novak as the agency’s Inspector General. In his 35-year career, Novak spent nearly 20 years holding various positions within PBGC’s Office of Negotiations and Restructuring (ONR) and the agency’s Office of the Inspector General. As Inspector General, Novak will continue to oversee independent audits and investigations, as well as execute procedures to prevent and detect fraud. Novak reports directly to PBGC’s Board of Directors and Congress.

Paychex announced its Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) retirement plan has reached the 1,000 client milestone. The company was among the  first retirement plan providers to introduce a PEP on Jan. 1, 2021.

Naturally Slim announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors:

• Barbara Wachsman is the former Director of Strategy and Engagement for Enterprise Benefits for the Walt Disney Company.  Wachsman designed benefits programs that identified and addressed the Walt Disney Company’s long-term goals and objectives for over a decade.
• Sarah Ahmad, Senior Vice President of Health and Wellness at Canada-based Shoppers Drug Mart. During her time as Chief Innovation Officer at Magellan Health, Ahmad launched the Magellan Health Studio. Prior to Magellan Health, Ahmad served as the Senior Vice President, Innovation and Transformation Strategy for Highmark Health.

MetLife Investment Management announced that Jingsu Pu has rejoined the firm as global head of Insurance Strategy & Solutions and head of Institutional Client Group (ICG), Asia, excluding Japan. Pu jjoined MetLife’s global portfolio management team in 2010; in 2016, he moved to Hong Kong to head the firm’s Asia portfolio management group, departing in 2019 for a brief stint as chief investment officer at a China-based insurance company. He will report to Ruth Farrugia, global head of Insurance Asset Management and Matt Mosca, global head of ICG.

Income America announced Matt Wolniewicz has been chosen as its president. Most recently he was president of Fi360. Income America is backed by a consortium of firms including American Century Investments, Lincoln Financial Group, Nationwide, SS&C Technologies, Wilmington Trust, Wilshire Associates, and Prime Capital Investment Advisors (PCIA). Wolniewicz will be tasked with executing on the shared vision of these partner firms, along with overseeing the strategic growth of Income America.

Fierce Conversations has partnered with former NBA player and former U.S. Olympian, Charles Smith, a Certified Master Facilitator, to drive training programs designed to help athletes better transition into Corporate America. After a career both on and off the hardwood, including serving as Head of Sports & Entertainment for MediaCom, Smith launched Lifestyle Services Group, and is concurrently developing Fierce Conversations initiatives to help corporate executives at companies better understand the dynamics of teamwork.

Alliant has named Kevin Overbey as President of its Employee Benefits Group. He will oversee the ongoing growth and expansion of the national division while facilitating a robust pipeline of new products and innovations. Overbey is a 30-year veteran of the employee benefits industry with experience spanning a breadth of domestic and international clients. As Senior Executive Vice President and Senior Managing Director of Alliant Employee Benefits, he directed the division’s growth from $100 million to $600 million in revenue. He previously was a founder and Managing Partner of ClearPoint, prior to its acquisition by Alliant in 2008.