News Releases

Leading Provider of Tax-Advantaged Savings and Related Services Will Serve More Than 15 million Savers with Expanded Technology, Solutions, and Expertise

Ascensus—whose technology and expertise help millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—and Newport, the Walnut Creek, California-based retirement services provider—announced today that the two companies have closed their previously announced merger, the first step in their journey together as a combined organization.

The union combines the capabilities and talents of two market leaders in tax-advantaged savings and related services, serving more than 15 million savers and overseeing more than $745 billion in assets under administration as of December 31, 2021. Together, the unified company employs more than 5,400 employees across the U.S.

David Musto, president and chief executive officer of Ascensus, will serve as CEO of the combined company. Laura Ramanis, who has served as interim CEO of Newport since the announcement of the transaction last fall, and Kurt Laning, executive vice president of Newport Non-Qualified and Insurance Solutions, will join the Ascensus executive leadership team, reporting to Musto.

“With today’s announcement, Ascensus and Newport have taken an important step in our journey towards a stronger, unified company,” said Musto. “Clients across our lines of business will benefit from our expanded capabilities—accelerated investments in technology, data analytics, and user experiences—and broadened expertise. And both Ascensus and Newport associates can look forward to new opportunities for personal growth and enhanced career development.”

“Ascensus and Newport share a passion for helping people save for their futures and supporting the growth and success of our partners,” said Ramanis. “We look forward to continuing that mission as a combined company.”

With industry-leading qualified and non-qualified retirement plan services, corporate and bank-owned life insurance (COLI and BOLI) practices, fiduciary and trust solutions, and other total rewards capabilities, Newport expands the services and expertise Ascensus provides to its clients and advisor partners. Newport’s clients will benefit from greater access to unique tax-advantaged savings solutions across retirement, education, and health provided by Ascensus. The combined company’s investments in technology, digital capabilities, and analytics will deliver enhanced value to clients, expand client relationships, and create even better outcomes for savers.

Both the Ascensus and Newport brands remain in use at closing, with the Ascensus brand representing the unified company.

“Our goal over the next several months is the successful unification of our company—built on the principle of ‘best of the best’ and our shared cultural attributes, and executed with the interests, quality, and stability of our client relationships foremost in mind,” added Musto. “As a unified organization, Ascensus and Newport share a strong commitment to serving our clients and offering more—across the tax-advantaged retirement, education, and health savings expertise for which Ascensus is known, and capitalizing on Newport’s well-established qualified and non-qualified retirement services, and fiduciary and COLI/BOLI capabilities as well.”

Evercore acted as exclusive financial advisor to Newport in connection with the transaction.

Goldman Sachs Bank USA, SPC Financing Company LLC, and KKR Capital Markets LLC led the financing consortium.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as transactional counsel to Ascensus and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as financing counsel to Ascensus. Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP acted as legal counsel to Newport.

About Ascensus

Ascensus helps millions of people save for what matters—retirement, education, and healthcare. Through co-branded, private-labeled, and other governmental partnerships, our technology, market insights, and business knowledge enhance the growth and success of our partners, their clients, and savers. Ascensus is a leading recordkeeping services provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator in the United States. For more information, visit ascensus.com.

About Newport

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Newport is a leading retirement services provider that helps employers—and the advisors who serve them—prepare employees for a more financially secure retirement. The company has more than $150 billion in retirement assets under administration and more than $300 billion in corporate retirement and insurance assets. Newport maintains investment objectivity, fee transparency and a commitment to flexible, responsive service. Staffed by an exceptional team of nearly 1,500 retirement, insurance, and consulting professionals, the company provides retirement solutions tailored to the needs of employers of every size, from small businesses to the Fortune 1000. Visit newportgroup.com.

Experienced Sales Leader Will Focus on Financial Advisors and their Clients in Georgia

Ascensus—whose technology and expertise help millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—announced the appointment of Michael Farber as a regional vice president on the company’s retirement plan sales team.

Farber will cover the state of Georgia, focusing on building and maintaining long-term relationships with financial advisors, third-party administrators, and financial institutions seeking to grow their business in the state.

He will report to Lori Zeman, retirement sales division vice president for the western region.

Farber brings more than a decade of sales and relationship management experience to his new role. Prior to joining Ascensus, he served as vice president of retirement sales at TRG-Touchstone Retirement Group in Atlanta, where he worked in collaboration with investment managers and financial advisors to support business development and product creation. Previously, Farber was managing director of emerging markets for MassMutual Workplace Solutions, retirement services district manager with ADP Retirement Services, and a retirement plan sales associate with John Hancock Retirement Plan Services. He began his professional career as a financial specialist with PNC Bank/Investments after earning his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Ohio University. He holds his FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 designations and is an Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC).

“Michael is an accomplished leader with the experience and expertise needed to help advisors and TPAs fuel the growth of their practices,” said Zeman. “We’re confident that Michael’s talent will help bolster our retirement plan sales team and reinforce our commitment to providing excellent service to financial advisor and employer partners.”

About Ascensus

Ascensus helps millions of people save for what matters—retirement, education, and healthcare. Through co-branded, private-labeled, and other governmental partnerships, our technology, market insights, and business knowledge enhance the growth and success of our partners, their clients, and savers. Ascensus is a leading recordkeeping services provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator in the United States. For more information, visit ascensus.com.

Experienced Sales Leader Will Expand Sale Partnerships with Financial Institutions

Ascensus—whose technology and expertise help millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—announced the appointment of Brian Giles as Director of Sales of the firm’s Retirement Products & Solutions Group (RPS) effective March 14, 2022. Giles will succeed Maureen Revak, who will retire in summer of 2022.

Giles will work with banks, credit unions, and brokerage firms to deliver leading solutions in support of IRA and health savings account enrollment and reporting. In addition, Giles will focus on enhancing RPS’ document services, compliance, and consulting capabilities in support of qualified retirement plans for partners and plan sponsors. He will report directly to Steve Christenson, executive vice president of RPS at Ascensus.

Giles brings nearly 30 years of financial services experience in sales and business development that have established him as a go-to resource for bank, credit unions, brokerage companies, and trust services. Prior to joining Ascensus, he served as Head of Business Management and Sales Administration at HSBC, Marketing Director at J.P. Morgan Chase, and Regional Manager and District Manager at Washington Mutual Bank. Giles earned his Master of Science degree in Political Science at California State University.

Giles will succeed Maureen Revak, who will retire from this role in summer of 2022. She will continue with Ascensus in a consultative role.

“Maureen has set a high bar for achieving team and client success,” said Christenson. “After 3 decades of providing quality client support and mentorship to the sales team, she has positioned us well for continued success. We are grateful for her service, and as she enters this exciting new phase of life, we’re pleased we will be able to continue to draw upon her expertise in a consultative capacity.”

“We are excited to welcome Brian to our sales team and are confident that he will help strengthen our financial organization relationships across the country and that his deep experience will make the team even more effective,” Christenson said.

About Ascensus

Ascensus helps millions of people save for what matters—retirement, education, and healthcare. Through co-branded, private-labeled, and other governmental partnerships, our technology, market insights, and business knowledge enhance the growth and success of our partners, their clients, and savers. Ascensus is the largest independent recordkeeping services provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator in the United States. For more information, visit ascensus.com.

Ascensus, whose technology and expertise help millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement under which Newport Group (Newport), the Walnut Creek, California-based retirement services provider, will merge with Ascensus. The newly combined organization will offer a broader set of capabilities and products to benefit institutional partners, clients, advisors, and savers.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Ascensus today announced the launch of Goldman Sachs Workplace Retirement Solution, which provides an integrated 401(k) or ERISA 403(b) retirement program aiming to support the needs of small and mid-sized businesses.

Hiring Initiative Supports Recent and Anticipated Growth

Ascensus—whose technology and expertise help millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—expects to add nearly 400 new associates by the end of 2022, adding scale and expertise in support of expanding client, partner, and advisor business.

Plan Sponsors and Participants Benefit from Continued Investments in Technology and Digital Initiatives Designed to Save Time and Improve Outcomes

Small-Market Retirement Plan Offering Includes Institutional-Quality Employee Services Such as Financial Wellness and Managed Accounts

OneDigital and Ascensus recently announced the availability of a co-created small market solution for retirement plans that brings institutional-quality employee services to plan participants.

Fortifies Expertise in ACA Compliance, COBRA Administration, and Eligibility Verification Services Within Health & Benefits Line of Business

Ascensus—whose technology and expertise help millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare—has entered into an agreement to acquire UnifyHR, a third-party administrator that provides employee benefits administration and compliance solutions including Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance, Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) administration, and eligibility verification services. It will immediately become part of Ascensus' Health & Benefits line of business.

Experienced Sales Leader Will Continue to Oversee Organization's Northwest/Central Region

FuturePlan by Ascensus—a leading national retirement third-party administrator (TPA) that specializes in the delivery of customized retirement plan consulting and administration services—announces that Aaron McIsaac will assume divisional vice president (DVP) responsibilities for the organization's Southern California region as a result of DVP Greg Taylor's planned retirement. The change is effective June 30, 2021.