News Releases

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.

Jay Hollis, John Krzeminski, and Lou DePonte Join Organization to Facilitate Continued Institutional Growth and Offer Enhanced Regional Support

FuturePlan by Ascensus—a leading national retirement third-party administrator (TPA) that specializes in the delivery of customized retirement plan consulting and administration services—is pleased to announce that the following individuals have been appointed to sales leadership roles: Jay Hollis, vice president, sales consultant for the Tennessee and Southern Kentucky regions; John Krzeminski, institutional sales support & business development relationship manager; and Lou DePonte, sales effectiveness principal.

The FuturePlan sales team's expansion is intended to grow relationships with strategic institutional recordkeeping and financial advisor partners while enhancing regional and consultative support for retirement plan clients.

Hollis will drive sales with financial advisors and strategic alliance platforms while also coordinating sales activities for key employer relationships. With more than 10 years of retirement industry experience from roles with Seven Hills Group and Taylor Wealth Solutions, Hollis fills the role vacated by Mark Wiggins, who was recently appointed as FuturePlan's divisional vice president for the Southeast and Southwest regions.

Krzeminski will cultivate institutional relationships to explore new opportunities and deepen FuturePlan's relationships with existing partners. His sales, relationship management, and project leadership skills have been honed during his more than 13 years of retirement plan industry experience at Vanguard, Lincoln Financial, and Quantum Strategies.

DePonte will participate in the development of—and ultimately be responsible for—the implementation and ongoing monitoring of FuturePlan's sales operations strategy. He brings more than 30 years of experience to his new position and previously held leadership roles at Prudential, The Phoenix Companies, and Hartford Life Insurance.

"In welcoming Jay, John, and Lou to the FuturePlan sales team, we're giving our key institutional partners, financial advisors, and business-owner clients access to more than 50 combined years of industry experience and expertise," states Kasey Price, FuturePlan's head of sales. "I look forward to working with them to develop and execute strategies to take FuturePlan's sales efforts to the next level and cement our organization's standing as a leading national retirement TPA."

Frank Castellvi Joins Retirement Plan Sales Team to Support Financial Advisors and Their Clients in the East Territory