News fromVoya, Ease, The Standard, LocatorX, NAPA, and more. (Photo:Shutterstock)

Here are recent employee benefits and retirement industryawards, promotions, hires, and more.

Torchlight welcomed new Board member JoanneDerr. Derr served as Vice President of Human Resources atCare.com, Neighborhood Health Plan and UMass Medical School, andled initiatives at Nortel Networks and Digital EquipmentCorporation, among other notable roles. She is an active caregiverherself, and is involved in several human and social interestgroups in her community.

LPL Financialannounced that financial advisors Carter Johns,Michael Chu and John Gillis havejoined LPL Financial's broker-dealer and corporate registeredinvestment advisor (RIA) platforms. The three advisors compriseJCG, LLC in Chesapeake, Va., and reported having served more than$150 million of client brokerage, advisory and retirement planassets.

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company announcedenhanced field support and digital tools for third-partyadministrators that support 401(k)s and other defined contributionretirement plans.The enhancements include launching a new websiteto provide tools and information for TPAs that work withMassMutual. With this comes the addition of three TPA field supportstaff:

• Kathy Lake, TPA Market Director for the Southern Division
• Lynette Golly, TPA Market Director for the CentralDivision
• Rob Ayers, TPA Champion

The new additions join Kellen Craig, who isbased in Arizona and covers the Western Division, and SeanMiller, based in Enfield, Conn., who covers the NortheastDivision.

The NationalAssociation of Plan Advisors (NAPA) announced its list of100 Top Defined Contribution (DC) Wholesalers, asselected by the nation's leading retirement planadvisors. The list is available at NAPA's site.

PayScaleannounced that Scott Torrey takes on the role ofCEO in a planned succession from CEO Mike Metzger.Metzger has led the company as CEO for the last 15 years. Torrey isa former 20-year senior executive with SAP/Concur.

Intrado's Health Advocate announced that it has beengranted three U.S. patents for the technology behind its customerrelationship management and case tracking system,MemPHIS (Member Personal Health InformationSystem). The first granted patent covers the technology in MemPHISthat automatically opens a member's health and benefits profilewhen they contact Health Advocate; the second and third patentsapply to the transfer and conferencing capabilities withinMemPHIS.

MercerGlobal Advisors announced the acquisition of SageFuture Financial, a wealth management RIA located inAlbuquerque, New Mexico, serving approximately 45 high net worthhouseholds with AUM of approximately $100 million. The Sageacquisition brings the firm's total offices to 44 and increasesMercer Advisors' total AUM to over $16.5B billion.Sage was foundedby Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP, MBA. Cygan will jointhe Mercer Advisors team.

PlanMember Financial Corporation is proud thatthe first Richard H. Ford Volunteer Service Awardhas been created by the National Tax-Deferred SavingsAssociation (NTSA). The award honors Ford, who wasPlanMember's Senior Vice President of Marketing and one of itslongest-serving employees. The new award recognizes and promotesNTSA members' volunteer and service work both with NTSA and withtheir local governmental and nonprofit communities. PlanMember is abroker/dealer, investment advisor, and member of FINRA/SIPC.

AleraGroup announced its acquisition of ComprehensiveBenefit Administrators (CBA), effective August 1, 2019.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. All CBA employees willcontinue operating out of the firm's existing locations under thename Comprehensive Benefit Administrators, an Alera Group Company,LLC.

VoyaFinancial announced that its retirement business has beenselected to serve as the new recordkeeper for the BaptistHealth Care Corporation defined contribution and deferredcompensation plans. With more than 6,500 employees and employedphysicians, Baptist Health Care is the second largestnon-governmental employer in northwest Florida. As of Mar. 31,2019, the Baptist Health Care retirement savings program representsmore than $243 million in assets under administration.

LocatorXannounced the appointment of Thomas "Tom" Watjento its Board of Directors. Watjen is the former President and CEOof workplace benefits provider Unum Group.

Ease announcedits partnership with The Standard. With this connection, The Standard willbecome Ease's newest EaseConnect+ partner, allowing brokers tosubmit enrollment data directly to The Standard. Additionally, Easewill fully set up and maintain this connection for brokers.

MetLifeannounced that Mark Weinberger has been elected to its board ofdirectors. Weinberger is former global chairman and chief executiveofficer (CEO) of EY. Weinberger also has extensive governmentexperience, including as Assistant Secretary of the U. S.Department of the Treasury in the administration of PresidentGeorge W. Bush. With the addition of Weinberger, the MetLife boardwill be comprised of 13 directors, 12 of whom are independent.

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