Ascensus Sets Next Phase of Leadership, Transamerica Taps CIO
Ascensus Announces Succession Plans
Ascensus this week announced that effective January 1, 2026, David Musto, chair and chief executive officer, will transition to the role of executive chairman. Nick Good, president, will succeed Musto as chief executive officer.
According to a release, the transition reflects a strategic succession plan developed by Musto and the Ascensus Board to ensure continuity of leadership for years to come.
“I am honored to serve as Ascensus’ next CEO and lead this outstanding team,” said Good. “Our differentiated technology platform, service excellence, and depth of talent position us for accelerated growth and increased market impact in this next chapter.”
“First as president, then as chair and CEO, it has been a privilege to serve Ascensus and our clients, partners, and associates during this period of dynamic growth and transformation, all while navigating extraordinary economic, social, and industry change,” said Musto.
In his role as executive chairman, Musto will remain actively involved, providing strategic and operating counsel to Good, the management team, and the Board. In addition, Musto will maintain accountability for corporate and business development activities and will continue to shape Ascensus’ industry and government relationships.
Next Article: Transamerica Taps CIO
Transamerica Taps CIO
Transamerica has appointed Andrew Yorks as chief investment officer, effective October 6. He will report to Will Fuller, president and CEO, and will serve as a member of Transamerica’s Executive Committee.
Yorks will oversee the company’s investment strategy, general account, asset liability management and hedging program. He is responsible for guiding the organization’s investment approach into the future.
“I’m excited to have Andy join the Transamerica leadership team,” said Fuller. “His depth of industry experience is impressive and will advance our asset management strategy and investment capabilities which are instrumental to our strategy and growth ambitions.”
Yorks brings more than 30 years of institutional investment experience. He most recently served as head of Global Investment Strategy at Prudential Financial, Inc. where he led the development of investment plans and asset liability management strategies. Prior to that, he was chief investment officer at Resolution Life U.S. and held senior leadership roles at Lincoln Financial Group, BlackRock and Alliance Capital.
“I’ve long admired Transamerica, particularly in recent years as it has taken bold steps to refine its strategy and strengthen its position as a leading middle market life insurance and retirement company,” said Yorks. “I’m excited to join during such an important time and contribute to the next chapter of its investment strategy.”
Yorks holds a master’s degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University.
Next Article: Bernstein Private Wealth Unveils PEP
Bernstein Private Wealth Unveils PEP
Bernstein Private Wealth Management, a unit of AllianceBernstein L.P., announced today the launch of the Bernstein PEP, a new pooled employer plan designed to enhance retirement benefit options for small to-mid-sized businesses and private equity firms.
“We are excited to bring our new PEP to the DC retirement market in collaboration with Empower and the National Professional Planning Group,” said Halley Love, head of Bernstein Retirement. “Retirement plans are common across small to mid-sized businesses and private equity firms, yet many still operate without the full governance structure, administrative efficiency, or participant engagement tools needed to drive long-term impact. Our PEP addresses these gaps by simplifying plan management, reducing complexity, and helping employers deliver a more robust and engaging retirement benefit to their employees.
Bernstein serves as the 3(38)-investment advisor, Empower as the recordkeeper, and the National Professional Planning Group (NPPG) as the pooled plan provider (PPP).
Bernstein has $144 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2025.
Next Article: Nationwide Names Leader to Annuity Side
Nationwide Names Leader to Annuity Side
Nationwide Financial President Craig Hawley announced today that Kush Kotecha has been named leader of Nationwide Annuity. Kush fills the position which opened when Hawley was named leader of the company’s financial services business in August.
Kush brings more than 20 years of financial services and insurance experience to his new role.
Most recently, Kush worked for TIAA Financial Services as senior vice president of product and innovation, where he led product development with a focus on innovation and value-added growth. Prior to this role, he was TIAA’s senior vice president and CFO of product and business development, where he developed and oversaw the methodology, governance and infrastructure for existing and new business. Under Kush’s leadership, the team introduced new reporting to enable analytics.
“Kush is a results-driven leader and innovator who brings a combination of industry expertise, strategic vision and operational excellence to this role,” Hawley said. “I am confident the Annuity business will continue to build on its strong performance under his leadership.”
Prior to TIAA, Kush held roles as vice president of U.S. Business Strategy and Initiatives at Prudential Financial and senior vice president at Ohio National. Earlier in his career, Kush spent 13 years at Ernst & Young, where he was senior manager in the Insurance and Actuarial Advisory Services practice, serving as lead advisor to insurance companies, reinsurance companies and banks.
Kush holds a bachelor’s degree in math actuarial science from the University of Waterloo, Canada. He is a fellow with the Society of Actuaries, member of the American Academy of Actuaries and associate with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.
Next Article: ARPS Joins Strongpoint Partners
ARPS Joins Strongpoint Partners
Strongpoint Partners, a retirement services platform serving small- to mid-sized businesses with integrated retirement third-party administration (TPA), recordkeeping, payroll, and HR solutions, announced that American Retirement Plan Services, LLC (ARPS) will join its network.
ARPS is an actuarial, consulting, design and administration firm for tax-qualified retirement plans, serving the mid-Atlantic region from their home office in Hunt Valley, Maryland, since 1997.
As per terms of the partnership, the team at ARPS will remain in their roles.
“The knowledge and expertise they have cultivated in their team is a great asset to Strongpoint and a natural fit with our group of coast-to-coast Partners. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Strongpoint family,” said Danny Hest, CEO of Strongpoint Partners.
” Meeting the Strongpoint leaders, including other Partner presidents and founders, demonstrated to me that this is an ideal home for ARPS,” said Amy Uddeme, president of ARPS. “Not only will our clients continue to receive the care that they are accustomed to, but they’ll have access to even more resources, thanks to Strongpoint’s national infrastructure and emphasis on collaboration. I’m looking forward to this new chapter for our firm, our clients, and our team.”
Next Article: PSCA Partners with Knowa on AI
PSCA Partners with Knowa on AI
The Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) is launching Knowa powered by PSCA—an intelligent AI platform designed to transform how 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans are managed and governed.
Knowa is a UK-based retirement plan hub used by over 7,000 professionals managing over $300 billion in assets. The platform won the UK Pensions Award for Technology Innovation of the Year in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
The platform serves plan sponsors, HR professionals, committee members, and external service providers, offering secure access for administrators, consultants, advisors, recordkeepers, and auditors.
Knowa powered by PSCA addresses operational challenges facing retirement plan administrators, including information overload, rising litigation risks, regulatory complexity, and the loss of institutional knowledge due to personnel changes. Its features include document storage, a Q&A feature, meeting agendas that allow professionals to management committee meetings, and more.
“This partnership represents a transformative moment for retirement plan administration,” said Will Hansen, executive director of the Plan Sponsor Council of America. “By combining PSCA’s 78 years of advocacy and education expertise with Knowa’s cutting-edge AI technology, we’re providing plan sponsors with the tools they need to navigate today’s complex regulatory environment while improving outcomes for participants.”
Next Article: VestGen Welcomes Six Advisor Firms
VestGen Welcomes Six Advisor Firms
VestGen Wealth Partners, LLC is adding six wealth management practices to its platform. These teams represent approximately $1.5 billion in assets expected to transition.
According to a release, these additions add 15 advisors across four states, including:
- Ursula Daley, JD, serving as managing director and wealth advisor leads an all-female team focusing on institutional clients. The team brings $410 million in client assets with offices in Oak Brook, Illinois
- Michael Moloney, managing director and wealth advisor, leads a team bringing $400 million in client assets with offices in the St. Louis metro area.
- Michael Martin, managing director and wealth advisor, leads a six-person team bringing $280 million in client assets with offices in Kansas City, Missouri, and has multiple NextGen advisors focused on developing and executing financial plans for retirees, small business owners, working professionals and women.
- Jeff Lesniewicz and Brian Ahern, managing directors, wealth advisors co-lead a practice bringing $250 million in client assets built to support the unique wealth management needs of athletes of all levels – from NIL to professional. This Chicago-based team includes a range of experts who can navigate the often-irregular earning partners of these clients.
- John Straley, managing director and wealth advisor, leads a team bringing $219 million in client assets.
- Jon Lewis, managing director, wealth advisor brings $60 million in client assets. Based in Florida and Michigan, he leverages nearly four decades of experience and care. Lewis provides clients with a full suite of services across all aspects of wealth management and retirement planning.
With the completion of these transactions, VestGen will oversee approximately $7 billion in total client assets, supported by 45 advisors serving their clients across the U.S.