Lincoln Taps Retirement Plan Services President; Voya Named Workday Wellness Partner
The latest news from Lincoln Financial, Voya, Franklin Templeton, Prime Capital, Creative Planning, and more
Retirement Plan Services President Joins Lincoln
Lincoln Financial has appointed Jason Crane as senior vice president and president of the Retirement Plan Services (RPS) business.
Crane will oversee all strategy and execution for Lincoln’s RPS business and will report directly to Jimmy Reid, executive vice president and president of Lincoln’s Workplace Solutions businesses, which includes the company’s Retirement business as well as its Group Benefits business. In this role, Crane will be a member of Lincoln’s Corporate Leadership Group.
Prior to joining Lincoln, Crane was head of Core Retirement at Ascensus, and previously led the company’s Retirement Distribution organization. Prior to joining Ascensus in 2018, he held several leadership roles at Transamerica – including head of U.S. Business Development for the organization’s Retirement, Annuities and Mutual Fund businesses and head of U.S. Sales for the Retirement business. He brings more than 25 years of Retirement industry experience to the role, with expertise across all areas of the retirement market – ranging from emerging to institutional market segments.
Crane replaces Ralph Ferraro, who is retiring from Lincoln at the end of September 2025. Ferraro held the role of President of RPS since 2022 and announced his planned retirement in May of this year.
Franklin Templeton Appoints CCO
Franklin Templeton has appointed Daniel Gamba as chief commercial officer, overseeing global sales, marketing and product strategy, effective October 15, 2025.
Gamba will report to Jenny Johnson, chief executive officer of Franklin Templeton, and join the company’s executive committee. He will be based in New York City. In addition, the company announced that Gamba, Terrence Murphy, head of Public Market Investments, and Matthew Nicholls, chief financial and operating officer, will become co-presidents, effective October 15. Together, the co-presidents will work in conjunction with Johnson and the Board of Directors on continuing to execute the long-term strategic plans of the company.
“This is the right time for me to join Franklin Templeton and support its journey in becoming the world’s leading asset manager to help clients navigate current and future investment needs,” said Gamba. “The firm has built one of the most diverse and innovative offerings in the industry and is making very exciting progress around the world, including recent developments in key segments in both public and private markets, and digital assets. I’m looking forward to working with Jenny, Matthew and Terrence and the rest of the leadership team to support the acceleration of that progress.”
Gamba succeeds Adam Spector, who is the new CEO of Fiduciary Trust International. Gamba joins Franklin Templeton from Northern Trust, where he served as president of its $1.3 trillion asset management business. Before that, Gamba spent more than two decades at BlackRock, where he led investments and research, distribution and product teams.
Originally from Peru, he completed a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Catholic University in Peru and a master’s degree in finance and economics from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he is a member of Kellogg’s Global Advisory Board. Gamba is a CFA charter holder and past chair of the Board of Governors of the CFA Institute.
Voya Named Workday Wellness Partner
Voya Financial, Inc. has been named a Strategic Workday Wellness partner for Health. Through this collaboration, Voya will integrate its Employee Benefit Supplemental Health and Retirement solutions with Workday Wellness.
This integration will provide Voya customers and plan sponsors who are already using Workday the option to further use Workday’s AI-powered insights.
Workday Wellness, an AI-powered solution, offers health benefits and wellness offerings. This collaboration is intended to deliver greater administrative efficiency for employers and provide insights that maximize engagement with both employers and employees.
“At Voya, we believe that employee health benefits and financial wellness are about helping individuals live for today while preparing for tomorrow,” said Andrew Stocker, president of Employee Benefits. “By simplifying the existing integration we have with Workday, we’re making it easier for employers to offer a holistic, intuitive benefits experience.”
Prime Capital Welcomes Financial Advisor
Prime Capital Financial has announced the addition of Al Burgos, a financial planner with over 25 years of experience.
Burgos built a practice focused on retirement planning prior to joining Prime Capital Financial. He will serve clients from offices in Bethesda, Maryland and Boca Raton, Florida.
“Al brings a deep sense of responsibility to his client relationships, an approach that fits naturally with our values,” said Glenn Spencer, chief executive officer at Prime Capital Financial. “We’re proud to support him as he continues delivering considerate, long-term planning that builds trust and confidence.”
Burgos holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist, Chartered Mutual Fund CounselorSM, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
“This move to Prime Capital Financial strengthens my ability to serve clients by combining my planning philosophy with a team equally committed to long-term relationships and results,” said Burgos.
Creative Planning Acquires Grassi Investment Management
Creative Planning has acquired Grassi Investment Management, a wealth management firm located in Santa Clara, California. The transaction was completed on August 28, 2025, adding five experienced professionals to Creative Planning’s team and approximately $1.3 billion in assets under management (AUM).
“Grassi Investment Management’s commitment to personalized client service and expertise in customized portfolio solutions make them exactly the kind of client-first firm we seek in our partnerships. We’re excited to welcome their experienced team and continue the exceptional service their clients have trusted for generations,” said Peter Mallouk, president and CEO of Creative Planning.
According to a release, integrating the Grassi Investment Management’s team enhances Creative Planning’s West Coast operations while offering clients access to Creative Planning’s wealth management capabilities, complementing the personalized service Grassi Investment Management has delivered for more than 40 years.
“Our decision to join Creative Planning was driven by our desire to expand our service capabilities and provide more comprehensive solutions for our clients,” said Peter E. Grassi, owner and investment adviser at Grassi Investment Management. “We found that both organizations share a fundamental commitment to client-centric service and take genuine pride in delivering personalized attention. This alignment in core values creates an ideal foundation for successful integration while maintaining the high-touch experience our clients value.”
MissionSquare Unveils Customer Experience Changes
MissionSquare is evolving several of its customer experience initiatives, the organization announced in a release this week.
Over the next several months, the company will introduce strategic enhancements to the overall experience for current and future customers, including an updated brand name and logo, a redesigned corporate website, and a bold new brand promise.
“As we move forward with our next chapter, we will be expanding how we support individuals and their families as their financial lives change, helping them every step of the way by making sophisticated solutions simple,” said Andre Robinson, CEO at MissionSquare. “As a company built on the impactful relationships we have created with our customers, they will remain at the center of all we do. We are focused on providing solutions that individuals increasingly want and need, allowing us to remain well-equipped to build our business and deliver positive financial outcomes for all.”
In the months ahead, MissionSquare customers will start to see several changes to their overall experience with the organization, including updating its name and logo to “MissionSquare” from “MissionSquare Retirement.”
The organization is also redesigning its corporate website and transitioning its URL source from “.org” to “.com,” in an effort to provide a “readily recognized URL source.”
More financial solutions — including brokerage accounts, high-yield savings, education accounts, self-service financial planning, and access to expanded investment solutions such as cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds — will be rolled out in the second half of 2025 and next year, MissionSquare adds.
Vanguard Adds Chief Legal Officer
Natalie Lamarque will join Vanguard as chief legal officer. She will be responsible for all legal and compliance activities, public policy, and investment stewardship. She will also serve as managing director of Vanguard’s legal division, secretary of the Vanguard Board of Directors, and secretary of the Vanguard funds.
“Natalie has spent her career ensuring everyday investors get a fair shake and helping people achieve a secure retirement,” said Vanguard Chief Executive Officer Salim Ramji. “She is a seasoned executive who brings exceptional legal expertise and a deep understanding of our industry and the global regulatory environment. We are thrilled to add her leadership and judgement across business, legal, and policy matters to the firm.”
Natalie joins Vanguard from Principal Financial Group, where she served as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary since 2022. Prior to Principal, she was the senior vice president and general counsel at New York Life Insurance Company. Earlier in her career, Natalie was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. She began her legal career as a federal district court and court of appeals law clerk and was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Duke University and her juris doctor degree from Duke University School of Law. She is on the boards of City Year, Inc. and the Association of Life Insurance Counsel as well as on the New York University School of Law’s Board of Advisors for Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement.
“I’ve long admired Vanguard’s reputation for integrity and work to champion everyday investors,” said Natalie. “I am excited to join Vanguard’s leadership team and to work with the firm’s talented legal professionals to advocate for better access and better investment outcomes, so more people have the chance to realize their financial goals and secure their future.”
Natalie will succeed Tonya T. Robinson.
MFA Wealth Appoints Chief Equity Strategist
MFA Wealth, a financial services firm with over 560 million in AUM, has appointed Will McMahon as chief equity strategist.
MFA Wealth delivers services across retirement and education planning, investment management, business solutions and estate planning.
“I’m incredibly excited to join MFA Wealth,” McMahon said. “I’ve seen firsthand the care and commitment that have gone into building this firm over the past 30 years, and I’m honored to be part of its next chapter. I am committed to building strong, personal relationships with our clients and helping them navigate their financial journeys with clarity and confidence.”
McMahon joins the firm after eight years with Morgan Stanley, where he served as executive director of institutional equity sales. In that role, he managed relationships with more than 40 hedge funds, global long-only investors and family offices with annual revenues exceeding $200 million.
“Will’s leadership and market expertise will be a significant asset to our clients and our team,” said Chris McMahon, Founder and CEO of MFA Wealth. “His experience working with institutional investors and understanding of equity markets positions us to continue delivering high-level strategic insight in a rapidly changing investment landscape.”
While at Morgan Stanley, Will also partnered with equity capital markets teams to market IPOs, follow-on offerings and block trades, helping clients access primary issuance and liquidity events.
Will McMahon holds a bachelor’s degree in risk management from Pennsylvania State University.
FSG Buys Beacon Benefits
Fiduciary Services Group (FSG) has acquired Beacon Benefits, a third-party administrator (TPA) based in Beverly, Massachusetts.
The acquisition supports FSG’s strategy to expand its family of companies by acquiring recordkeepers and TPAs aligned with its mission. The acquisition will add a regional office in the Boston area.
“This acquisition reflects our continued investment in building a best-in-class retirement services ecosystem,” said Scott David, CEO of Fiduciary Services Group. “By bringing Beacon Benefits into the FSG family, we’re not only expanding our footprint—we’re enhancing our ability to serve clients across all segments of retirement services.”
“Joining FSG and becoming part of DWC is a tremendous opportunity for our team and our clients,” said William Clifford, president of Beacon Benefits. “We’re excited to contribute to a shared vision of growth and innovation, and to continue delivering the high-touch service our clients value—now with even greater resources and reach.”
Northern Trust Taps Ohio Market President
Northern Trust Wealth Management has appointed Gary Poth as president of the Ohio Market. Poth, who has more than 25 years of financial services experience, will lead an integrated team that delivers investment management, trust and estate planning, private and business banking and financial consulting for clients.
Poth succeeds Michael Cogan, who will remain engaged in the business until his retirement on June 1, 2026. Cogan has served as the market leader in Ohio for nearly 20 years. During his tenure, the Ohio team strengthened client relationships, expanded market presence and delivered consistent, high-quality service.
“Mike’s leadership shaped two decades of growth and client success in Cleveland—he’s been a passionate and thoughtful steward for the business and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding contributions,” Wealth Management President Jason Tyler said. “Gary brings an exciting mix of experience and vision to carry that momentum forward. His leadership style and market expertise make him a perfect fit to oversee our continued expansion across Ohio.”
Poth joins Northern Trust from Key Private Bank where he led the ultra-high-net-worth and multi-family office division. Prior to that, Poth was Key Private Bank’s national head of strategy and sales. Earlier in his career, Poth held leadership positions at PNC and National City Bank, as well as stints at JP Morgan Private Bank and EY.