Retirement Advisor Council Elects New, Emerging Advisors
The Retirement Advisor Council has announced 23 new members approved for terms starting in 2026. The class includes 18 Advisors and five emerging advisors who are expected to be eligible for Advisor membership within the next three years.
“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional class of new members to the Retirement Advisor Council — advisors whose teams collectively serve 7,062 plans and more than 4.3 million participants. Their commitment to plan excellence and participant outcomes is exactly what the Council was built to amplify, and we look forward to the perspective and leadership they will bring to our community,” said Lisa Buffington, president of the Retirement Advisor Council, senior vice president, and National Brand and Market Development leader of Retirement & Wealth Services at Marsh McLennan Agency.
The 18 new member Advisors are:
- Thomas Altimont of Creative Planning Retirement Services in Dallas, TX
- Brad K. Arends of Intellicents in Albert Lea, MN
- Andrew D Bush AIF®, CRPS®, CPFA® of Horizon Financial Group in Baton Rouge, LA
- Richard C. Clouse Jr. CRPS®, AIF®, C(k)P® of SRP Great Lakes in Westerville, OH
- Kimberly J Cochrane QPA, TGPC of HUB International in Rockville, MD
- Jess W DeGabriele CFA®, CRPS® of LHD Retirement in Indianapolis, IN
- Kyle E Harris of Two West Advisors in Overland Park, KS
- Daniel J. McDonnell CRPS® of SFP Wealth Management in Wellesley, MA
- Bryan A Peebles CPFA®, NQPC™ of Strategic Retirement Partners in Bent Grove, KY
- Alexander H Queen of Fisher SMB in Plano, TX
- Margarita Arguello Ramirez CFP® of OneDigital (Formerly Amegy/Zions Bank) in Houston, TX
- Deena M Rini MBA, C(k)P® of Oswald Financial [GRP] in Cleveland, OH
- Kyle Schau CFP®, CRPC® of LHD Retirement in Indianapolis, IN
- Martina M Shackman CFA®, CFP® of Benefit Financial Services Group (BFSG) in Irvine, CA
- Phil G Sherman CFP®, CPFA®, NQPC™ of Deschutes Investment Consulting in Portland, OR
- Edwin M. Stamper CFP®, C(k)P®, QPFC of Graystone Consulting in Atlanta, GA
- Emily M Wrightson of CAPTRUST in New York, NY
- Jeffrey M. Ziemba of DA Davidson Companies in Omaha, NE
The five emerging advisors are:
- Joshua T Heard CRPS® of UBS Institutional Consulting – South Central Group in The Woodlands, TX
- Carolyn L Mora ChFC, NSSA, AIF®, CPFA® of Halcyon Wealth Advisors in Irving, TX
- Nate Schlappi CPFA® of Nate Schlappi Team (HUB International – RPW) in Scottsdale, AZ
- Shawnda M Sparks CRPC®, CPFA® of Perspective Financial Group in Indianapolis, IN
- Stephen M. Welch CRPC® CRPS® QPFC® FIWD of Crownmark Wealth Advisors in Atlanta, GA
Membership is by nomination and invitation. To be accepted, advisors and emerging advisors must meet objective criteria, including demonstrated thought leadership and community involvement, years of experience, relevant industry designations, and retirement plan business metrics (number of plans served, plan assets, gross revenue from retirement plans, and percentage of revenue derived from retirement plans). Candidates must also demonstrate that clients clearly understand their fiduciary status, provide evidence of outstanding client evaluations, and maintain a record of ethical business conduct.
NIRS Welcomes Director of Research
The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) announced that Barbara A. Butrica, has been named director of Research.
Butrica brings more than two decades of experience to the role and will lead the NIRS research agenda, overseeing the development of analysis to inform policymakers, stakeholders, and the public on the state of retirement security in the United States. She will assume the role on April 27.
“Butrica is one of the nation’s leading experts on retirement policy and economic security,” said Dan Doonan, NIRS executive director. “Her deep expertise, proven research leadership, and ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights will be invaluable as we continue to elevate the national conversation around retirement security. At a time when millions of Americans face significant challenges in preparing for retirement, Barbara’s leadership will strengthen our ability to deliver timely, impactful research.”
Butrica most recently served as a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, where she designed and led major research and evaluation projects focused on retirement income, Social Security, and the economic well-being of older Americans. Throughout her career, she has authored or co-authored more than 150 research publications and has been cited in academic journals, policy briefs, and national media. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and has provided expert testimony and analysis to federal agencies and policymakers on retirement and labor issues.
“I am honored to join NIRS at such a critical moment for retirement policy in the United States,” said Butrica. “NIRS has built a strong reputation for producing high-quality, accessible research that helps illuminate the challenges facing American workers and retirees. I look forward to working with the team to further strengthen the evidence base, elevate the voices of workers, and advance solutions that improve retirement security for all Americans.”
Butrica holds a Ph.D. in economics from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Wellesley College.
TRA Brings in Retirement Plan Consultant
The Retirement Advantage, Inc. (TRA) has appointed Henrik Sandberg as regional plan consultant. Henrik’s hire marks the third addition to TRA’s sales organization in the past two months.
Serving financial advisors, partners, and plan sponsors across Texas and Louisiana, Henrik will design customized retirement plan solutions, prepare plan illustrations, and help advisors identify opportunities to grow their retirement plan business. He will report to Tim Lastivka, vice president of national sales and distribution at TRA.
Henrik brings nearly two decades of experience in retirement plan sales, consulting, and advisor education, with leadership experience spanning defined contribution and defined benefit plans. He most recently served as a total growth associate at Ascensus and previously held senior sales and marketing leadership roles at Loren D. Stark Company.
“These recent hires are not incremental additions, they are a deliberate expansion of our national footprint,” said Lastivka. “We are building a sales organization with the depth, experience, and authority to support advisors at a higher level across the country. Henrik’s leadership, technical knowledge, and credibility with advisors strengthen our presence in key markets and reinforce TRA’s role as a national retirement services firm.”
“TRA is making a clear commitment to growth and advisor support,” said Henrik. “I am excited to join a firm that is investing in people, resources, and relationships, and I look forward to helping advisors and plan sponsors across Texas and Louisiana implement retirement strategies that drive real results.”
Henrik earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with majors in accounting and finance from Sam Houston State University. He is fluent in English and Swedish and is recognized for his ability to translate complex retirement plan concepts into clear, actionable guidance for advisors and plan sponsors.
Integrated Partners Adds SIGIL Family Office
Integrated Partners, a national financial planning and registered investment advisory (RIA) firm serving more than $25 billion in assets under advisement (AUA), has announced that Kyle Caouette, John de Carvalho and their team have joined the firm. Together, they have launched SIGIL Family Office, a consultative virtual family office practice focused on ultra-high-net-worth business owners and families.
Formerly affiliated with Parallel Advisors, Caouette launched SIGIL to deliver strategic planning, asset management consulting and virtual family office integration to a group of private client households. Before joining Parallel, Caouette co-founded and helped scale the RIA and multi-family office Parcion Private Wealth to more than $2 billion in assets. At Parcion, Caouette worked alongside de Carvalho who was former chief investment officer of the firm.
“Launching SIGIL Family Office allows us to create the type of boutique virtual family office that business owners and successful families demand,” said Caouette. “Integrated’s platform and culture of collaboration give us the scale and sophistication to elevate the client experience and help them achieve beyond what they thought was possible.”
ShareBuilder 401k is adding Roth 401(k) deferrals to its proprietary Solo 401(k) platform called the Solo 401(k) Saver.
The Roth 401(k) feature enables business owners and any employees to make post-tax contributions to their 401(k) accounts no matter how much they earn, allowing for tax-free withdrawals of both contributions and earnings in retirement. ShareBuilder’s employer-based 401(k) and Solo 401(k) Plus offerings have included Roth since 2006.
For the self-employed enrolled in ShareBuilder’s Solo 401(k) Saver, Roth contributions are available as an employee deferral option, up to the 2026 IRS limit of $24,500 for participants under age 50. Employer contributions to the plan remain tax deferred.
“Self-employed and owner-only shops deserve the same retirement planning flexibility that employees at larger companies have always had,” ShareBuilder 401k CEO Stuart Robertson said. “Adding Roth 401(k) deferrals is a direct response to what our customers have been asking for – a low-cost, easy to use Solo 401(k) plan with robust tax management features. Tax rates are unpredictable, and giving savers the option to pay taxes now and withdraw tax-free later is a meaningful tool — especially for business owners who may earn too much to consider a Roth IRA and may see their income and tax situation change significantly over time.”
Existing and new ShareBuilder Solo 401k Saver customers can begin making Roth deferrals immediately. Clients or prospects with questions about getting started can contact their Customer Success Manager or visit the company’s website for additional resources and guidance.
Falcon Wealth Planning Appoints Managing Director
Falcon Wealth Planning, a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm currently overseeing approximately $1.9 billion in assets under management (AUM), has appointed David Lynch as managing director.
Lynch joins Falcon Wealth Planning from Fidelity Investments, where he served as senior vice president and region head, overseeing 50 branches and $700 billion in assets under administration. With more than 35 years of experience across the wealth management industry, Lynch will focus on enhancing advisor efficiency while accelerating client acquisitions. Lynch will report directly to Gabriel Shahin, chief executive officer, and will be based at the firm’s headquarters in Ontario, California.
“David’s decision to join Falcon after a storied career at Fidelity and Merrill Lynch is a testament to the platform we’ve built,” said Shahin. “Top-tier talent is recognizing that the future of wealth management isn’t in big-bank silos, but in the transparent, client-centric model we are scaling at Falcon. David will help us build a premier destination for the industry’s best advisors. His expertise will be critical in helping us drive efficiency, enhance our advisor platform, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our clients.”
Prior to his role at Fidelity, Lynch held senior leadership positions at Merrill Lynch as managing director and market executive and at TD Ameritrade, where he spent over a decade as managing director and head of Branches and Retail Sales.
“I’m excited to join Falcon at a dynamic time in its expansion,” said Lynch. “The firm has built a strong foundation centered on delivering personalized, high-quality advice to clients, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to expand that reach. Falcon has built a firm where the interests of the client, the advisor, and the company are perfectly aligned. With an extraordinary 99.6% client retention rate, our advisors have a stable, high-trust environment rarely seen in the RIA space, allowing them to focus entirely on world-class planning. We have a tremendous opportunity to accelerate growth and deliver Falcon’s unique value to more clients throughout the country.”
NFP Acquires The Hamilton Group
NFP has acquired The Hamilton Group, LLC, a multi-disciplinary insurance broker based in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. Greg Frankel and David Page will join NFP as senior vice presidents reporting to Lauren Kim, regional managing director of P&C in NFP’s Northeast Region.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Greg, Dave and the Hamilton Group to NFP,” said Kate Henry, president, Northeast region. “Hamilton Group has a well-established reputation in the market through its strong management team, longstanding carrier relationships and disciplined P&C execution. Their approach to risk management aligns with our service model and complements our regional platform, strengthening our ability to deliver more complex, integrated solutions to their clients.”
Family-owned and operated, Hamilton Group has serviced small and mid-size businesses across New Jersey and the tri-state area for nearly seventy years.
“Joining NFP positions us well for our next phase of growth,” said Frankel. “NFP’s scale and resources across the property and casualty insurance ecosystem enhance our ability to deliver more integrated risk solutions for clients across the tristate area, while maintaining the personal level of service our firm is known for.”
Hightower Taps President
Hightower has appointed Roberto Stewart as president and chief business officer (CBO), effective immediately. An operating executive with more than three decades of leadership experience, Stewart will lead enterprise services and support the firm’s next phase of growth by advancing Hightower One, Hightower’s back- and middle-office platform.
His focus will be on simplifying how advisors engage with the platform, reducing operational friction, and strengthening the systems that enable growth and client service.
He will oversee operations, technology, risk, product, PMO, and integrations, with a mandate to further align the platform in support of advisors and their clients.
“Roberto is a proven leader who knows how to simplify complexity and build platforms that drive long-term value,” said Larry Restieri, chief executive officer of Hightower. “His experience scaling complex organizations and strengthening core capabilities will be critical as we continue to evolve Hightower One, reduce barriers for advisors, and support continued expansion across the platform.”
Stewart joins from Engle Martin, a portfolio company of BW Forsyth Partners, where he served as chief operating officer. He led several of the firm’s largest business units and oversaw enterprise operations across a global, multi-entity platform.
Prior to Engle Martin, Stewart held senior leadership roles at American International Group (AIG) for more than a decade, leading global Administration and Client Services, as well as leadership roles within its high-net-worth Private Client Group and client engagement functions. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles of increasing responsibility at McKinsey & Company and Allstate.
“I am thrilled to join Hightower and build on the strength of its foundation,” said Stewart. “My focus will be on creating greater clarity, efficiency, and alignment across Hightower One, enabling advisors to spend more time with clients and grow their practices.”
As part of this transition, Gurinder Ahluwalia, who had stepped in as interim president, will continue to be an advisor to the company and remain a member of Hightower’s Board of Directors.