Retirement Industry Groups Embrace AI
Mercer Unveils Workforce Insights
Mercer this week announced the launch of its Workforce Insights, an AI-powered platform.
With benchmarks across more than 100 countries and 20,000 organizations, Workforce Insights allows users to compare metrics against industry standards and identify new trends.
“At Mercer, we believe AI is a game-changer — an enabler to unlock new levels of knowledge among our consultants and create tailored solutions that meet our clients’ unique needs,” said Pat Tomlinson, Mercer’s president and CEO. “By introducing AI platforms and assistants, we are empowering clients to interact with our data in a more dynamic and intuitive way. This aligns with our vision to embed high-quality AI safely and responsibly across our practices to enhance the client experience and deliver greater value.”
In tandem with Workforce Insights, Mercer is launching Aida (Artificial Intelligence Digital Assistant), a proprietary AI-powered assistant within the Talent All Access Portal (TAAP), a global intelligence platform that supports HR decision-making with access to benchmarking data, compensation trends, learnings and insights, curated content, compliance updates and other global data sets and tools.
“AI is reshaping how organizations create value. We’re on a journey to integrate AI across our solutions so our clients can use data in smarter ways to shape their strategies and make organizational decisions faster,” said Jean Martin, Mercer’s global head of Career Products. “Workforce Insights and Aida are built by HR leaders, for HR leaders and serve our clients through industry-leading data quality and reliability.”
Next Page : Manulife Launches AI Research Assistant Solution
Manulife Launches AI Research Assistant Solution
Manulife Wealth & Asset Management recently implemented its AI Research Assistant platform, created to complement the public markets investment research team’s experience and expedite data analysis.
“Artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era for investment management. One defined by accelerated insight, enhanced precision, and scalable decision-making,” said Paul Lorentz, president and CEO of Manulife Wealth & Asset Management. “Its ability to distill vast and complex data into actionable intelligence is reshaping how we assess risk, uncover opportunity, and construct portfolios. We view AI not as a substitute for human judgment, but as a strategic partner, amplifying the capabilities of our investment professionals while preserving the rigor and accountability that define active management.”
According to Manulife, the AI Research Assistant streamlines the investment research process for public markets by combining internal and external data sources like company financials, sell-side commentary, internal notes, earnings transcripts, and news stories into insights. The organization expects the efficiency of AI to reduce the time spent mining through documents by 70-80%.
Next Page: ASG, TIFIN Launch AI Initiative for Law Firms
ASG, TIFIN Launch AI Initiative for Law Firms
Advanced Strategies Group (ASG) and TIFIN @Work are partnering with institutions like Franklin Templeton, Equitable, and Charles Schwab to change how law firms approach benefits and retirement.
“Leading firms are leveraging @Work to differentiate their offering by focusing on the unique needs of specific industries—medical practices, hospital systems, and schools are examples,” said Marc McDonough, CEO of TIFIN @Work. “ASG is applying that same strategy to the legal profession, where attorneys demand solutions as sophisticated as their work.”
On the ASG side, the initiative is driven by Jeff Acheson, CEO of Advanced Strategies Group.
“Law firms face a unique challenge in balancing the demands of their work with the need to plan strategically for the future. By combining ASG’s deep expertise with TIFIN @Work’s technology, we’re delivering modern, integrated solutions that meet lawyers where they are,” said Acheson.
The platform introduces three features designed for law firms:
- The Open(k) Plan Design – A modern 401(k) combining lower costs, greater investment choice, personalized planning tools, and fiduciary oversight powered by Equitable’s retirement platform.
- The Attorney Life Income Plan – A nonqualified, “Rothesque” Cash Balance alternative that delivers tax-favored accumulation, creditor protection, contingency capital, and tax-free retirement cash flow.
- The Strategic Retention & Rewards Program – A flexible incentive model that allows firms to rethink compensation and retention in an increasingly competitive talent market.
All are delivered through The Attorney’s Edge, a virtual planning platform that pushes personalized tax, investment, and wealth strategies directly to attorneys. With ASG MAPS (Managed Account Portfolio Strategies), high-balance 401(k) participants get personalized investment strategies that match their complexity. TIFIN @Work’s configurable workflows enable advisors to tailor these experiences by firm size, practice focus, and partner track.
Next Page: Private Wealth Director Joins Capital Financial Partners
Private Wealth Director Joins Capital Financial Partners
Capital Financial Partners, LLC, a private wealth management firm based in Baltimore, has added Michele Beernink as director of Private Wealth Services.
Most recently, Beernink was director of Private Wealth Services for Verdence Capital Advisors. She has also worked as a client relationship manager for Finance Forward LLC and at Mercer as an investment consultant.
Beernink earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in finance from Loyola University Maryland. She is Series 7 and 65 licensed and recently earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michele to our team,” said Ryan Salah, partner at Capital Financial Partners, LLC. “Her experience, professionalism, and dedication to client service align perfectly with our mission to provide families with thoughtful, comprehensive financial guidance.”
Capital Financial Partners, LLC specializes in investment management, retirement plan consulting, risk management, estate and tax planning, and business succession planning. The firm currently manages $270 million for 270 families.
Next Page: Lincoln Financial Names CIO
Lincoln Financial Names CIO
Lincoln Financial has appointed John Morriss as executive vice president, chief investment officer, effective October 13.
Morriss will be responsible for overseeing the company’s general account, funds management and private markets investment strategies with more than $300 billion in assets under management. He will report to Ellen Cooper, chairman, president and CEO, and will be a member of the company’s Senior Management Committee.
Morriss joins Lincoln from Fortitude Re, where he served as senior vice president, Head of Public and Private Fixed Income, overseeing the organization’s insurance-focused investment portfolios. He also previously held a senior investment leadership role at Lincoln.
“John’s expertise and leadership make him an outstanding choice to lead our investments organization as we advance our strategy and build for the future,” said Cooper. “His proven track record and strategic insight align with Lincoln’s go-forward objectives, and he will play an important role in supporting our continued growth and execution.”
Morriss has more than 30 years of investment experience. Prior to joining Fortitude Re in 2020, he held the role of senior vice president of Fixed Income Investments at Lincoln for four years. Earlier, he spent 18 years at TIAA, where he held leadership roles spanning structured finance research, international and high-yield credit, portfolio management and fixed income research. He began his career as a currency trader at Chase Manhattan Bank. Morriss holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
“I’m honored to return to Lincoln as chief investment officer,” said Morriss. “This is an exciting time for the company, and I look forward to leading the investments organization in advancing Lincoln’s strategy, supporting growth and delivering strong results for clients, policyholders and shareholders.”