New Hire Roundup: Collins Named as TDAI’s Head of Advisor Transitions

This week in new hires, TD Ameritrade Institutional welcomed Scott Collins, John Mastal joined Convergent Wealth, E. Thomas Johnson Jr. went to Retirement Clearinghouse, the CFP Board added Gail Reisman, and JHS Capital Advisors continued its expansion with the addition of another advisor and a new Florida office.

Also, Heather Borelli joined the Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank in Naples, Fla.; John Fleurant was named the new CFO of New York Life; Robert Courtemanche and Mary Boyd advanced at Ace Group; and Securian announced the promotion of four corporate officers.

TD Ameritrade Institutional Names Scott Collins Director of Advisor Transitions

Scott Collins (right) has been named director of advisor transitions for TD Ameritrade Institutional. In this role, he will lead recruiting and consulting efforts to brokers and advisors considering becoming hybrid or fee-only independent RIAs. As part of his responsibilities, Collins will focus on developing tools, resources and consulting advice to enhance the advisor experience when making the transition to the independent advisor channel.

Collins has nearly 20 years of experience in the advisory industry. Prior to joining, he was the managing partner and CEO of FirstPoint Partners, a boutique consulting firm providing strategy and guidance to advisors considering transitioning to the independent advisor channel. Prior to FirstPoint, he spent 13 years at LPL Financial in a variety of recruiting roles, most recently as senior vice president of business development. He began his career as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch.

John Mastal Joins Convergent Wealth as Managing Director—Advisor Recruiting

Convergent Wealth Advisors recently announced the hiring of John Mastal as managing director, in charge of its recently announced Catapult by Convergent initiative. In this new role, he will be responsible for finding, qualifying and mentoring a select number of advisors looking to join the firm.

Prior to joining Convergent, he worked at Fortigent, a firm co-founded in 1994 by Steve Lockshin, Convergent founder and chairman. At Fortigent, Mastal directed business development strategies and opened new relationships with advisors and institutions that service ultrahigh-net-worth clients.

E. Thomas Johnson Jr. Joins Retirement Clearinghouse

Retirement Clearinghouse has appointed E. Thomas Johnson Jr. as a senior advisor. He will also serve on the firm’s executive management team.

Johnson has more than 30 years of experience as a senior executive in the retirement savings and retirement income industries with such institutions as Federated Investors, MassMutual Financial Group, and most recently New York Life Insurance Co. CFP Board Appoints Gail Reisman Director of Marketing

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards announced Monday that it had appointed Gail Reisman as director of marketing, a newly created position within the organization. The position will lead CFP Board’s marketing team and play an integral role in guiding key marketing initiatives. The position reports to the managing director of marketing and business development.

Reisman joins CFP Board after serving as vice president of advertising at Brand USA in Washington, D.C., where she led the advertising, promotional and digital efforts of the United States’ official tourism office. Previously, she spent more than a decade at Amtrak in various senior positions. Prior to Amtrak, she held successively responsible positions at Philip Morris USA. Earlier in her career, she was a CPA and senior auditor at Deloitte in Newark, N.J.

JHS Capital Advisors Adds New Advisor and Florida Office

JHS Capital Advisors recently added Kelly Connelly as first vice president of investments, financial advisor. She is based in the firm’s new Sebring, Fla., office.

Connelly has 17 years of experience in the financial services industry; her areas of expertise include estate planning, retirement income, life insurance and the unique needs of female entrepreneurs. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 1996, she worked in broadcasting.

The firm continued to expand strategically during 2012, more than doubling its office locations during the past year. The company currently has 70 offices across the U.S., up from more than 30 offices nationwide in 2011. It now oversees $3.3 billion in client assets, an increase of 57% over the $2.1 billion in client assets as of Dec. 31, 2011, and more than six times the $500 million JHS oversaw as of December 31, 2010.

Heather Borelli Named Wealth Management Advisor for Private Client Reserve