Michael Liersch Named Chief Planning Officer at Edelman Financial Engines

Michael Liersch

Edelman Financial Engines has appointed Michael Liersch as its chief planning officer, set to start on August 29, the company announced Tuesday.

Liersch will report directly to Edelman Financial Engines CEO Jay Shah. The newly created position aims to evolve the firm’s financial planning, advice and solutions offerings, according to the announcement. The firm’s recently announced president, Ralph Haberli, will focus on business channel growth and operational excellence.

“Michael’s expertise at the intersection of planning, advice and solutions, combined with his behavioral finance background and a unique perspective on the human side of money, makes him an exceptional fit,” said Shah in a statement.

Liersch brings experience in behavior finance and wealth planning. Most recently, he served as head of advice and planning at Wells Fargo. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at JPMorganChase, Merrill Lynch and Barclays Wealth.

“Bringing on both a new President and now a Chief Planning Officer are more than just leadership moves—it’s a reflection of how deeply we care about serving our clients and helping them thrive,” Shah said in a statement. “We’ve built a team that can think strategically and act decisively to deliver the kind of advice, solutions, and planning that truly make a difference in people’s lives.”

Edelman served 1.3 million clients and managed $287 billion in client assets, as of March 31, the announcement stated.