Money Is No Longer Top Resolution

Most cite appreciating family, enjoying life and losing weight as January 1 goals.

Money goals won’t be as big a priority for many Americans this year, according to GOBankingRates survey of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for 2016.

Enjoy life to the fullest, live a healthier lifestyle, lose weight and spend more time with family and friends are among the top responses. The only financial matters people mentioned: saving more, spending less and paying down debt.

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Of respondents who voiced a resolution, more than half (55%) are pretty realistic about their New Year’s resolutions and plan to tackle only one goal in 2016. Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) are setting two to three resolutions, and 21% aim for four or more.

The two least-popular 2016 New Year’s resolutions are those related to finance. “Save more, spend less” is a goal for only 30% of respondents; “pay down debt” is a focus for 27%. A significant portion of Americans (58%) do plan to set one or both of these finance-related resolutions.

While men chose an average of two goals each, women plan to set an average of 2.2 of the six resolutions for 2016. Slightly more men said they plan to get rid of debt in 2016, at 28% compared with 27% of women. About an equal number of men and women want to live a healthier lifestyle.

Americans ages 18 to 34 are setting significantly more resolutions than any other age group: 2.6 resolutions on average. Young Millennials (ages 18 to 24) are the most concerned of any age group with spending more time with loved ones, and are also the least likely to resolve to pay down debt in 2016. Millennials overall (ages 18 to 34), however, are the most concerned with spending less and saving money.

Among the most popular resolutions:

  • Nearly half (46%) of respondents set “enjoy life to the fullest” as a goal;
  • Two in five (41%) pledged to live a healthier lifestyle;
  • More than a third (40%) chose “lose weight”; and
  • A third (33%) want to “spend more time with family and friends.”

Retirement Industry People Moves

Arnerich Massena transitions some of its plan services business line to SageView Advisory; new hires at Macquarie Group and more.

Arnerich Massena Inc. is in the process of transitioning a portion of its participant-driven retirement plan services practice, primarily defined contribution/participant directed retirement plans, to SageView Advisory Group. As part of this transition, two senior investment consultants from two Arnerich Massena, Howard Biggs and Jacob O’Shaughnessy will join SageView.

Biggs and O’Shaughnessy will transition from Arnerich Massena to SageView by the end of the first quarter. Between now and then, they will be meeting with clients, as part of the normal course of business, to discuss the transition to SageView.

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Biggs joins SageView as managing director. He will continue to consult with retirement plan sponsors to provide guidance on retirement plan governance, fiduciary risk management and committee investment responsibilities. Biggs has more than 30 years of retirement plan consulting experience, serving corporate, government and nonprofit organizations nationwide. Before joining SageView, he provided specialized retirement plan consulting services for more than 10 years at Arnerich Massena Inc.

O’Shaughnessy also joins SageView as managing director. He brings 15 years of experience providing consulting services to both corporate and government defined contribution and defined benefit plans. O’Shaughnessy is a well-known figure in the retirement plan industry, recognized as a speaker and moderator at national and regional conferences across the country. He also serves on the NAGDCA Industry Committee, elected by his peers. His expertise in the industry reflects a long-term commitment to serving retirement plan sponsors and participants.

Tony Arnerich, chief executive officer at Arnerich Massena, says the transition is positive for all parties. “This transition provides us both the ability to focus on our core competencies and for Arnerich Massena to grow and invest in the future,” he says.

Randy Long, SageView’s founder, cites Biggs and O’Shaughnessy for their high-caliber talent. “This is a step in our long-term plan for growth and providing the best talent and expertise to our clients,” he says.

NEXT:  Macquarie Group’s Delaware Investments names senior vice president

Atticus Fallon has joined Macquarie Group’s Delaware Investments as senior vice president, sub-advisory sales.

Fallon is tasked with cultivating and deepening sub-advisory relationships with institutional partners.

Fallon, who has more than 15 years of sub-advisory and retirement experience in both distribution and research, was previously executive director of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, where he focused on key strategic sub-advisory and defined contribution investment-only (DCIO) relationships. Before J.P. Morgan, he was executive director and business developer in the financial institutions group at UBS Global Asset Management. Fallon previously held roles in distribution and research at U.S. Trust and John Hancock.

He reports to Scott Kearney, senior vice president and head of institutional sales at Delaware Investments. Kearney cites Fallon for his experience and industry knowledge, which he believes will have a substantial impact on partnerships with key clients.

Fallon holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business from the University of Vermont and a master’s of business administration in investments from Boston University’s School of Management.

NEXT: The Standard adds a retirement plan consultant associate in Dallas

Laura Peirson has joined The Standard as a retirement plan consultant associate for the south sales region. She is based in The Standard’s Dallas sales office.

Peirson, who has more than 20 years of experience in the design, servicing and administration of corporate retirement plans, was previously a senior internal sales consultant for Ascensus. Before joining Ascensus, Peirson was a client service representative with The Vanguard Group.

Rita Taylor-Rodriguez, regional sales director for The Standard’s south sales region, cites Peirson for her background in retirement plan design and administration, as well as her recent sales and marketing experience.

Peirson holds a bachelor’s of science degree in physical education studies from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in business administration with a global perspective from Arcadia University. She holds the accredited retirement plan consultant (ARPC) designation from the Society of Professional Asset-Managers and Record Keepers (SPARK).

NEXT: HUB International Investment Services adds retirement plan specialist

Jasper Mallard has joined HUB International Investment Services as a retirement plan specialist in its Santa Barbara office.

Mallard will serve the tri-county area and be responsible for advising HUB’s current and future clients on investment and retirement services, including 401(k), 403(b) and other investment-related programs.

Before joining HUB, Mallard was an independent financial adviser and also worked at a real estate investment firm.

“We’re looking forward to making 2016 a great year with Jasper’s retirement planning expertise. I know our clients will be well served,” said HUB Certified Insurance Counselor Stan Darrow.

Mallard holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of San Diego. He holds his FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations and is licensed as a California life agent, including long-term care insurance, variable contracts and annuities.

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