Alera Group Names Chief Investment Officer for Wealth Services and Retirement Plan Services Divisions

B.J. Webster assumes newly created role

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alera Group, a top independent national insurance and financial services firm, announced the creation of a new chief investment officer (CIO) role for its Wealth Services and Retirement Plan Services divisions. B.J. Webster, an industry veteran and managing partner of Pennsylvania-based Wharton Business Group, an Alera Group company, will assume the CIO responsibilities alongside his continuing work with clients. Alera Group Wealth Services oversees more than $7.5 billion in assets under management. Alera Group Retirement Plan Services advises on about $7.5 billion of assets.

“With B.J.’s leadership and guidance, we will provide a unified investment platform for a consistent client experience and easy access to broad investment options,” said Tina Hohman, executive vice president and national practice leader of Alera Group Wealth Services.

In 2022 Alera Group acquired Wharton Business Group along with multiple other Wealth Services and Retirement Plan Services offices. One of these was Virginia Beach-based The Ascent Group and affiliated companies, with an eye to leverage its innovative investment infrastructure, including a turnkey asset management provider (TAMP) platform. “Our strategy brings together the talents of many people across our organization—both longtime employees and new additions—to build an investment and client-service model that enables us to serve anyone at any level of financial sophistication,” said Hohman. “We’ll be adding or simplifying access to model portfolios, separately managed accounts, alternative investments and more.”

“B.J. is the ideal person to lead a national investment committee that ensures top-tier solutions across our investment-related services,” said Christian Mango, executive vice president and Retirement Plan Services national practice leader.

Webster co-founded Wharton Business Group in 1992 and has more than 30 years’ experience in portfolio evaluation, investment policy development, manager selection, security selection, portfolio rebalancing and investment fee analysis.

“I’m honored to be part of shaping our investment strategy and assuring best-in-class investments for all of our wealth and retirement clients,” said Webster.

About Alera Group Wealth Services

Alera Group Wealth Services, a division of Alera Group, is dedicated to enhancing the financial security of clients through a holistic suite of services to address the financial planning, investment and wealth management needs of individuals and families. For more information, visit wealthservices.aleragroup.com

About Alera Group Retirement Plan Services

Alera Group Retirement Plan Services, a division of Alera Group, services a wide variety of plans including 401(k), profit sharing, defined benefit, cash balance, 403(b), 457, PEP and deferred compensation. Advisors work with plan sponsors on plan design, financial wellness, investment analysis, benchmarking and fiduciary plan governance. Learn more at https://retirementplanservices.aleragroup.com.

About Alera Group

Alera Group is a top independent, national insurance and financial services firm with more than $1.2 billion in annual revenue, offering comprehensive employee benefits, property and casualty insurance, retirement plan services and wealth services solutions to clients nationwide. By working collaboratively across specialties and geographies, Alera Group’s team of more than 4,000 professionals in offices nationwide provides creative, competitive services that help ensure a client’s business and personal success. For more information, visit https://aleragroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn.