Carson Group, IFG, Whittier Trust boost advisor support with key hires

In what's been a frantic start to September, Carson Group and two other wealth firms announced key hires this week, all aimed at deepening their expertise and enhance the resources available to advisors and clients.

Carson Group, which currently oversees more than $48 billion in assets, has expanded its leadership team with four new appointments across private client services, advisor development, estate planning, and M&A. The firm says the hires are part of its ongoing effort to strengthen its support for advisors nationwide.

Among the new additions, Heather Zack joins as senior vice president of private client services, bringing experience from Commonwealth Financial Network, Merrill Lynch, and Investors Capital. Lisa VanArsdale – a second-generation advisor who previously co-founded Lakeview Wealth Management at LPL with her mother and helped grow it to more than $500 million in assets – will serve as vice president of advisor development.

David Haughton, a regular contributor to industry publications and former senior corporate counsel at Wealth.com, is stepping in as vice president of estate planning. Rounding out the group is Liam Heffernan, whose most recent work as director of corporate development at SageView Advisory Group saw him involved in more than $30 billion in wealth and retirement plan acquisitions.

“These leaders reflect some of the very best of what our industry has to offer,” Burt White, CEO of Carson Group, said in a statement. He added that by building a deep bench of talent, the firm aims to bring “fresh perspectives, specialized expertise and innovative solutions to the advisors and clients we serve.”

Meanwhile, Independent Financial Group has named Steven Gensler as senior vice president of advisor growth and development.

Gensler, who brings more than two decades of industry experience, will be responsible for driving the firm’s multi-year growth initiatives and overseeing the development of services such as succession planning, centralized financial planning, and virtual advisor support. His previous roles include senior positions at LPL Financial and Independent Advisor Alliance, where he launched new platforms in marketing, insurance, and portfolio management.

Kevin Keefe, who took over as president and COO of IFG earlier this year, said in the announcement that Gensler “understands how to equip advisors with the strategies, tools and support they need to thrive in today’s competitive environment, while keeping the client experience front and center.”

Finally, Whittier Trust has appointed Vikram Ganu as senior vice president and director of tax. Based in Menlo Park, Ganu will lead the firm’s tax practice, advising high-net-worth individuals and multi-generational family businesses on complex income and estate tax planning.

Tax and estate planning emerged as key practice areas in a report by Cerulli Associates published last month. That research emphasized complex services as a must-have in the race for advisor-managed assets, which are projected to top $30 trillion by 2028.

With more than 16 years of experience including over a decade at Big Four accounting firms – his resume on LinkedIn includes stints at Deloitte and EY, starting in 2013 – Ganu is known for his client-focused approach and emphasis on education.

“Tax efficiency is not an afterthought at Whittier Trust – it’s core to our wealth management philosophy,” said Liam McGuinness, chief financial officer of Whittier Trust. He added that Ganu’s technical depth will help families benefit from tax strategies that are both sophisticated and practical.