Pontera gains DC street cred with veteran hires

In an effort to cement its profile in the 401(k) space, fintech Pontera is deepening its leadership bench by adding three industry veterans to its roster.

The newly appointed executives – announced during the National Association of Plan Advisors' annual 401(k) Summit in Nashville, Tennessee – bring nearly 70 years of experience in the defined-contribution plan industry,

They include Jerry Bonnabeau, who’s stepping in as Pontera's head of DC partnerships; Kevin Amoruso, coming in as director of DC strategic relationships; and Todd Stablewski, director of DC partnerships.

"We're confident that by forging stronger relationships with record keepers, Pontera can help more retirement savers pursue better outcomes by turning 401(k) management over to their own personal advisor and receiving holistic financial advice," David Goldman, Pontera's chief business officer, said in a statement announcing the appointments.

"Studies show professionally managed portfolios can generate significantly higher returns than self-managed accounts, and with 40 percent of retirement income generated from their 401(k)s, Americans increasingly want these accounts integrated with their overall financial plan," said Bonnabeau, whose resume includes stops at Atlas Point, Edelman Financial Engines, and Putnam Investments.

Todd Stablewski, whose 25-year record in the industry includes notable names such as MassMutual, Mercer, and Fidelity, comes to Pontera after serving as vice president for investment product partners at Voya Financial.

Amoruso was previously with Principal Financial Group, where he worked for 14 years cultivating relationships with the DC arms of some of the industry’s biggest retirement plan advisors and broker dealers.

A 2023 survey conducted by JP Morgan underscores the importance of professional investment management in DC plans, with 62 percent of participants saying they prefer to entrust the management of their retirement accounts to professionals. Further, two-thirds of the respondents called for employer-provided access to financial professionals and coaching.

Amid these evolving needs, Pontera has established partnerships with several leading investment advisory and broker-dealer firms over the years, including SageView Advisors, Captrust and, most recently, Ameritas.