Here's what's been happening in employee benefits over the lastmonth or so:

Lincoln Financial Group announced it hasentered into a definitive agreement to acquire Liberty LifeAssurance Company of Boston from Liberty Mutual InsuranceGroup. Upon completion of the transaction, Lincoln Financial willretain Liberty's Group Benefits business and reinsure Liberty'sIndividual Life and Annuity business to Protective Life InsuranceCompany. The combined organization will offer Life, Disability,Dental, Vision, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance, plus afull suite of enhanced absence management services.

Hub International of California, a wholly ownedsubsidiary of global insurance brokerage, risk advisory andemployee benefits firm Hub International Limited, has hired JasonDel Grande as Vice President, Employee Benefits. Del Grande willjoin the San Francisco Employee Benefits team which effectivelyshares servicing responsibility with ten “sister” officesin Northern California.

Finworx, the fintech company that helpsfinancial advisors put behavioral finance into action, is thelatest company to join global fintech firmInvestCloud's Los Angeles-based Innovation Centerfintech accelerator. In that residency, Finworx will furtherdevelop its recently launched Finworx360 app to provide AI-poweredcommunications for financial advisors.

RIA insurance network DPL Financial Partnersannounced a growth capital investment from EldridgeIndustries and the addition of 10 new professionals,including a half-dozen experienced insurance consultants.

Wealth management firm R. M. Davis announcedthe addition of two new equity owners, Scot E.Draeger, Director of Wealth Management and GeneralCounsel, and Dean E. Walker, Vice President ofTrading & Data Management. Their new roles add to the firm'sleadership at a time of significant growth for R. M. Davis andoffer greater breadth of expertise and experience to meet clients'evolving needs.

Worker's compensation insurance provider CopperPointMutual Insurance Company announced it has completed itsacquisition of Pacific Compensation InsuranceCompany (PacificComp) from Alleghany Insurance HoldingsLLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alleghany Corporation (NYSE: Y).The purchase price equates to $150 million in cash and is subjectto post-closing adjustments.

Independent wealth management and institutional advisory firmCAPTRUST Financial Advisors announced that it hasacquired Salt Lake City-based Knox CapitalGroup. Led by partners BrodieBarnes and Stanley Kimball, Knox Capital Group brings with it morethan $300 million in client assets and is comprised of 12employees, including six financial advisors, all of whom willremain with the firm under the newly adopted CAPTRUST brand.

The law firm of Bressler, Amery & Ross,P.C. announced it has formed a multi-office,interdisciplinary team – Senior Issues: Counseling and LitigationDefense – to help clients deal with the many financial and legalissues relating to baby boomers preparing for retirement. TheSenior Issues Group lawyers provide counsel tocorporate clients who confront issues affecting seniors. The teamincludes 21 attorneys drawn from Bressler's insurance, securities,and estate planning and administration practice areas.

Financial services executive MichaelaScott has joined professional services firmBorislow Insurance. She works directly withclients in developing comprehensive strategic plans and reviewingexisting estate plans. Michaela will expand offerings in theseareas to complement Borislow's employee health and wellbeingsolutions.

ArmadaCare, a supplemental insurance company,recently appointed Matthew Mattice to its newlycreated position, Vice President of National Accounts, to helpaddress the growing demand for supplemental medical benefits. Withhis extensive experience in corporate executive benefits,consulting and insurance, Mattice will work with the benefitleaders of large national companies in collaboration with theirbenefit consultants.

The ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA)has named Martin Pippins as its new ExecutiveDirector and Director of Regulatory Policy, effective May 1.Previously he served as the Director, Customer Service &Stakeholder Relations for the Services & Enforcement ACAoffice.

Atrium Health, previously Carolinas HealthCareSystem, and Navicent Health jointlyannounced they have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to enter into astrategic combination to enhance access, affordability and equityof care for individuals and families in central and southGeorgia.Navicent Health will become a part of Atrium Health,benefitting the central and south Georgia area.

The American Retirement Association has namedJoseph A. Caruso, III, JD, MSPPM as GovernmentAffairs Counsel, NAPA and NTSA, effective February 12. In his newrole, Caruso will be involved with federal and state lobbying onbehalf of ARA member associations, as well as drafting samplelegislation, and providing comments on proposed regulations. TheARA is a non-profit professional organization representing over 20,000 members and comprised of five premierretirement industry associations: the American Society of PensionProfessionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), the ASPPA College of PensionActuaries (ACOPA), the National Association of Plan Advisors(NAPA), the National Tax-deferred Savings Association (NTSA), andthe Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA).

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