Pensionmark is pleased to welcome its newest affiliate, Florida -based ECM Group.

November 30, 2016 –  ECM Group is a leading provider of employee benefit plan consulting, investment and insurance services to plan sponsors of 401(k), 403(b), pension, cash balance and other qualified retirement plans. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, ECM Group has provided investment and insurance consulting to corporate clients throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.

This Pensionmark relationship offers ECM Group a truly independent home with the leverage, strength, and resources of a national consulting firm. This structure is paramount to the client-advisor relationship and will provide a full-service suite of deliverables to their retirement plan clients. ECM Group noted that Pensionmark’s position and preparedness for fiduciary rule compliance was critical. Furthermore, Pensionmark’s employee support will add significant value by allowing them to provide enhanced solutions to retirement plan participants through Pensionmark’s Financial Wellness Program. The partnership compliments their “hands on” and exhaustive process of determining the appropriate investment platform and investment choices, in addition to how they conduct personal education and enrollment meetings.

“The addition of ECM Group to our network further strengthens our presence in Florida and adds another premier advisory group to the Pensionmark family. We are excited to add Buck and his team and look forward to integrating their intellectual capital to help us grow,” commented Troy Hammond, President/CEO of Pensionmark.

Since 1981, the ECM Group has endeavored to provide clients with unbiased, honest, and comprehensive financial guidance designed to enhance, grow, and protect their assets. In addition, the firm stresses that their clients should think of them as their "first call" when they have any questions or needs related to their retirement plan. ECM Group was founded by Charles “Buck” Blanton who has more than 35 years of experience in the insurance industry and brings over 33 years of experience in qualified plans and financial advising. Buck has shared his experience and knowledge in several articles published in periodicals such as Life Insurance Selling and Employee Benefits News. Apart from his work, Buck is heavily involved within his community, and has been married to his wife Missy for 29 years with three sons together.

“Pensionmark offers us cutting-edge technology, more efficient processes, and enhanced plan inventory management and fiduciary tools needed to better serve our plan sponsor and individual relationships. We are excited to work with the forty nationwide offices of Pensionmark, especially in sharing best practices that we can in turn provide to our retirement plan clients. Pensionmark provides a national presence for ECM Group and ‘value added’ for our customers and prospects, all while keeping our independence,” commented Buck Blanton, President & CEO of ECM Group.

About the Pensionmark Advisor Support Program

Pensionmark’s Advisor Support Program provides its affiliates a full-service suite of deliverables and the groundwork needed to position their practices for long-term growth without losing the spirit of independence. In addition to benefiting from the size, strength, and relationships of a national consulting firm, customizable solutions allow the affiliate to select the support level that best suits their business model and client base. Pensionmark’s centralized service design provides time-tested reliability in investment analytics and due diligence monitoring, plan sponsor and participant employee education systems, compliance support, and preparedness of the DOL Fiduciary Rule.