Ascensus, LLC. is an American financial services company. It offers savings plans of various kinds. It was founded in 1980; the head office is in Dresher, Pennsylvania.[2][3]

Ascensus, LLC.
Company typePrivate
IndustryFinancial services
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
Headquarters,
Key people
David Musto[1]
(President & CEO)
Bob Guillocheau[1]
(Chairman)
ProductsRetirement plans; 529 plans; individual retirement accounts; health savings accounts
RevenueIncrease US$ 302.5 million (2018)
Number of employees
4,000 (2020)
Websitewww.ascensus.com

History and ownership edit

In 2015, Ascensus was offered for sale by private equity investment firm JC Flowers.[4] In the fourth quarter of 2015, the company was acquired by Genstar Capital and Aquiline Capital Partners.[5] The company is a NAFCU (National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions) Preferred Partner.[6]

In April 2020, Kevin Cox was appointed Head of Retirement Business at Ascensus. Mr. Cox succeeds Shannon Kelly, who will take a professional Sabbatical after nearly 20 years at the company while Peg Creonte succeeds Mr. Cox as head of his business line of government savings.[7]

In 2021, Ascensus was sold[8] by Genstar Capital and Aquiline Capital Partners to Stone Point Capital LLC and GIC for $3 billion.

Retirement savings edit

In December 2016, Ascensus was chosen to manage the Oregon Retirement Savings Plan, the first state-sponsored retirement savings plan in the country.[9] With it, Oregon aims to cover around 1 million working citizens who are currently not covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan. The program launched in July 2017.[10][11]

Ascensus was also chosen to manage Illinois’ retirement savings program, Secure Choice, in July 2017. Secure Choice was launched in phases in 2018 and 2019. The program is expected to cover 1.2 million workers.[12]

In August 2018, it was announced that Ascensus would administer California's retirement savings program, CalSavers.[13] In July 2019, California began offering 7 million workers the opportunity to contribute to an IRA through CalSavers.[14]

College savings edit

In 2013, Ascensus acquired Upromise Investments, Sallie Mae's 529 college savings plan administrator.[15] This resulted in the formation of its government savings division. The company also manages Ugift, its third-party giving program allowing family and friends to transfer money into 529 plans.[16]

In 2015, Ascensus Government Savings was selected to manage the Rhode Island state 529 plan, CollegeBoundfund, in partnership with Invesco.[17] In June 2016, Ascensus opened a branch in Warwick, Rhode Island.[18] In 2016, Ascensus College Savings partnered with Wealthfront, an automated investment service, to provide the state of Nevada with a 529 savings plan. This marks the first plan of this type to use an automated investment service.[19]

Savings for individuals with disabilities edit

In February 2017, Illinois announced a 14-state partnership program, the National Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Alliance, the nation's largest multi-state agreement, that encourages residents to make investments to help disabled or blind citizens save for the future. Ascensus, through their Government Savings division, is administering the program.[20]

Health savings edit

In the health savings space, the company partnered with Devenir in June 2016 to provide a private-labeled health savings account investment platform to banks and credit unions.[21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Our Leadership". Ascensus.
  2. ^ "Ascensus | NYBA". www.nyba.com. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  3. ^ "Servant leadership in a financial crisis". Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  4. ^ "Ascensus Back on the Block - NAPA Net". 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  5. ^ "Genstar Capital". news.gencap.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  6. ^ "IRAs, Retirement Plan and Health Savings Account (HSA) Solutions | Ascensus | NAFCU". www.nafcu.org. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  7. ^ "Ascensus picks new head of retirement business". Pensions & Investments. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Ascensus to Be Acquired by Stone Point Capital and GIC From Private-Equity Consortium". Ascensus. 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  9. ^ Editorial Staff. "Ascensus to run Oregon's public DC plan for private-sector workers". Retirement Income Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  10. ^ "Saving money will be new concept for many Oregon workers". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  11. ^ "News and Resources". State of Oregon. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  12. ^ Frerichs, Michael (July 20, 2017). "Illinois Secure Choice Board Selects Ascensus to Manage Retirement Savings Program" (PDF). OFFICE OF ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-02-19. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "CalSavers Board Selects Ascensus to Administer New Retirement Program". Ascensus. 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  14. ^ "News Releases - STO". www.treasurer.ca.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  15. ^ "Ascensus Enters into Agreement to Acquire 529 Plan Administration Business from Sallie Mae | Sallie Mae Online Newsroom". news.salliemae.com. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  16. ^ Anderson, Tom (2015-05-29). "Why don't more Americans use this key to college?". CNBC. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  17. ^ "Rhode Island Selects Ascensus College Savings and Invesco for CollegeBoundfund College Savings Program | Business Wire". www.businesswire.com. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  18. ^ Campbell, Susan (2016-06-21). "Magaziner: New college savings company will bring jobs to RI". WPRI 12 Eyewitness News. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  19. ^ Wealthfront. "Wealthfront To Launch 529 College Savings Plan In Partnership With The State Of Nevada And Ascensus College Savings". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  20. ^ "ABLE investment program to help residents with disabilities". Retrieved 2017-05-12.
  21. ^ "Ascensus and Devenir Partner to Offer Health Savings Account (HSA) Investments - Devenir". 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2016-08-19.

External links edit