DPL Financial Partners, a platform for commission-free annuities, announced on Wednesday the appointment of two insurance industry executives to newly created leadership positions as the firm approaches $7 billion in assets under administration. Mark Forman joins as Head of Experience, and Kendal Wetzel joins as Head of Sales Strategy and Operations.
The hires signal DPL’s intent to deepen its support for registered investment advisors (RIAs) and their clients at a time when demand for commission-free insurance solutions is growing. The appointments reflect the firm’s focus on modernizing and simplifying the annuity experience, according to Founder and CEO David Lau.
“We continue to make significant investments to modernize and simplify the annuity experience, and our team is critical to that mission,” Lau said. “Mark and Kendal both know the RIA market well and bring expertise tailoring annuity and insurance solutions to its unique needs. We’re listening closely to our members and partners, and these additions reflect our commitment to delivering an experience that supports advisor and client success at every stage of our growth.”
In his new role, Forman will lead initiatives to enhance the service provided to DPL’s member advisors, strategic partners, and consumers. He brings deep insight into advisor and consumer needs, having led experience initiatives at Jefferson National, where he worked closely with Lau, and later at Nationwide Financial. Following his tenure at Nationwide, Forman spent nearly six years as Chief Marketing Officer at RetireOne, served as a fractional CMO to fintechs and RIAs with Intention.ly, and most recently was CMO at Optifino.
“Commission-free annuities and other high-value insurance solutions can transform advisors’ practices and help solve the most critical retirement problems Americans face today: spending confidently and securely after their working years,” Forman said. “That’s what drew me to DPL. I look forward to close collaboration with DPL’s members and partners to optimize their experience on the most advanced and fastest growing commission-free insurance platform in the industry.”
Wetzel brings significant distribution experience, having previously served as VP of Sales Operations and Enablement at Jackson National Life Distributors and Director of RIA Distribution at Allianz Life. In her new role, she will lead sales operations and enablement, aligning DPL’s teams, processes, and technology to fuel the firm’s continued growth.
“Having spent my career working with carriers, I’ve watched DPL move the industry forward with unique solutions for RIAs, a segment for which I have a strong passion,” Wetzel said. “I’m eager to help build the systems and infrastructure that will support that momentum as advisor and consumer demand increases.”
The appointments come as DPL continues to expand its reach. The firm supports more than 8,500 RIA firms directly and through integrations with wealth management platforms including Orion and Black Diamond. Its Avenew platform offers a transparent, competitively priced marketplace for commission-free annuities and insurance solutions. For more information, visit dplfp.com.
