Conn.-Based Rocaton Investment Advisors Expands Its Insurance Division

Rocaton Investment Advisors, an investment advisory consulting firm based in Norwalk, Conn., has expanded its insurance team with the hiring of Michael Luft as a managing director.

Luft is joining Rocaton after four years at Ariel Holdings Ltd., an insurance and reinsurance holding company, where he was part of the senior management team overseeing the group’s investment portfolio.

Prior to that, he was vice president of insurance asset management and global relationship management for Wellington Management Company LLP. He also had various fixed income-related roles at Goldman, Sachs & Co., prior to Wellington.

Rocaton’s CEO Robin Pellish said Luft’s appointment is especially timely as insurance companies face many challenges and seek more specialized expertise in evaluating investment opportunities given the current low-interest rate environment.

Rocaton offers independent investment consulting services to institutional investors, including, defined benefit and defined contribution plan sponsors, financial intermediaries, insurance companies, endowment and foundations, and large high-net worth clients. The firm was founded in 2002 by a group of senior investment professionals and consultants. The firm has approximately $300 billion in assets under advisement.