Lincoln Financial Network Enhances its Investment Platform by Appointing Industry Pioneer

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Financial Network (LFN), the retail wealth management affiliate of Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE:LNC), is continuing to enhance its investment platform with today's announcement of Gene Mulligan, one of the industry pioneers responsible for evolving the separately managed account business (SMA), being appointed Senior Vice President for Investment Products and Platform.

Mulligan, will be responsible for leading all aspects of LFN's wealth management platform, including its managed account strategy, products and operations. He will report to LFN President, David S. Berkowtiz and will serve on the LFN Executive Committee. He is widely recognized for setting industry standards around managed accounts and led the development of the SMA business at Merrill Lynch.

"Gene's appointment underscores our continuing investment in resources and capabilities that will help our advisors grow their business, effectively manage their practice, and spend more time advising and serving their clients," said David Berkowitz. "Gene's expertise and experience will add to our culture and enhance our ability to deliver industry leading investment capabilities and solutions for our independent advisors and their clients."

Mulligan joins Lincoln from Merrill Lynch Global Investment Solutions, where as a Managing Director and head of business strategy and development for the Merrill Lynch Global investment and advisory platforms, he played a leading role in growing and overseeing the managed account business. Mulligan also had a key role in Merrill's move to a model portfolio-based program, which currently serves as the market's second largest SMA program, according to Money Management Institute data.

"LFN advisors have a long history of helping clients create and protect wealth," said Mulligan. "They offer a unique and creative approach toward advising clients on wealth accumulation, retirement planning, and wealth protection strategies. I look forward to further strengthening that foundation through broader and deeper investment offerings for our advisors and their clients."

Mulligan joined Merrill Lynch in 1986 as a commodities trader. From 1988 to 1992, he was a fixed income trader; from 1992 to 1998, he was head of Fee Based Trading; from 1998 to 2004, head of Fee based Product and Platform Management; from 2004 to 2010, head of Third Party Discretionary Management; and from 2007 to 2009, chief operating officer of Managed Account Advisors. That role was expanded in 2009 to president of Managed Account Advisors. In 2011, Mulligan took on the role of head of cross-platform development for Merrill's managed solutions unit.

Mulligan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from St. John's University, New York, in 1986. He also holds FINRA Series 3, 7, 55, 63 and 65 licenses.

According to a 2013 Investment News Independent Broker-Dealer Report, LFN was ranked the second largest independent broker-dealer firm by number of representatives and fourth largest by revenue.

About Lincoln Financial Network
Lincoln Financial Network is the marketing name for the retail sales and financial planning affiliates of Lincoln Financial Group and includes Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation, both members of FINRA and SIPC. Consisting of approximately 8,000 representatives, agents, and full-service financial planners throughout the United States, Lincoln Financial Network professionals can offer financial planning and advisory services, retirement services, life products, annuities, investments, and trust services to affluent individuals, business owners, and families.

About Lincoln Financial Group
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) and its affiliates. With headquarters in the Philadelphia region, the companies of Lincoln Financial Group had assets under management of $189 billion as of June 30, 2013. Through its affiliated companies, Lincoln Financial Group offers: annuities; life, group life, disability and dental insurance; employer-sponsored retirement plans; savings plans; and comprehensive financial planning and advisory services.

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SOURCE Lincoln Financial Network