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GWG Holding Expands Business Development Team

GWG Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: GWGH), sponsor of non-traded life settlement investment programs, announced the creation of a national key accounts and business development team that will focus on adding broker-dealers to their alternative investment platform and increasing the number of appointed agents.

“GWG is fully committed to increasing the number of broker-dealers and RIAs who sell our investment products,” said GWG executive vice president, Mark Petersen. “Growing sales is a top priority for us, and we are excited to attract some of the industry’s most highly regarded talent to further develop key accounts and business development.”

Merriah Harkins has rejoined the company as head of business development. She will focus on expanding the foundation of broker-dealers and registered investment advisors she built at GWG during her 2011-2013 tenure.

Harkins was previously a sales management consultant with Peak Advisory Alliance, a leading advisor education platform. She has spent 15 years in executive leadership positions within the financial services industry and has successfully led sponsors of alternative investment programs.

Matthew Paine has also rejoined GWG, returning as senior vice president – head of key accounts and appointed agent sales. Paine’s focus is GWG MCA Capital, Inc. as well as the appointed agent program for the company’s selling group, which supports the policy sourcing efforts of financial advisors by providing exclusive access to training, marketing, and compliance protections.

Alongside Harkins, Paine developed GWG’s business foundation from 2008-2013. He was primarily responsible for product development and the distribution of GWG investment products. Prior to rejoining GWG, Paine served as senior managing director, syndicate and wholesale services, for Arque Capital, Ltd. He also previously served as a financial consultant and director of marketing for AXA Advisors.

Jason Plucinak has been at GWG since 2007, and has now accepted the role of senior vice president – business development. Plucinak has held a number of key leadership positions within the company, with experience in investment wholesaling as well as life insurance policy sourcing. In addition, Plucinak has strong relationships with broker-dealers and advisors in the alternative investment community.

“We are thrilled to have Merriah Harkins and Matt Paine return to the company,” said GWG CEO Jon Sabes. “It’s exciting to have this successful team working together again, especially now that GWG is ready to bring our story to a much wider audience. I wholeheartedly believe their passion and commitment will resonate well with BDs, Advisors, and RIAs, and we look forward to sharing the opportunity of our investment products and our Appointed Agent Program with them.”

As reported by The DI Wire this week, GWG released its first quarter financial results and surpassed the $1 billion mark for its life insurance portfolio.

GWG Holdings is a specialty finance company in the life insurance secondary market. Through its subsidiaries, the firm purchases life insurance policies from seniors who no longer want, need or can afford their policies. Since 2006, GWG has purchased nearly $2 billion in life insurance policy benefits and paid seniors more than $335 million for their policies.

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