OUR MISSION
We believe everyone deserves to live out their next chapter with dignity and purpose.
Our industry isn’t adequately prepared.
Our mission is to transform the retirement industry by empowering firms with the tools and resources needed to provide effective advice and innovative solutions that deliver better retirement outcomes for all.
Our Leadership Team
STEVE GRESHAM
Steve Gresham is the managing principal of NextChapter, a leadership community dedicated to improving retirement outcomes for everyone. He is also Senior Education Advisor to the Alliance for Life-time Income. Prior to founding NextChapter, Steve held several senior leadership positions in investment and wealth management. As the executive vice president and head of the Private Client Group at Fidelity Investments, he led the overall retail division strategy from 2009-2017, when it grew from $700 billion to more than $3 trillion AUA.
Steve served eight years on the faculty of Brown University’s Taubman School of Public Policy and is the author of five books about wealth management, Including The New Advisor for Life (John Wiley & Sons, 2011). He is a graduate of Brown University.
SUZANNE SCHMITT
Suzanne Schmitt serves as NextChapter Managing Director, leading our growth strategies employing longevity planning and financial wellness.
Prior to joining Next Chapter, Suzanne served as Head of Financial Wellness for New York Life. In this capacity, she built the firm’s first holistic financial wellbeing strategy; delivered a comprehensive hybrid user experience including products, services and solutions as well as access to human advice and guidance; developed the vendor and partner slate; built the bench by bringing together top internal and external talent; and launched this differentiated capability in under a year. Suzanne also served as media spokesperson on a range of topics including financial wellbeing, women and wellness, and caregiving.
Suzanne holds a BA in psychology and communications from Douglass College. She also holds an MA in organizational development and leadership, as well as a certificate in servant leadership, from Gonzaga University. Suzanne has certificates in gerontology and elder abuse prevention from the University of Southern California. Suzanne also has a patent for calculating health and wealth outcomes from the United States Patent Office.
Douglas Heikkinen
Doug is a strategic advisor to NextChapter. He has over 25 years of experience as a marketing and communications professional, providing creative services to the financial services sector and others. He is a defector from the corporate world, taking with him a thorough understanding of the mindset of capital business. From out of the “cage” at Shearson Lehman Brothers, he spent 12 years at Schwab Advisor Services where he was instrumental in all aspects of the areas growth and maturity. Since then, he’s co-led two successful start-ups, and was also the President of a Northwest brand/design agency. His vast experience has led him to be mindful and focused on what matters most within the financial services industry, while letting his creativity flow into our business and clients. He’s also currently the Founder and Editor at Advisorpedia.
SCOTT BIELER
Managing Director, NextChapter
Scott is a recognized expert and leader in financial services business, legal, regulatory and compliance matters based on over 30 years’ experience in the industry. He held leadership positions over thirteen years in the legal department of Fidelity Investments – including serving as interim general counsel – as well as nine years with Merrill Lynch. He was previously a partner at Sidley Austin, a major law firm.
Scott serves on the Executive Committee of SIFMA Compliance & Legal, and was formerly President of that division. Scott graduated from Hamilton College, Magna cum laude and Washington & Lee Law School, cum laude.
