Solving for the Moments that Matter
NextChapter is an engagement consulting firm focused on preparing the financial services industry to create more connected next-generation relationships and grow as a result. Led by a proven team of industry veterans who provide expert analysis and actionable strategies, NextChapter helps firms address the evolving needs of their clients through moments that matter, including health events, caregiving and solo aging, integrating workplace benefits and family financial tradeoffs. With a unique blend of discovery, educational content, coaching, and integrated plan design, NextChapter equips firms to create lasting client family relationships.
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 is the Managing Director of NextChapter Innovation, leading our NextGen engagement and growth strategies. Her prior roles include financial wellbeing leadership positions at New York Life and Prudential; head of aging investor strategy at Fidelity investments; and consumer insights and marketing leadership roles at Lincoln Financial and Genworth. (New paragraph) Suzanne holds a BA in Psychology from Douglass College, a Masters in Change Management and Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University, and Certificates in Gerontology and Elder Abuse Fraud Prevention from USC. She also holds a patent for assessing health and wealth.
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. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
SCOTT BIELER
Chief Counsel, Next Chapter
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.
MIKE DANICK
Mike Danick is Executive-in-Residence at NextChapter, an engagement consulting firm focused on preparing the financial services industry to create more connected next-generation relationships and grow as a result. Prior to joining NextChapter, Mike spent 28 years with Fidelity Investments. His prior roles include Head of Custody Client Experience, Head of Retail Risk and Oversight, and various leadership roles across several business lines. As Senior Vice President of Client Experience, he successfully managed and grew the service experience of Fidelity’s RIA firms through the Covid crisis and 18 months of record setting volumes, while achieving and all-time high Net Promotor Score.
Mike also helped create Fidelity’s Diminished Capacity retail client engagement model and worked directly with the frontline teams around identification and escalation of related issues. He is a graduate of University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.
SHARAD SRIVASTAVA
Executive In Residence
Sharad Srivastava is a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience in driving strategy development, execution, and innovation across the financial services and technology sectors. With a proven track record of launching and scaling new ventures, he combines strategic vision with operational expertise to foster innovation and drive growth. His most recent corporate role was at Prudential Financial, where Sharad served as Vice President of Strategy and led multiple strategic initiatives that delivered significant revenue growth.
Previously, at American Express and ADP, he helped the companies expand their product portfolios and geographic reach through strategic M&A initiatives. Sharad has also held advisory roles with multiple startups, helping them address market opportunities through actionable strategies and go-to-market approaches. Known for his collaborative leadership style and ability to navigate complex organizational environments.
Sharad holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business and a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
