NPA Management Team
Continuity and stability are as important to us as they are to our advisors and their clients.
NPA’s network of advisors are supported by an experienced team that helps them focus on serving their clients. With a quick read through the biographies of members of NPA’s management team you’ll see common threads: experience, longevity, commitment and family.
Edward C. Hiers
Founder & CEO
Edward C. Hiers, ChFC, has 40 years of financial services and investment management experience. He joined the firm in 1973, and oversaw its establishment under the Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. name in 1980.
He was also responsible for organizing the firm as a Registered Investment Advisor. During his tenure, NPA has grown to be one of the largest financial planning firms in New England with 2,500 corporate clients and more than 12,000 individual clients across 31 offices in five states, servicing more than $3 billion dollars in advisory and brokerage assets as of January 2018.
Ed is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm, working with the management team to ensure that NPA provides a comprehensive support and services platform for advisors. Focused primarily on improving advisor practice management, Ed frequently meets with NPA advisors both individually and in groups, as well as industry leaders, sharing insights and initiating dialogue on topics critical to financial services professionals.
Ed resides in Bedford, NH, with his wife Barbara. They have four adult children and six grandchildren. He is also very involved in his community, serving as Lead Pastor at Shiloh Community Church in Manchester, NH.
Benjamin J. Hiers
President & COO
Benjamin J. Hiers has nearly 15 years of financial services and corporate development experience. Ben joined NPA in 2005 and has led the firm’s Integrated Partners program and institutionalized its Marketing department.
Prior to joining NPA, Ben spent six years at Lucent Technologies, where he served as Manager of Equity Capital Markets and completed the Financial Leadership Development Program. He also worked in Lucent’s Mergers and Acquisitions and Treasury departments. Ben is an LPL registered principal and holds Series 7, 24, and 66 registrations through LPL Financial. Ben graduated as Valedictorian from Babson College and earned a Master’s Degree (Summa Cum Laude) from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business.
Ben resides in Bedford, NH, with his wife Jill and their two children.
Michael J. Hartman
Chief Compliance Officer & Director of Operations
Michael J. Hartman has been with Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. since 1983. In his 30 years with NPA, Mike, who is the son of the firm's founder, Jack Hartman, has served in a variety of positions.
Mike earned the CRCP designation (Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional) through FINRA and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Mike holds Series 6, 7, 24, and 63 registrations through LPL Financial. He also holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Southern New Hampshire University.
Mike resides in Merrimack, NH with his wife Tammy and has one adult daughter currently living and working in Michigan.
Matthew H. Eaton
Director of Case Development and Technical Support
Matthew H. Eaton, CLU, ChFC, CFP®, joined NPA in 1980. Matt helps NPA’s Financial Advisors assist their clients in estate and charitable planning, business succession planning, and executive benefits.
During his tenure, Matt helped develop a sophisticated retirement distribution and asset allocation software program for financial planners. This program is available independently and exclusive to NPA advisors. He also serves as a support to our network of professionals, frequently assisting our CPA, Financial Institution, and Attorney partners.
Prior to joining NPA, Matt served as Chief Operating Officer for Micree Corporation and was a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army. He is the Former President of the New Hampshire Society of Financial Service Professionals; Former President of the New Hampshire Chapter of the Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; and Former President of the Nashua Chapter of the Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He is Series 6, 7, and 65 registered with LPL Financial. Matt earned a BS degree at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY.
Matt resides in Nottingham, NH with his wife Seonaid. They have three adult children and one grandchild.
Anna-Marie (Marie) Smith
Director of Training
Anna-Marie (Marie) Smith, CLU, ChFC, CFP®, has been with Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. for 20 years. Marie developed the training program used with new advisors and our CPA Partners.
The training program has been expanded to include continuing education for all NPA advisors through monthly Webinars, Regional Training programs and Advisor University, a "peer to peer" educational format where successful advisors share their insights.
In addition to her role as Director of Training, Marie supports Matt Eaton in providing technical support to NPA's Financial Advisors and Partners. She is also familiar with a variety of financial planning software programs and works closely with advisors in developing financial plans for their clients.
Prior to joining NPA, Marie was a Brokerage Manager for National Life of Vermont, representing their products and services to advisors throughout New England. She is the Former President of the New Hampshire Society of Financial Service Professionals and has served on the Board of Directors for Moore Center Services, Inc., an area agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and acquired brain disorder (ABD) in Manchester and the surrounding area. She is Series 6, 7, 24, and 65 registered with LPL Financial. Marie has a Master of Science in Financial Services from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Marie resides in Wakefield, NH with her husband, Roger. They have an adult daughter and two grandchildren.
Bryan C. Harms
Director of Marketing
Bryan C. Harms joined the Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. in 2012. He brings more than 20 years of marketing and corporate development experience.
Bryan is responsible for NPA’s corporate brand as well as working with individual advisors on their marketing plans and campaigns.
Prior to joining NPA, Bryan held a variety of marketing and management positions including Director of Marketing for Inverness Real Estate Investments, a securities firm specializing in real estate-based investments, and Principal at Viking Real Estate Investments, a commercial and residential lender. He earned a BA degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Bryan and his wife reside in Amherst, NH with their two daughters.
Jeffrey S. Locke
Director of Financial Institutions
Jeffrey S. Locke, CFP® joined Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. in 2010 and has been in the investment industry for more than 30 years.
Jeff is responsible for the Financial Institution division at NPA where he oversees business development, practice management, sales support, client consulting and OSJ responsibilities.
Prior to joining NPA, Jeff was Senior Executive at TD Bank, where he was responsible for TD Bank's Financial Advisory program - including 150 full time financial advisors and 50 licensed branch employees, supervised through seven Offices of Supervisory Jurisdiction. The field sales team was supported by a sales management, compliance, operations and administrative team of 115 individuals across eight northeastern states. During his career he also worked with other local financial institutions, including Liberty Securities Corp., Fleet Bank, Eastern Bank, Boston Federal Savings, and Andover Bank. He is currently a Registered Principal with LPL Financial and holds a Series 7, 63, 66 and 24 securities registrations with LPL Financial, along with a Life Insurance license with NH, VT and MA. Jeff earned a BA degree from University of W. Connecticut and his CFP® from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado.
Jeff resides in Nashua, NH with his wife, Suzanne. They have three adult sons and an adult daughter, all who live and work in the southern New Hampshire area.