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 nearly a half century 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.
Ed 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 nine grandchildren. He is also very involved in his community, serving as a pastor at Shiloh Community Church in Manchester, NH.
Benjamin J. Hiers
President & COO
Benjamin J. Hiers has more than 20 years of financial services and corporate development experience. He joined NPA in 2005 and currently oversees all aspects of the firm’s day-to-day operations.
Ben frequently meets with NPA advisors regarding practice management issues and ensures the firm is positioned to drive continued value to advisor practices. Ben also serves as the liaison to Broker/Dealer LPL Financial, advocating on advisors’ behalf and leveraging the firm’s scale to secure the highest level of support.
Before 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. He 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, their three children, and their yellow lab, Lily.
Michael J. Hartman
Chief Compliance Officer & Director of Operations
Michael J. Hartman joined Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. in 1983. In his nearly 40 years with NPA, Mike, who is the son of the firm's founder, Jack Hartman, has served in a variety of positions
In his current role as Chief Compliance Officer, he is responsible for managing regulatory risk and compliance, focusing on education, communication, and direct oversight of NPA and all of the advisors, staff, and offices. He also provides significant advisor support, acting as an intermediary between the advisors and broker/dealer, LPL Financial. As Director of Operations, Mike handles and oversees day-to-day operations of the Bedford physical site.
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 Northfield, NH with his wife, Tammy. They have an adult daughter.
Christine Soucy
Corporate Development Manager
Chris Soucy joined NPA in 2017, bringing more than 20 years of corporate sales, strategy and staffing experience.
In her role as Corporate Development Manager, she brings an entrepreneurial background, team building skills, and personal communication, providing advisors with the support they need to transition their business and thrive. Chris introduces advisors to NPA’s suite of support services including practice management, coaching, compliance, marketing, business development resources, practice acquisition/succession, and more.
Chris has a wide range of business experience working in corporate sales roles at Connection (formerly PC Connection) and Concepts in Benefits. She also ran a family business, giving her a critical understanding of entrepreneurship, building and maintaining strong, long-lasting client relationships, and the need to constantly seek new partnerships and opportunities.
Chris earned a BS degree in Business Administration with a minor in marketing from the University of New Hampshire. She resides in Dunbarton, NH with her husband, Mike. They have three adult children and one grandson.
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 six grandchildren.
Andrew Doughty
Senior Research Manager
Andrew T. Doughty, CFP®, CIMA®, CKA®, joined Northeast Planning Associates in 2013 after five years supporting successful financial advisors in Massachusetts and Florida.
He brings great knowledge and a thorough understanding of both the financial services industry and the challenges advisors face. Andrew provides technical support and financial planning services to the firm.
Prior to joining NPA, Andrew served as a paraplanner to a large Ameriprise Financial office in Orlando, FL, where he provided day-to- day service to the practice’s top clients, while also driving the investment due diligence process, wholesaler interaction and financial planning support. He started his career in the financial services industry as an analyst with an independent financial planning firm in Massachusetts. He earned his BA in Finance from Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
Andrew resides in Concord, NH with his wife, Chelsea, and their Australian labradoodle, Juniper.
Bryan C. Harms
Director of Marketing
Bryan C. Harms is responsible for NPA’s corporate brand as well as working with individual advisors on their marketing plans and campaigns.. He joined NPA in 2012, bringing more than 30 years of marketing and corporate development experience.
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 family reside in southern New Hampshire.