Toronto-based managing general agency (MGA) Qualified Financial Services Inc. (QFS) announced on Wednesday that its president, Nick Simone, will be retiring from his position effective March 31.

Simone will continue to work with QFS in a consulting capacity in a newly created role as advisor relationship consultant following his retirement. He will help QFS expand existing relationships and develop new ones in this role while also assisting the MGA during the transition period after his retirement.

QFS has prepared for Simone’s pending retirement in recent months by bringing on Larry Goldberg as chief operating officer in May 2016, according to Kevin Cott, CEO of QFS. The firm has also expanded the responsibilities of other members of the executive team, including Joseph Trozzo, vice president of sales, and Perry Villanueva, vice president of recruiting and advisor development.

Cott says in a statement that he is preparing his three children to assume leadership of QFS in the coming years.

Simone has been with QFS since April 2011. Prior to joining QFS, he was president of Walton Capital Management Inc.

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