Morningstar of Chicago has announced that John Rekenthaler, formerly Morningstar's director of research, will head the company's Online Advice business unit.
In his new position, Rekenthaler will oversee the development and marketing of Morningstar ClearFuture, an Internet-based program that provides investment research, education and advice to help individual investors plan for retirement, according to Morningstar.
Rekenthaler, who has been with Morningstar since 1988, was instrumental in the development of the ClearFuture program that was introduced a year ago, said Margaret Kirch Cohen, a spokesperson for Morningstar. He is replacing John Wironen, who left the company in the fall, Cohen said.
ClearFuture is available to 401 (k) participants in more than 7,000 plans, according to Morningstar. Rekenthaler's efforts to develop the product will include expanding it to cover other defined-contribution plan markets such as 403 (b) and 457 plans, the company said.
Rekenthaler has been director of research at Morningstar since 1998. He has also been editor of Morningstar Mutual Funds and Morningstar FundInvestor.
