Dynasty Financial Partners has launched Dynasty Insurance Services and hired Richard Plesha as partner and director of insurance services.

Plesha was most recently director of private wealth management at The Hartford. At Dynasty he will lead the firm’s insurance and wealth transfer (estate) planning platforms.

As part of the launch of Dynasty Insurance Services, the firm has also entered into a strategic partnership with Fund Evaluation Group to offer alternative investment-linked wealth transfer planning products to advisors.

Founder and chief executive Shirl Penney, a former Smith Barney executive, launched New York-based Dynasty last year. Board members include Todd Thomson, former head of Citigroup's global wealth management unit, as chairman.

The firm provides investment and technology platforms for independent advisors to ultra high net worth individuals.