Lincoln Financial names John Morriss as new chief investment officer

RADNOR, Pa. - Lincoln Financial (NYSE:LNC), which has delivered an impressive 33.67% return year-to-date according to InvestingPro data, announced Monday the appointment of John Morriss as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, effective October 13, 2025. Morriss will oversee the company’s investment strategies managing more than $300 billion in assets.

Morriss joins Lincoln from Fortitude Re, where he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Public and Private Fixed Income. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial, giving him familiarity with the company’s operations. In his new role, Morriss will report to Ellen Cooper, Chairman, President and CEO, and will join the company’s Senior Management Committee. The appointment comes as Lincoln maintains its strong financial health, with InvestingPro analysis showing liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations and a 55-year track record of consistent dividend payments.

"John’s expertise and leadership make him an outstanding choice to lead our investments organization as we advance our strategy and build for the future," Cooper said in the press release.

Morriss brings over 30 years of investment experience to the position. Before joining Fortitude Re in 2020, he worked at Lincoln for four years as Senior Vice President of Fixed Income Investments. His career also includes 18 years at TIAA in various leadership roles and experience as a currency trader at Chase Manhattan Bank.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of the Holy Cross and an MBA in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Lincoln Financial, headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, provides annuities, life insurance, group protection, and retirement plan services. As of June 30, 2025, the company reported $331 billion in end-of-period account balances, net of reinsurance. Trading at a P/E ratio of 6.71, the company maintains strong fundamentals with a market capitalization of $7.66 billion. For deeper insights into Lincoln Financial’s valuation and growth prospects, investors can access comprehensive analysis through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports, which cover over 1,400 US equities.

The company acknowledged Jayson Bronchetti, who previously led Lincoln’s Investments organization, for his contributions and support during the transition.

In other recent news, Lincoln National reported second-quarter operating earnings per share of $2.36, surpassing both CFRA’s estimate of $1.58 and the consensus view of $1.88. Following these results, CFRA raised its price target for Lincoln National to $42.00, maintaining a Hold rating. Wells Fargo also increased its price target to $37.00, citing a strong quarterly performance. Morgan Stanley upgraded Lincoln National from Equalweight to Overweight, raising its price target to $58.00, highlighting the Group Protection segment’s significant contribution to earnings.

Additionally, Lincoln Financial announced the appointment of Jason Crane as Senior Vice President and President of its Retirement Plan Services business. In another development, the company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share, payable on November 3, 2025, to shareholders of record as of October 10, 2025. These recent developments reflect Lincoln National’s strategic and financial momentum in various areas.

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