Persium Group Introduces Francie Payne as Retirement Plan Advisor

Persium Group, an advisory firm specializing in wealth management, exit planning for business owners, and retirement plan services, is pleased to formally introduce Francie Payne, who joined the firm as Retirement Plan Advisor late last year. In this role, she oversees servicing for the firm’s retirement plan committee clients, focusing on favorable outcomes for plan participants and helping clients meet their fiduciary responsibilities.

Payne’s arrival was timed deliberately to allow for a thorough transition from Betsy Custer, who served Persium Group and its clients for 13 years before retiring at the end of 2025. Custer, whose career in the retirement plan industry spanned more than three decades, was the first member of the Persium team to retire with the firm. She personally recommended Payne as her replacement, and the two worked closely together for several months, ensuring each client relationship was handed off with care and continuity before Custer’s retirement.

“Losing Betsy is bittersweet. She set an extraordinary standard and was beloved by all her clients,” said Stephen Griner, Persium Group’s CEO. “But we couldn’t feel better about the person she chose to continue that work. Francie brings a perspective that is genuinely unique, having spent years on the other side of the table leading retirement plan committees for major organizations. Now she has the opportunity to advise them so they can benefit from her experience and expertise.”

Payne brings more than 30 years of retirement plan industry experience to Persium. Prior to joining the firm, she held senior positions at multiple nationally recognized organizations, where she led the design, governance, and administration of both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Her expertise encompasses plan strategy, fiduciary oversight, participant engagement, and regulatory compliance across ERISA, DOL, and IRS requirements. Her broad experience across diverse industries enables her to guide clients toward compliant, goal-aligned solutions. In 2025, she earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies™.

Payne holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with minors in Finance and Marketing from Barton College. She brings a distinct global perspective shaped in part by her teenage years living in India and experience across multiple states. She resides in the Atlanta area, where she enjoys tennis, gardening, travel, and time with family and friends.