The firm has created a new chief development officer role and has hired a new chief financial officer.

Virginia-based Edelman Financial Services, an independent financial planning and investment management firm, has appointed Rene Chaze to a newly-created role of chief development officer and Jon Isaacson as its new chief financial officer.

Chaze will oversee the firm's expansion strategy via acquisitions. Isaacson, who replaces Chaze as CFO, will take charge of its accounting and finance operations.

Before joining Edelman in 2011, Chaze was a partner at Ernst & Young. Most recently, Isaacson served as the managing director of buyouts for American Capital, a publicly-traded private equity and global asset-management firm.

"Rene will leverage his deep understanding of all aspects of our firm, along with his strong relationships across the financial services industry, to further expand the avenues by which Edelman Financial Services can serve the needs of clients through our unique combination of education, advice, investments and service," said Ryan Parker, chief executive. “We are excited for Jon to join the team. His extensive experience in helping companies achieve sustainable growth at every stage further strengthens our finance team and adds another strategic thought-leader with valuable new perspectives to the firm's leadership team."

Edelman Financial Services, which is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, has 163 financial planners and 43 offices across the US, and provides financial planning and investment management services to more than 34,000 individuals and families, and manages more than $20.6 billion in assets.