M3’s 2017 Health Benefits Trend Report Released

M3 has released the M3 2017 Health Care Trend Report. This is an annual publication highlighting the position of health insurance costs and plan designs throughout the state of Wisconsin. The report contains data collected from M3 clients across a variety of industries, sectors, sizes and markets.

The information within the report provides private and public sector organizations with a benchmark to compare their own employee benefit plan types, costs, deductibles, co-payments, and more, with the rest of the state. The report includes insight as to how employers are using benefit plan design to keep costs down, as well as how different size employers are proceeding through the current marketplace.

According to this year’s report, health plan premiums experienced a 7.7% growth change over the last year. This is the highest rate of change since 2011.

If you’d like to have a discussion on specific report findings in relation to your organization, contact your M3 Account Executive. Hard copies of the report are available upon request.

________________________________

About M3

M3 Insurance offers insight, advice and strategies to help clients manage risk, purchase insurance and provide employee benefits. We are committed to being experts in both the products we represent and the industries we serve. Our people advance M3’s competitive advantage in the marketplace, and our focus on community builds better places to live and work. M3 is consistently ranked a top 100 broker in America.

Jakob Loescher Ranked as One of America’s Top Millennial Advisors

 Savant Capital Management financial advisor recognized by Forbes 

Jakob Loescher, a financial advisor with Savant Capital Management, a leading independent, nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm, has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors. The first-ever ranking features 500 millennial advisors, naming Loescher #13.

Loescher has spent his entire financial services career with Savant. In 2007, he served as an intern, primarily responsible for assisting planners and advisors in the analysis of client investment portfolios. He joined the firm as a financial advisor the following year. Since 2008, he has been responsible for managing all aspects of the financial planning and investment process for Savant’s clients. In October 2016, Loescher became one of 47 employee-members of the firm.  Savant has more than 140 employees based throughout its 12 offices across the country.

Forbes is an American business magazine and a leading source for reliable business news and financial information. Its list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors was developed by SHOOK Research and represents individuals born in 1980 or later and are the top-performing young advisors at their respective firms.

“We are thrilled for Jake being named to the #13 spot on the list of American’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors,” said Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant. “Jake’s goal is to develop strong relationships with his clients. He genuinely cares for people and focuses on making the complexities of financial planning clear and simple for his clients. Jake and the entire Savant team are what makes us one of the leading Registered Investment Advisory firms in the nation.”

With more than 19,500 nominations received, 500 millennial advisors were chosen based on a minimum of four years relevant experience and acceptable compliance records. In addition, telephone and in-person interviews were conducted to examine best practices such as client service models, investing process, business types, and leveraging team and firm resources. Credentials, revenue, and assets under management were also considered. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK received a fee in exchange for rankings. Click here to view the complete list of America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors.

Savant manages more than $5 billion in assets and employs more than 140 team members. Headquartered in Rockford, IL, Savant also has offices in Chicago, Freeport, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Peoria, Sterling, Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; and Madison and Park Falls, WI. For more information about savant, visit www.savantcapital.com.

About Savant Capital Management
Savant Capital Management is a leading independent, nationally-recognized, fee-only firm, serving clients for 30 years with $5 billion in assets under management. As a trusted advisor, Savant Capital Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States. Savant was the recipient of the 2015 Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™, part of Schwab’s IMPACT Awards® program to recognize excellence in the business of independent financial advice. Savant has consistently received other industry recognitions including recently being included on the Forbes top 200 financial advisors list, the Barron’s top 20 independent advisory firms list, being named the #9 rated RIA firm by Financial Planning magazine, and included in additional top advisors lists by Financial Advisor magazine and InvestmentNews.

Savant Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor. Savant’s marketing material should not be construed by any existing or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if they engage Savant’s services and may include lists or rankings published by magazines and other sources which are generally based exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized advisor. Click here for more information about Savant or to view our Important Disclosures.

Savant Capital Management and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by Savant Capital Management. The Best-in-Business IMPACT Award™ is not an endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral to Savant Capital Management with respect to its investment advisory and other services.

Andrew Gunderson Joins Wisconsin Bank & Trust as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking

Andrew Gunderson, an experienced commercial lender in the Madison area, has joined Wisconsin Bank & Trust as Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking.

Previously, Gunderson held commercial banking roles at FirstMerit Bank and Associated Bank, both in the Madison market.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Andy Gunderson to our Madison banking team,” said Craig Aderhold, who serves as Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s statewide Senior Commercial Banker. “Over the course of his career, Andy has helped business owners manage and upgrade their business potential and profitability. He is a seasoned professional who brings great energy and an excellent business perspective to each business relationship.”

In his work as a Madison-based commercial banker, Gunderson will build relationships with business owners and executives as he helps them meet their business goals through tailored financing including commercial and industrial loans, commercial real estate loans and small-business (SBA) loans.

Gunderson is based at Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s Main Banking Center, located at 119 Junction Road in Madison. Gunderson can be reached at agunderson@wisconsinbankandtrust.com.

About Wisconsin Bank & Trust
Wisconsin Bank & Trust (WBT), a subsidiary of Heartland Financial USA, Inc., (NASDAQ: HTLF), is a business-focused community bank with assets of more than $1 billion. With eighteen banking centers and one mortgage loan origination office, Wisconsin Bank & Trust serves customers in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Sheboygan, Monroe and southwest areas of Wisconsin. WBT offers a wide range of personal and business banking, private client and mortgage lending services. For more information, visit www.wisconsinbankandtrust.com or call 608.203.1214. Wisconsin Bank & Trust is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Heartland is a diversified financial services company with assets exceeding $9.5 billion. The Company provides banking, mortgage, private client, investment, treasury management, card services, insurance, and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses. Heartland currently has 121 banking locations serving 88 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and California. Additional information about Heartland is available at www.htlf.com.

Economic Empowerment of Women in Business in Wisconsin to be the Focus for Inaugural Event

Madison, WI – On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, women leaders in tech, business, science, non-profit, and education will come together to celebrate, empower and support each other at Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WEDWisconsin). The conference will be held at Monona Terrace.  It is part of a week long celebration culminating in the global recognition of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on November 19th.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide. The flagship United Nations event is live-streamed and celebrated in 144 countries and by 110 universities/colleges internationally. This is the first time the event will happen in Wisconsin.

“I attended WED last year at the United Nations and knew it was something we needed to make happen in Wisconsin. We will be the first state outside of New York to host a day long event but we will be joining women from Kenya to Egypt, all across Europe and around the world helping to eliminate poverty and providing hope and opportunity.” explained Laura Gallagher, WEDWisconsin Ambassador and Chair.

Women in the U.S. are now starting businesses at twice the rate of men. Between 2007 and 2016, the number of women-owned firms increased by 45%, compared to just a 9% increase among all businesses according to American Express Open’s research. Therefore, over the past nine years, the number of women-owned firms has grown at a rate fully five times faster than the national average.

At the WEDWisconsin conference, attendees will:

• Learn from entrepreneurial greats about the triumphs and trials of being a business owner.
• Enjoy high-value content and unique social experiences, with a focus on authentic relationship building.
• Participate in a live “think tank” where entrepreneurs are pulled from the crowd to share a challenge they are facing that is then turned over to the tables to solve.
• Hear real stories about funding.
• Connect with countless other business owners and those who support them.
• Grow as a leader.
• Be inspired.
• Be a part of making history here in Wisconsin.

The WEDWisconsin Advisory board includes women in various fields with diverse backgrounds and experiences. From technology to the sciences, education to social good initiatives, from start-ups to businesses that are expanding, the board is made up of leaders who are familiar with entrepreneurship eco-systems, education and policy creation that will help women in business to thrive.

For more information please visit  WEDWisconsin.

About Laura Gallagher, Ambassador and Chairman of the Board for WEDWisconsin

Laura Gallagher is a community, local and national business leader serving successful entrepreneurial companies and nonprofit organizations primarily in Wisconsin. In 2016, she was recognized by the Governor as a Trailblazer in Wisconsin. She is the founder and CEO of The Creative Company and is a 2017 Alumni of Babson College’s 10,000 Businesses Program with a Certificate of Entrepreneurship and a 2016 graduate of Harvard Professor Michael Porter’s Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

The Creative Company is certified by the State of Wisconsin as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise.

About Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is the world’s largest entrepreneurial and financial empowerment initiative dedicated to celebrating, supporting and empowering women worldwide. WED encourages four billion women worldwide to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, with the goal of bringing hope alleviating poverty.

WED is committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who will amplify our message of expanding businesses with social good initiatives in communities around the world.

Packers and WPS Health Solutions present ‘Operation Fan Mail’ for 2017

GREEN BAY, Wis.—Aug. 3, 2017—Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families at each Packers home game, will mark its 11th season in 2017, and the ninth year it has been presented by WPS Health Solutions or its affiliates.

The program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2017 home game and recognize the members on the field during pregame activities. A total of 99 families have been saluted during the past nine seasons.

“We are proud to salute military families through Operation Fan Mail for the 11th year,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “So many remarkable men and women and their families make tremendous sacrifices for our country each day, and we’re honored to have the opportunity to recognize them at Lambeau Field alongside our fans.”

“For the ninth consecutive year, WPS Health Solutions is privileged to join the Green Bay Packers in saluting outstanding military personnel and their families through the Operation Fan Mail program,” said WPS President and CEO Mike Hamerlik. “Their selfless dedication to our nation is an inspiration to all of us, and we thank them.”

The Packers and WPS Health Solutions are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted.

Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at http://nfl.packers.com/gameday/gameday_promotions/operation_fan_mail/.

Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling. Purple Heart recipients are also eligible for recognition, even if they cannot return to active service status.

In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card courtesy of WPS Health Solutions.

About WPS Health Solutions

WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and a leading Wisconsin not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers affordable health plans and benefits administration. The WPS Government Health Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans and their families. In 2017, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the eighth straight year. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.