Savant Capital Management CEO is Sought-After Speaker on Business Succession Planning and M&A for Financial Advisory Firms

Brodeski Speaks at Barron’s and Forbes Events

Following the successful acquisition and integration of five financial advisory firms during the past five years, Savant Capital Management CEO Brent Brodeski has become a recognized thought leader and sought-after speaker in the area of business succession planning and mergers and acquisitions for the RIA industry.

Headquartered in Rockford, IL, with 12 offices in three states, including Madison and Park Falls, Savant, a nationally recognized wealth management firm, recently hit another important milestone in the firm’s 30-year history by reaching $5 billion in assets under management (AUM). Savant set a goal to achieve $5 billion in AUM 10 years ago, when the firm reached the $1 billion milestone. The firm accomplished that goal by growing 400 percent over the past 10 years.

Additionally, Brodeski led the initiative to raise more than $50 million plus additional future capital commitments to address shareholder liquidity needs and create a capital structure and investor group to support future M&A opportunities.  The new capital structure positions the firm to remain independent now, and into the future.

Those accomplishments have further put Savant and Brodeski on national radar as a leading authority for RIAs seeking to grow or to acquire/merge or become acquired.

Recently, Brodeski shared his insight when he spoke at the Barron’s Top Independent Advisors Summitand the Forbes-SHOOK Top Advisor Summit. Both are exclusive, invitation-only events for the nation’s top independent financial advisors and industry leaders.

On March 16, Brodeski co-facilitated the “Succession Planning and M&A” session at the Forbes-SHOOK Top Advisor Summit at the Wynn in Las Vegas, NV. He spoke about the challenges and opportunities related to positioning advisory firms for future success and growth, the drivers of firm valuation, how to obtain good terms in a sale transaction and how to assure that owners of advisory firms optimally protect their investment and also protect their clients and team.

He also participated in a panel discussion during the “Succession, Continuity Planning and Next Generation Talent” session at the Barron’s Top Independent Advisors Summit on March 23 at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, FL. He spoke about key trends in advisory firm M&A, how to pick the best outside capital partner, creating a great company culture, scaling business to greater profits, and human capital strategies designed to build firm value and provide an advisory firm with long-term viability.

Savant employs more than 145 team members. Headquartered in Rockford, IL, Savant also has offices in the following locations: Chicago, IL; Freeport, IL; Geneva, IL; Hoffman Estates, IL; Naperville, IL; Peoria, IL; Sterling, IL; Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; Madison, WI; and Park Falls, WI. For more information, visit 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. For more information about Savant or to view our Important Disclosures, go to www.savantcapital.com.

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.

Former NGL Chairman, President & CEO John D. Larson appointed Chairman Emeritus

Attorney David G. Walsh becomes NGL Chairman

At National Guardian Life Insurance Company’s (NGL) annual meeting of the Board of Directors on April 28, Chairman and former NGL President & CEO John D. Larson stepped down from his role as Chairman of the Board. Larson served on the Board of Directors since May 1974 and was Chairman since 2004. He remains a Board Director and was appointed Chairman Emeritus.

Larson has served NGL for over 48 years since joining the company in April 1969. Larson became President of NGL in 1974 and Chief Executive Officer in January 1989. He retired from NGL in 2012 and continued to serve as Chairman until he stepped down on April 28.

Replacing Larson as Chairman is David G. Walsh, a longtime NGL Board member and former Vice Chairman. Walsh is an attorney and retired partner with Foley & Lardner LLP.

About NGL

Since 1910, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL), a mutual insurance company, has been located in Madison, Wis. Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia, NGL markets preneed and individual life and annuities, as well as group markets products including specialty and student insurance. Additional information about NGL can be found at www.nglic.com; Facebook: Facebook.com/NGLIC and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-guardian-life-insurance-company

National Guardian Life Insurance Company is not affiliated with The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America a/k/a The Guardian or Guardian Life.

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First Business Capital Corp. Announces Closed Deal

Contact:
Jen Braico
Senior Copywriter & Content Strategist
First Business Financial Services, Inc.
608-232-5773, jbraico@firstbusiness.com

First Business Capital Corp. Announces Closed Deal

MADISON, WI, May 3, 2017 – Chuck Batson, President and CEO, announced today that First Business Capital Corp. recently closed and funded a $6,185,000 credit facility including a revolving line of credit and equipment term loan for a specialty paper products manufacturer in the Pacific Northwest. First Business Capital Corp. is a part of First Business Financial Services, Inc.(Nasdaq:FBIZ).

About First Business Capital Corp.
First Business Capital Corp. is a bank-owned specialty lender providing asset-based loans and factoring services to privately held businesses with revenues of up to $75,000,000 and financing requirements of up to $10,000,000. First Business Capital Corp. provides funding to companies in transition to accomplish a turnaround, restructuring, acquisition, recapitalization, or rapid growth opportunity.

About First Business
First Business Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: FBIZ) is a Wisconsin-based bank holding company, focused on the unique needs of businesses, business executives, and high net worth individuals. First Business offers commercial banking, specialty finance, and private wealth management solutions, and because of its niche focus, is able to provide its clients with unmatched expertise, accessibility, and responsiveness. For additional information, visit www.firstbusiness.com or call 608-238-8008.

Member FDIC, First Business’s corporate headquarters are at 401 Charmany Drive in Madison, WI. For additional information, visitwww.firstbusiness.com or call 608-238-8008.

The First Business logo is available at http://www.firstbusiness.com/logo/.

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M3 Insurance Promotes Ryan Barbieri to Vice President

M3 Insurance recently promoted Ryan Barbieri to the position of Vice President, Employee Benefits. Ryan is now responsible for the direction, performance, and management of the employee benefits group throughout M3’s five locations in Wisconsin.

Prior to joining M3 in 2015, Ryan spent 11 years with Willis North American as a Senior Vice President working with mid to large employers, fully insured and self-funded in both the public and private sectors. He has built a solid reputation for success in providing complex benefit program solutions and, in the public sector, for his ability to work with administration as well as organized employee groups to create transformational cost containment strategies.

In his new role, Ryan will work closely with Rich Twietmeyer, Executive Vice President-Employee Benefits, and Rebecca Menefee, Sales Manager-Employee Benefits, on strategic planning and execution for employee benefit business development at M3. Rich said, “This promotion is a natural progression given Ryan’s performance since joining M3. His experience and expertise in the employee benefit marketplace has allowed M3 to better serve our clients. He has also exhibited exceptional leadership skills, serving as a valuable resource for our sales professionals. I am excited to work with Ryan in this new capacity.”

M3’s evolving leadership structure represents continued agency growth and commitment to building a strong infrastructure from which to serve M3’s clients.

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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.

Chamber President Zach Brandon Receives Distinguished Service Award from Wisconsin National Guard Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 2, 2017)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced that Chamber President Zach Brandon is the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Service Award, the Wisconsin National Guard Association’s highest civilian honor. The award was presented Saturday during WINGA’s 67^th Annual State Conference in Elkhart Lake.

The award recognizes Brandon and the Chamber’s involvement in the effort to base the next-generation F-35A aircraft at Madison’s Truax Field, outstanding leadership and community advocacy in support of the mission of the 115^th Fighter Wing through the Chamber’s work with the Badger Air Community Council (BACC).

“While I am humbled and honored to accept this award, I share it with the business leaders, elected officials, advocates, community members and countless others who have supported and shown their appreciation for the remarkable, hardworking men and women of the 115^th Fighter Wing,” said Brandon. “Landing the F-35A at Truax would be both a national defense asset and an economic opportunity for Greater Madison, and we are proud to do everything we can to promote the 1,200 airmen of the 115^th and the significant contributions they make to our community.”

In addition to supporting 1,200 Wisconsin jobs, the 115^th Fighter Wing contributes $100 million in annual economic impact, provides emergency response services for Dane County Regional Airport and pays more than $1 million in tuition assistance to colleges and universities for area students who serve in the Guard.

In January, the Chamber launched Together Truax, the next step of an initiative designed to support the effort to base the F-35A at Truax Field. The initiative includes a new website, TogetherTruax.com, and Facebook and Twitter pages, in addition to ongoing advocacy. The Air Force announced in December that Truax is one of five finalist sites for the F-35A, with the two bases that will receive the next-generation jets to be named at a later date.

About the Wisconsin National Guard Association:
The Wisconsin National Guard Association, Inc. (WINGA) is a nonpartisan organization representing more than 1,800 current and former Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard officers. Formed in 1951, the association promotes the relevance, readiness, and modernization of our National Guard, improving the quality of life for its members and supporting state and national policies to advance the security of the United States. To learn more, visit http://www.winga.org.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with nearly 1,300 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 9,500 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at greatermadisonchamber.com.

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