Savant Wealth Management Announces Two Strategic Hires in Support of Growth Goals

ROCKFORD, Ill. (Feb. 14, 2023) — Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only registered investment adviser (RIA), announced that Myles Cavell has joined the firm as director of new partner optimization, and that Brad Felix, CFA®, has joined as director, Ideal Futures Platform.

Myles Cavell has more than 15 years of experience with strategic problem solving and building effective business processes. Most recently he served as Regional Director for M&A Integrations for Edelman Financial Engines where he led, planned and implemented business optimization processes and expanded sales integration for a number of newly acquired entities. In his role at Savant, Cavell will guide leaders from acquired firms through the transition and integration process post-acquisition. In addition, he will serve as an advocate to newly acquired partners, ensuring a positive integration experience and quick adoption of Savant resources and process to achieve optimal growth. Cavell will be a member of Savant’s Advisory Leadership Team, reporting to Chief Advisory Officer Chris A. Walters.

Brad Felix joins Savant after serving as director of innovation for Truepoint Wealth Counsel, a fee-only, fiduciary financial advisory firm in Cincinnati, OH. He is also the founder of Commas, a fee-only RIA in the Cincinnati area. At Savant, Felix will collaborate with Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer Rob Morrison, CFP® to develop and launch the firm’s Ideal Futures Platform, a fintech-based financial planning process designed to enhance client engagement and improve the overall client experience.

“In 2023, we are focused on growth and committed to making experiences more seamless and hassle-free, not only for clients, but also with the partner firms we acquire,” said Brent Brodeski, CPA, CFP®, CFA®, MBA. “Myles will be dedicated to smoothing the transition for firms partnering with Savant, from both an operational and cultural perspective. As director of our Ideal Futures Platform, Brad will be working to create a more impactful onboarding process and an easier way for clients to follow their progress toward their goals.”

Earlier this month, Savant announced that Patrick Lawlor, CFA®, CFP®, joined Savant as head of mergers and acquisitions, part of the firm’s efforts to expand its M&A activity in 2023. In 2021, Savant recapitalized to accelerate from incremental to exponential growth, and last year, it strengthened its advisory leadership team by naming Chris A. Walters to the position of chief advisory officer, hiring Jason R. English as director of growth, and naming John M. Hanley, CFA®, CAIA® as director of practice management.

About Savant Wealth Management

Savant Wealth Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for over 30 years with approximately $14 billion in assets under management and assets under advisement (as of 12/31/22). As a trusted advisor, Savant Wealth 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.

Headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, Savant has offices in Bloomington, Chicago, Downers Grove, Freeport, Hoffman Estates, Lincolnshire, Naperville, Peoria, St. Charles, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; Phoenix, AZ; Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, IA; Indianapolis, IN; Plymouth, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Doylestown, PA; Madison, Middleton, and Park Falls, WI; and Manassas, McLean, and Reston, VA.

Savant is a registered Investment advisor. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.

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M3 Insurance Adds Seven New Shareholders

M3 Insurance recently announced seven new company shareholders: Keith Berry, Senior Retirement Plan Consultant; Jay Brown, Senior Account Executive; Lacey Endres, Vice President of Property & Casualty Operations; Matt Mekemson, Senior Account Executive & Managing Director; Rebecca Menefee, Vice President of M3 Elevate; Jesse Roberts, Senior Business Development Executive; and Kelsey Stacks, Senior Account Executive.

Berry provides guidance around employer-sponsored financial plan designs, drawing on his deep understanding of retirement plans, fiduciary obligations, and the regulatory environments. He joined M3 Financial in 2013.

Brown advises clients on plan design and risk management solutions with a focus on property & casualty for the construction & real estate industry. He joined M3 in 2022 with the Trottier Insurance Group acquisition.

Endres partners with executive leadership to set the strategy for the agency’s property & casualty operations. Her leadership focus includes M3’s property & casualty client services, brokerage, surety, and risk management teams. She joined M3 in 2007.

Mekemson specializes in property and casualty insurance with a focus on construction and real estate clients. He also acts as managing director of M3’s Kenosha office, overseeing overall office functions, facilitating cross-division growth strategies, and serving as a primary conduit from the Kenosha office to senior leadership. He joined M3 in 2022 with the Trottier Insurance Group acquisition.

Menefee provides sales leadership and employee development support, executing on various strategies to grow and retain M3’s client base within the M3 Elevate division. She joined M3 in 2016.

Roberts educates the business community about M3 services, including insurance and risk management, employee benefits and retirement planning. He joined M3 in 2016.

Stacks consults with and advises clients about the design, implementation, and management of their benefit programs. She joined M3 in 2016 as part of the M3YOU program.

Each of M3’s 57 shareholder partners is a current employee who is actively involved in our business and must sell his or her shares prior to retirement. This ownership structure ensures engagement while aligning with M3’s commitment to remain privately held.

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About M3

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.

Boardman Clark: Jennifer Mirus Elected as Chairperson of Executive Committee

Boardman Clark recently named Attorney Jennifer Mirus as Chairperson of the firm’s Executive Committee. The role, previously held by Attorney Richard Heinemann, is the firm’s foremost leadership position.

“It has been a privilege to practice law at Boardman Clark for more than 27 years and I look forward to this opportunity to help the Firm achieve its goals in serving its clients and the community,” Jennifer says. “I am excited and proud to be the first female Chair, and would like to thank Richard for his years of leadership and hard work in this role.”

Jennifer is also Co-Chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group and will continue to actively represent clients. In her legal practice, Jennifer represents employers in all aspects of employment relations, including wage and hour issues, discrimination, Family and Medical Leave, ADA, reductions in force, harassment, hiring, discipline and terminations. She is also a sought-out speaker on human resources issues.

“Jennifer is a natural leader and a true people person,” added Heinemann. “She brings the same thoughtful approach she applies in her practice to her role on the Executive Committee – she is an excellent choice to lead the firm moving forward.”

Boardman Clark’s Executive Committee is the governing extension of the Firm’s partnership. The Committee is responsible for maintaining the firm’s long-term vision as well as overseeing decisions related to day-to-day operations.

In additional to Jennifer’s transition to Chair, Doug Witte has been named to the Executive Committee. Doug is Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, is also a member of the Labor & Employment Practice Group and has over 30 years of experience representing private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. Doug joins Sarah Zylstra, Jennifer Mirus, Pat Neuman and Richard Heinemann on the Executive Committee.

Bank of Sun Prairie’s Christopher Cox Named Chief Business Banking Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2022

Contact: Jimmy Kauffman, President and CEO, Chairman of the Board of Directors
608.837.4511 ● jimmy.kauffman@bankofsunprairie.com
bankofsunprairie.com

Bank of Sun Prairie’s Christopher Cox Named Chief Business Banking Officer
Cox Assumes Commercial Lending Executive Leadership Role as Bank Grows

Sun Prairie, Wis.— Bank of Sun Prairie’s Christopher Cox has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Business Banking Officer. Cox has enjoyed a successful career in commercial banking for more than 20 years in central and southern Wisconsin where he has specialized in commercial lending and managing extensive portfolios across widely respected community banks. He now oversees the business lending department of lenders and portfolio managers after serving under recently retired Chief Lending Officer Ron Blawusch.

Bank of Sun Prairie’s commercial lending team is working throughout central and southern Wisconsin and under Cox’s leadership, the area continues to grow recently adding a junior business banker and currently recruiting a vice president, business banker to round out the growing practice.

“Chris is the exact right person at the exact right time to step into this critical executive leadership role for Bank of Sun Prairie,” exclaimed Bank of Sun Prairie’s President and CEO Jimmy Kauffman. “He brings the perfect combination of leadership skills and a deep understanding of commercial lending and complex portfolio management – and most importantly, our customers and Chris’ team respect and admire his technical expertise and warm personality, a winning combination.”

Cox earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MBA in accounting from University of Phoenix and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking. Cox has served as a community volunteer in board and governance capacities, serving nonprofits and organizations focused on economic development. He lives in Fall River with his family.

Bank of Sun Prairie is a locally owned, full-service community bank with $639.5 million in assets and five branches in Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove, Wis. Its mission is to be trusted advisor for families, businesses and communities offering a complete range of services, while delivering fair returns for stockholders. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

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Brendon O’Shea Joins Capitol Bank Mortgage Team

Madison, WI (January 2023): Ken Thompson, CEO of Capitol Bank, is pleased to announce that
Brendon O’Shea has joined the Capitol Bank team as Mortgage Loan Originator.

Read more here