SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike Baker, President, CEO and General Partner of United Planners announced the latest addition of General Partners to the Firm: Billy Oliverio, Chad Shindel and Sheila Cuffari-Agasi. Mike said, "We have a commitment to ensure the stability and continuity of United Planners.  Bringing these three outstanding employees into the ownership structure of the General Partner is a testament to our commitment." Billy, Chad and Sheila joining the General Partnership team is related to an executive transition process that began with the departure of the Firm's previous General Partners: Tom Oliver, who retired in early 2019 and Dave Shindel, who passed away last October. 

When Dave passed away, the Firm's succession plan was well underway and the business continued to operate smoothly in accordance with its transition plan. United Planners as well as its business partners grieved the loss of Dave as he was an iconic patriarch of the Firm. Mike is confident in his selection of these General Partners and said, "Dave would have wanted it this way. Billy, Chad and Sheila have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to this Firm, it gives me great pleasure to welcome them to the General Partner structure and I look forward to running the Firm with them by my side as the Executive Management Team." 

Billy, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, has been with the Firm since 2010 and is primarily responsible for the Firm's investment products and services, practice management, corporate communications and corporate events. Billy has been in the industry for 30 years with a diverse background from being a securities fraud investigator to a compliance officer. Billy says, "I'm grateful for this opportunity and it is a privilege to be a part of the General Partner team and I will continue to be committed to the Firm's innovation, growth, success and amazing culture."

Chad, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been with the Firm since 2017 and is primarily responsible for the Firm's financial and compensation operations as well as employee benefits. Chad is a CPA and former auditor with a breadth of experience across diverse industries. Chad said, "I'm profoundly humbled at the unique opportunity to serve the United Planners family of employees, financial professionals and their staff in this new capacity for many years to come."

Sheila, Executive Vice President has been with the Firm since 2006 and is primarily responsible for the Firm's recruiting initiatives, advertising campaigns and transition operations. With 27 years of industry experience, she has a tremendous amount of knowledge running financial advisory practices, including over 20 years in personal production. "I knew from the beginning this Firm had something the industry lacked and felt blessed to be able to share our unique story and value proposition with "ideal advisors." We have been selective with who we invite to join our Firm and are able to remain passionate about doing the right thing while serving our financial professionals and their clients. We will continue with the excellence of the prior General Partners to preserve the culture they have built. I am honored to call United Planners my forever home and UP Family."

This Executive Management Team gives birth to the third generation of General Partners since the Firm began in 1987. With this Executive Management Team in place, they have the ability and longevity to guide the Firm for decades to come.  Mike said, "The Firm's future is bright, we have strong financials, a solid business model and we have a unique ownership structure." Mike also announced a plan to provide ownership opportunities to other employees based on years of service through a new entity, which would expand the capability for employees to own a piece of the Firm. United Planners is 100% owned by its employees (minority share) and financial professionals (majority share), unlike any other firm in the industry. This unique ownership structure and open-architecture business model has proven to be a winning combination, especially with the continued consolidation activity that disrupts financial professionals' business models. "We are proud of our true independence and will remain Adamantly Not for Sale," said Mike. 

United Planners continues to experience steady & solid growth with another profitable year in 2019 that yielded just under $130 million in gross revenue. With approximately 450 financial professionals across the country, United Planners manages approximately $16.5 billion in client assets through financial planning, investment management, advisory, brokerage and insurance services. Mike said, "United Planners' mission, vision, strategy and business plan will continue to focus on serving our financial professionals in the best manner." 

About United Planners
United Planners is a national wealth management firm that provides financial planning, investment management and insurance services. Established in 1987, United Planners is proud of its "Adamantly Not For Sale" stance because it is 100% owned by its employees (minority share) and financial professionals (majority share). United Planners is uniquely structured as a limited partnership that offers ownership opportunities and profit sharing to its employees and financial professionals. United Planners embraces a culture, passion and strategy that caters to the fiercely independent financial professional community. United Planners service model is to provide back-office support to independent financial professionals, who then help investors manage their wealth to achieve their goals & objectives. United Planners' open-architecture model offers flexible, efficient and scalable solutions that position its financial professionals to build and manage profitable businesses. To learn more go to www.UnitedPlanners.com or call a Partner Development Consultant at 800-966-8737, Option 3. United Planners is a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC / Registered Broker-Dealer with the FINRA / SIPC Member.

Media Contact: Billy Oliverio, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

SOURCE United Planners Financial Services

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http://www.UnitedPlanners.com