ROCKFORD, Ill., July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Savant Capital Management and The Monitor Group, two independent fee-only RIAs, today finalized the strategic combination of their firms to officially become Savant Capital, LLC. The new, multi-state advisory firm manages nearly $2.7 billion in assets, and becomes one of the top 50 largest Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) in the industry.

Savant Capital, LLC will be headquartered in Rockford, Ill. with nine offices in three states (Illinois, Wisconsin and Virginia). The combination of the two firms will further allow each organization to utilize best practices by leveraging their combined intellectual capital, expanding service offerings, and creating long-term and continued success for clients. Both organizations are nationally recognized fee-only financial planning and investment management firms that share similar investment and planning philosophies, a fiduciary approach, and corporate values focused on their clients’ well-being and long-term goals.

The board of managers for Savant Capital, LLC, consists of Thomas Muldowney, Chairman and Principal; Brent Brodeski, CEO and Principal; Richard Bennett, COO and Principal; and Glenn Kautt, Vice Chairman and Principal (previously President and Chairman of The Monitor Group). Prior to the combination, Muldowney, Brodeski and Bennett were each Principals at Savant Capital Management.

Both organizations are members of the Zero Alpha Group (ZAG), an international network of independent investment advisory firms. The principals discovered a shared investment approach and philosophy during the course of interacting over the years as members of the ZAG.

“This is an exciting day as we have created one dynamic, national firm that will provide additional services and efficiencies to our clients for many generations to come,” said Muldowney. “The combined years of experience and expertise of our advisors brings a greater array of resources and intellectual capital to the table.”

“Our goal has always been – and will continue to be – to focus on our clients’ well-being and long-term goals,” said Kautt. “Our combined firm represents a sustainable business model which can live well on into the future. Few, if any, privately held firms can maintain such a long-term, client-oriented business model.”

Brodeski added, “Our process and goals will remain to help clients build ideal futures by providing objective advice, perspective and clarity about their financial picture. Our clients have a diverse set of needs to reach these goals, and with the additional proven expertise with The Monitor Group, we can offer additional collaboration for their big picture financial needs.”

The new Savant gains strategic advantages by combining The Monitor Group’s estate planning and tax preparation strengths with Savant Capital Management’s divisions, which serve investors who have $50,000 or more in assets. Savant Capital Management also has an institutional division which provides advisory services to 401(k) and company retirement plans, endowments, foundations, and private trusts.

About Savant Capital, LLC

Savant Capital, LLC offers investment management, financial planning, and family office services to individuals, trust funds, retirement plans and non-profit organizations. It also provides portfolio design and management, tax planning, advanced estate and financial planning and sophisticated business and senior executive consulting services.

Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States and is frequently listed as a top advisor by numerous publications, including Barron‘s, Worth, Bloomberg and Medical Economics. Additionally, Financial Advisor magazine named the firm on their fastest growing Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) list from 2006 to 2010, and on its list of top RIAs for the past three years. Savant’s intellectual strength is evident, as the firm’s planning professionals, as a group, have authored more professional contributions in the Journal of Financial Planning than any other wealth management firm in the country. Visit Savant on the web at: www.savantcapital.com.

Savant Capital, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor. This announcement is only intended for interested investors residing in states in which the Advisor is qualified to provide investment advisory services. Please contact the Advisor to find out if they are qualified to provide investment advisory services in the state where you reside. 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 the Advisor’s services and includes lists or rankings published by magazines and other sources which are generally based exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized Advisor. The Advisor does not attempt to furnish personalized investment advice or services through this publication. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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SOURCE Savant Capital, LLC