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Founded by Lori Watt in 1985, IAG Wealth Partners has grown from a financial services startup to one of the most esteemed firms in southeastern Wisconsin. With consistent growth over the years, Watt now leads a team of 12 financial advisors and 20 professional support staff.
“IAG has a uniquely collaborative culture in the financial industry,” Watt says. “Each advisor serves their individual clients but are also willing to share their expertise with other advisors.” Debra Melvin, for example, specializes in working with women going through major life changes. When another advisor’s client could use that expertise, they’ll turn to her for guidance. Jayme Heineck leads the firm’s Financial Planning Team using IAG’s proprietary Portfolio GPS™ to create an individualized plan that manages both short and long-term goals for IAG’s clients. Each advisor makes their specialized knowledge available to the entire team. That includes working with business owners, planning for retirement, charitable planning and more.
“As a fiduciary, we always put the best interest of our clients first, and we all work together to provide unmatched service,” Watt says.
IAG has established a solid succession plan with its current ownership structure. The firm has seven partners, including Jennifer Von Ruden and Anne Sapienza. “As we look forward to the years ahead, our intention is to expand that ownership to include more of the IAG team,” Watt says. “We’re focusing on mentoring our young advisors so that we’ll continue to serve our clients and future generations with the same level of service and care.”
“We all work together to provide unmatched service.”
– Lori Watt
Q&A
Lori, why do you think your team works well together?
We have a unique culture at IAG. Every advisor works independently with their clients, but we’re very cooperative and collaborative. We’re all working together and using the same resources to help each other. Some of us have specialties in working with divorced people, others specialize in working with small business owners. Each advisor can bring their own expertise to other advisors’ clients when those situations arise. There’s no feeling of competitiveness between us.
What advice do you have for someone hoping to run their own successful wealth management firm like you?
Start at the bottom and be willing to learn. You have to learn every aspect of the business to see where your strengths lie, whether that’s client service or tax planning or financial planning. I’d suggest finding a firm that is willing to train you and give you the ability to grow internally so that you can gain that experience. You should pursue every educational opportunity available to you. And of course, you have to be willing to work very hard. Running your own business is not a 9-to-5.
