More Regions
2026 Connect Money Next Generation Wealth Management Awards
Winners
- Cristina Wiebelt-Smith: Redefining Wealth Advice Through Education, Community Impact
- Jack Reifsnider: Linking Capital, Community, and Client Outcomes
- Ximena Silva-Avila: Pairing Values-Based Planning with Community Advocacy
- Scott Frazin: Blending Personal Engagement with Next Gen Advisory Approach
- Ken Vendley: Driving Growth Through Mentorship and Holistic Planning
- Michael Bueti: Scaling Growth, Innovation and Next Gen Client Engagement
- Abhishek Vakil: Aligning Personal Performance with Firmwide Growth
- John B. Petrick: Advancing Next Gen RIA Framework
- Alan Simeon: Transformation Through Growth, Innovation and Mentorship
- Julian Locke: Expanding Industry Access Through Mentorship
- Dana Hall: Redefining Wealth Creation Through Community Equity Innovation
- Alex Pape: Bringing AI, Unified Portfolios to the Advisor Desktop
- Nicholas Petrelli: Powering Growth Through Client Acquisition and Team Leadership
- Kelly Ann Winget: Challenges PE Norms With Access and Innovation
- Ashton Lawrence: Building $200M Practice Around Trust, Planning and Education
- Jacob Gurock: From Messaging to Mentorship
- Robert Howland: Modernizing a Legacy Firm While Deepening Client-Centered Advice
- Mamadou-Abou Sarr: Building $1.4B Quant Platform With High-Touch Innovation
- Collin Lyon: Rewiring Tech, Talent, and Team-Based Planning
- Lucas Mijares: Putting Values at the Center of Wealth Planning
- Danielle White: Building a One-Stop Operations Platform for Independent Advisors
- Susy Thomas: Bringing Athlete’s Discipline to Client-Centered Planning
- Rebecca Trethewey: Strengthening Platform With Retirement, Benefits Expertise
- Gautam Muthusamy: Accelerating Growth Through Personalized Advisory and Strategic Leadership
- Joseph Spina: Bridging Institutional Research and Private Wealth Advice
- Lowell Lyon: Prioritizing Simplicity in Wealth Management
- Greg Giardino: Turning Personal Experience Into Client-Focused Advisory Approach
- Hannah Forney: Guiding Families and Athletes Through Wealth Decisions
- Zach Schear: Fueling Record Growth and Transformation
- Megan Higgins: Driving Operational Innovation, Next Gen Talent Development
Zach Schear: Fueling Record Growth and Transformation
President Zach Schear expands AUM and platform capabilities.
Zach Schear, President & CEO, Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC (“the firm”), has rapidly transformed the firm since stepping into the president role, delivering record growth, operational expansion and strategic innovation.
Between September 2023 and December 2025, the firm grew assets under management from $7.86 billion to $10.7 billion, representing a 36% increase in just over two years. This expansion coincided with record financial performance, with 2024 marking the most profitable year in the firm’s history and 2025 delivering the highest gross revenue on record.
A key driver of that growth has been the rapid scaling of the Farmers® Financial Services Agent (FSA) network. During Schear’s leadership, the FSA network expanded from 40 professionals at the start of 2024 to 125 by early 2026—a 300% increase that significantly enhanced customer support capacity and distribution reach.
Schear has also introduced structural changes to modernize the firm’s platform and oversaw the recent launch of a sister company Farmers Asset Management, LLC, a registered investment advisor, expanding capabilities beyond the traditional broker-dealer model. At the same time, Schear has embraced artificial intelligence to help improve efficiency and responsiveness, positioning technology as a complement to registered representatives’ productivity while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.
Under Schear’s leadership, average commissions for the top 100 registered representatives rose from $83,593 in 2023 to $105,246 in 2025, a 26% increase, reflecting improved economics and engagement.
Beyond the firm, Schear actively mentors executives, registered representatives, advisors and wholesalers, promoting fiduciary standards and industry professionalism.
hbspt.cta.load(6064756, 'e79b2add-aa13-4300-8e52-36c67e24ee69', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"});