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2026 Connect Money Next Generation Wealth Management Awards

Winners

By: Joe Palmisano

Zach Schear: Fueling Record Growth and Transformation

Company:

Farmers Financial Solutions

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.

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Inside The Story

Zach Schear

About Joe Palmisano

Joe Palmisano is Editorial Director for Connect Money, where he brings nearly three decades experience of market insights as a financial journalist, analyst and senior portfolio manager for leading financial publications, advisory firms, and hedge funds. In his role as Editorial Director, Joe is responsible for the selection of content and creation of daily business news covering the financial markets, including Alternative Assets, Direct Investment and Financial Advisory services. Before joining Connect Money, Joe was a financial journalist for the Wall Street Journal, regularly publishing feature stories and trend pieces on the foreign exchange, global fixed income and equity markets. Joe parlayed his experience as a financial journalist into roles as a Senior Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager, writing daily and weekly market analysis and managing a FX and US equity portfolio. Joe was also a contributing writer for industry magazines and publications, including SFO Magazine and the CMT Association. Joe earned a B.S.B.A. in Finance from The American University. He holds the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.

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