Francis Investment Counsel Expands Service Team, Opens New Office in Minneapolis

David Mandel Named Vice President – Investment Consultant and Regional Director of Minnesota

BROOKFIELD, Wis. – February 18, 2019 – Francis Investment Counsel, voted PLANSPONSOR Magazine’s “Large Team” Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year in 2018, started 2019 with a bang, announcing the opening of a new Minneapolis branch, located at 8530 Eagle Point Boulevard in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Joining the Firm as Regional Director is David Mandel. In his role as Vice President – Investment Consultant, Dave will manage the new branch office, servicing new and existing clients while also promoting Francis Investment Counsel’s investment consulting and MoneyAdvice@Work® employee financial wellness services.

Dave brings over 15 years of retirement plan investment consulting experience to the Firm, having started his benefits and retirement consulting work with Gardner and White. Most recently, Dave served qualified 401(k) and 403(b) plan sponsors as an Area Vice President for Gallagher. Dave shares his expertise freely with the professional community through his membership in multiple local and national associations. He is also actively involved in his community, serving on several municipality boards.

Mandel grew up in Minnesota, earning his degree at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. He is excited to bring the independent and expert retirement plan investment advisory services of Francis Investment Counsel to the Minnesota market.

Says Mandel, “The services we provide to plan sponsors are truly unique in the retirement plan consulting marketplace, and I want to bring that incredible work to more organizations in this community and across the nation. It is up to us to educate plan sponsors on the difference a dedicated, conflict-free investment advisor can make to their retirement benefits.”

Mike Francis, President of Francis Investment Counsel, echoes Mandel’s enthusiasm for expansion, adding, “We currently serve several Minnesota clients, so the Minneapolis branch is a natural next step in the growth of our Firm. We look to continue that growth, not only in the Midwest region, but also on a national scale.”

Established as a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in 2004, Francis Investment Counsel’s experience and expertise have been on the rise nationally. In addition to being selected PLANSPONSOR’s 2018 Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year in the “Large Team” category, the Firm also received its seventh Eddy Award in 2018. The award, presented by Pensions&Investments Magazine, recognizes excellence in participant financial education.

 

Contact: Anne Loppnow, Francis Investment Counsel
Phone: 262-781-8950
Email: anne.loppnow@www.francisinvco.com

 

Disclaimer

PLANSPONSOR’s 2018 Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year recognition received based on response to Asset International’s 2017 PLANADVISER Retirement Plan Adviser Survey. Eligible advisors required nomination as a Retirement Plan Advisor of the Year or self-nominate by providing industry references. No submission fees required. Selection process based on quantitative variables, a sub-segment of survey questions, and survey information supplied by the advisors themselves. Finalist selection based on firms’ business revenue derived from employer-sponsored retirement plans, fiduciary service capacity, commitment to fee-based compensation, utilization of outcome-based metrics for plan success, and service to plan sponsors and plan participants. Francis Investment Counsel was selected among four finalists in the “Large Team” category. Francis Investment Counsel is not affiliated with, does not receive remuneration from, or provide remuneration to Asset International. Learn more about PLANSPONSOR’s Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year award here.

2018 Eddy Award recognition received based on Pensions&Investments annual evaluation process. Winners demonstrated program effectiveness and creativity, as well as completion of the entry form, which included a $150 fee per entry. Number of entries varies annually but averages 130-150. Francis Investment Counsel self-nominated in the category, “Service provider only (special projects).” Selection criteria weighted differently based upon the category, but in general, creativity and the ease of understanding complex topics was key in determining successful entries. In 2018, a total of 42 defined contribution plan education programs were recognized with a First, Second, or Third-Placed Eddy Award, based on the entry category, size of the plan, and educational topic discussed. Learn more about Pensions&Investments Eddy Awards here.