Kestra Financial appoints Kelly Apple as next Head of Wealth Management. Experienced financial services executive selected following a strategic search for a leader to advance Kestra's evolving wealth management strategy AUSTIN, Texas-Kestra Financial, an industry-leading wealth management platform, today announced the appointment of Kelly Apple as Head of Wealth Management. The appointment follows a strategic search to identify the leader who will guide the next chapter of Kestra's wealth management business. As the firm continues to invest in helping advisors serve their clients as complete wealth managers, Apple will lead efforts to continue strengthening and expanding Kestra's investment, planning, and advisory capabilities. Following John Amore's promotion to President of Kestra Financial, the firm undertook a deliberate search to define the future of its wealth management organization and identify the right leader for its next phase of growth. Apple emerged as the clear choice given her extensive leadership experience, strategic perspective and track record of building strong partnerships across the wealth management ecosystem. In her new role, Apple will lead Kestra's wealth management organization, bringing together the teams, resources and expertise that support advisors across investment management, high-net-worth and advanced planning, advisory solutions, retirement, insurance, alternative investments, and due diligence across both Kestra Financial and its breakaway-advisor channel Kestra Private Wealth Services (Kestra PWS). She joins as Kestra continues to attract high-quality, growth-oriented advisory firms, with a focus on equipping them with the resources they need to serve clients more comprehensively. Apple joins Kestra from BlackRock, where she spent more than 13 years, most recently as Managing Director and Head of National Accounts, leading the team responsible for the firm's largest distribution partnerships. She brings more than two decades of leadership experience in asset management and intermediary distribution, including prior senior roles at DWS Investments and Van Kampen Investments (now Invesco), along with a track record of building scalable partnerships and high-performing teams. Apple's appointment reflects Kestra's broader strategy of investing in the leadership and capabilities needed to help advisors grow and serve clients as complete wealth managers. Recent investments across business development, operations, and client service have strengthened the firm's ability to support growth-oriented advisory businesses and the clients they serve. "When I stepped into the role of President, our leadership team saw an opportunity to thoughtfully define what this position needed to be for the future of our business," said John Amore, President of Kestra Financial. "We were committed to finding the right leader to help shape our wealth management strategy, strengthen the capabilities available to advisors, and position us for long-term growth. Kelly's experience building partnerships and high-performing teams, paired with a deep understanding of what today's advisors need to grow, will help our community of complete wealth managers thrive." "Advisors today are being asked to deliver increasingly comprehensive advice across every stage of a client's financial life," said Apple. "Kestra has built something unique in this industry - a strong foundation for advisors who want to grow and deepen their client relationships - and I'm excited to help expand the capabilities and resources that support their success." About Kestra Financial Kestra Financial is a leading independent wealth management platform headquartered in Austin, Texas. A division of Kestra Holdings and established in 1997, the firm empowers independent financial professionals and wealth management firms - including traditional and hybrid RIAs - by offering personalized support, integrated business management technology, and access to a collaborative community of like-minded financial professionals. With a culture rich in reinvention, Kestra Financial has developed integrated business management technology that, combined with its personalized consulting services, offers exceptional scale and efficiency. The Kestra Financial division includes affiliates of Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC (Kestra PWS), Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS) and Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Securities offered through registered representatives of Kestra IS. Investment advisory services offered through appropriately licensed representatives of Kestra AS or Kestra PWS. Kestra Financial, Kestra PWS, Kestra IS, Kestra AS, Bluespring Wealth Partners, Kestra Investment Management, Arden Trust Company and Comprehensive Brokerage Services are affiliated under common ownership of Kestra Holdings. For more information about Kestra Financial, please visit https://www.kestrafinancial.com. Media Contact Vested for Kestra Financial [email protected] Looking for more? Explore its thought leadership insights, opinions, and industry updates.

Former Kestra president Stephen Langlois appointed to Haven Tower advisory board. Fidelity, eMoney and LPL veteran joins the board as the agency expands across the RIA, dual-registrant and wealthtech segments. Haven Tower Group, the wealth management public relations and marketing agency, has appointed Stephen Langlois to its board of advisors as the firm approaches its 15th anniversary. Langlois most recently served as president of Kestra Financial, a private equity-backed platform supporting more than 1,700 independent financial professionals. Kestra's revenue grew 61% during his tenure. He is now managing principal of Seaport Consulting Partners, where he advises the boards and leadership teams of fintech and financial services organizations on growth strategy, innovation, and business transformation. According to a firm release, Langlois will provide strategic counsel as Haven Tower expands its client offerings and strengthens its position across the RIA, dual-registrant, and wealthtech segments. "As somebody who has led some of the industry's most respected firms and platforms, Stephen's experience in scaling businesses and navigating industry transformation will provide tremendous value to our leadership team and our board," said Joe Kuo, founder and CEO of Haven Tower Group and managing partner and co-founder of Ascentix Partners. Before Kestra, Langlois spent nine years at Fidelity Investments in senior roles that included head of distribution strategy for Fidelity Institutional and head of strategic business development for Fidelity Wealth Technologies. He led Fidelity's acquisition of eMoney Advisor and later served as the planning software firm's chief revenue officer, expanding its presence among broker-dealers, banks, and insurance companies. Earlier in his career, Langlois held senior leadership roles at LPL Financial and worked at Bain & Company. He joined the board of tax planning software provider Holistiplan in March. He holds a master's degree in business administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and a bachelor's degree from Colby College. "By combining deep industry expertise with an unwavering commitment to client success, Haven Tower stands out in its ability to help organizations tell their stories with authenticity, clarity, and impact," Langlois said. "I look forward to working alongside Joe, Larry and the rest of the board to support the firm's ongoing growth and further strengthen its leadership position across the industry." Haven Tower's board is chaired by Larry Roth, founder and managing partner of Ascentix Partners and former CEO of Cetera Financial Group and AIG Advisor Group, a predecessor of Osaic. Other board members include Andy Kalbaugh, president of The Wealth Consulting Group; Jeff Nash, founder and CEO of Bridgemark Strategies; Kent Weldon, managing partner of Bravura Capital; and Bill Morrissey, a former divisional president at LPL Financial. "Stephen's career reflects a rare combination of operating excellence, strategic vision and a deep understanding of how technology is reshaping the delivery of financial advice," Roth said. "As Haven Tower continues to evolve and serve an increasingly sophisticated client base across the RIA and wealthtech enterprise segments, Stephen's perspective and expertise will be invaluable." Haven Tower is a strategic partner firm of Ascentix Partners, a consultancy headquartered in New York that delivers growth planning, capital structure planning, M&A consulting, and brand elevation to enterprise boards and executive teams, as well as private equity firms and family offices building portfolio companies in wealth management.

Kestra Financial strengthens Operations and Client Experience leadership team with two key hires. AUSTIN, Texas-Kestra Financial, an industry-leading wealth management platform, today announced the appointments of Kristan Garner as Head of Client Service and John Milligan as Head of Operations. These appointments strengthen the firm's operations and client experience leadership as Kestra continues to scale support for its growing community of financial professionals and their clients across both Kestra Financial and its breakaway-advisor channel, Kestra Private Wealth Services (Kestra PWS). Garner will lead the firm's Client Service organization, overseeing advisor service, technology solutions, and account services with a focus on elevating the experience for advisors and their clients. She brings more than 15 years of experience in financial services and investment operations, joining from Fidelity National Information Services (FIS), where she most recently served as Director of Operations, leading global operations and contact center teams. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade in investment operations roles at USAA. Milligan joins Kestra Financial as Head of Operations and will oversee the firm's core operational functions, including trading, cashiering, producer compensation, and fee billing. He brings more than two decades of financial services experience, with deep operations leadership across brokerage and capital markets, joining from Truist Bank, where he most recently served as EVP, Head of Capital Markets Operations. During his tenure at Truist, he led broker-dealer operations and helped guide the integration of SunTrust and BB&T's brokerage businesses into Truist Investment Services. Earlier, he held field and operations leadership roles at Ameriprise Financial. A U.S. Navy veteran, he is a CFP(R) professional. These appointments build on Kestra's ongoing investment in operations and client experience, including the appointment of Angela Xavier as Executive Vice President (EVP), Client Experience Officer, and the establishment of a secondary headquarters in Tempe, Arizona, to anchor its client service and operations teams. Garner and Milligan will play key roles in advancing the firm's commitment to operational excellence, service quality, and a seamless experience for advisors and their clients. "When I joined Kestra, it was because of the firm's clear commitment to the advisor and client experience," said Angela Xavier, EVP, Client Experience Officer at Kestra Financial. "We're focused on building the leadership, infrastructure, and service model needed to deliver an exceptional experience for advisors and their clients. Kristan and John bring deep expertise in client service and operations, and their leadership will help us continue raising the bar for efficiency and operational excellence across the advisor experience." About Kestra Financial Kestra Financial is a leading independent wealth management platform headquartered in Austin, Texas. A division of Kestra Holdings and established in 1997, the firm empowers independent financial professionals and wealth management firms - including traditional and hybrid RIAs - by offering personalized support, integrated business management technology, and access to a collaborative community of like-minded financial professionals. With a culture rich in reinvention, Kestra Financial has developed integrated business management technology that, combined with its personalized consulting services, offers exceptional scale and efficiency. The Kestra Financial division includes affiliates of Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC (Kestra PWS), Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS) and Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Securities offered through registered representatives of Kestra IS. Investment advisory services offered through appropriately licensed representatives of Kestra AS or Kestra PWS. Kestra Financial, Kestra PWS, Kestra IS, Kestra AS, Bluespring Wealth Partners, Kestra Investment Management, Arden Trust Company and Comprehensive Brokerage Services are affiliated under common ownership of Kestra Holdings. For more information about Kestra Financial, please visit www.kestrafinancial.com. Looking for more? Explore its thought leadership insights, opinions, and industry updates.