Investment Management Staff

Mark Christopher Scheffler, AIF®
Mark Christopher Scheffler, AIF®Chief Executive Officer and Sr. Private Client Advisor & Advisor to Employer Plans
Mark’s commitment to objective, independent wealth management led him to establish The Appleton Group LLC in April of 2002. With over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, Mark serves as portfolio manager for our private client group, and co-manages all assets held in our suite of portfolio offerings. His responsibilities include risk analysis, asset allocation, market research, and institutional client development. Mark also serves as both Principal and CEO of The Appleton Group.

Mark earned his Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies in 2016, and earned the Series 7, 63 and 65 designations in 1996. He is a 1992 graduate of Lawrence University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory & Composition and Music Education.

Mark is a frequent contributor as a guest columnist for the Appleton Post Crescent, and has been featured in a variety of publications including Insight Magazine, Investment Advisor Magazine, and is a frequent guest panelist. He is a life-long Wisconsin resident, and is a declared candidate for Wisconsin State Senate.

Peter A. Mutschler
Peter A. MutschlerSenior Portfolio Manager and Director of Trading
Peter serves as co-portfolio manager, performing all investment management activities including daily market research, trading, asset allocation, and position reconciliation. Peter also serves as an additional resource to the advisory community, offering his expertise and intensive knowledge of The Appleton Group Wealth Management Discipline™ to investment advisors and consultants.

Peter holds his Series 65 license and received a B.A. in English/Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Private Client and Corporate 401(k) Plan Advisory Staff

Wendy M. Hoeft, AIF®
Wendy M. Hoeft, AIF®Sr. Private Client Advisor & Advisor to Employer Plans
Wendy serves as Director of Retirement Plan Relations and as a private client advisor, with broad expertise in the financial needs of families and in serving the company-sponsored retirement plan market. Prior to joining The Appleton Group, Wendy focused on individual wealth management services, advising plan sponsors and assisting plan participants at Members Financial Services through CUNA Brokerage Services. Wendy began her career in wealth management with Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. in 1996.

Wendy earned the AIF® designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies in 2014.  The AIF designation certifies she has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process.  Wendy also continues to hold her Series 65 license.

Grace Anderson, AIF®
Grace Anderson, AIF®Private Client Advisor & Advisor to Employer Plans
After starting her career in client service with Imaginasium, a marketing agency in Green Bay, Grace joined Appleton Group through their research program in September of 2019. Grace is most excited by Appleton Group’s investment philosophy and breadth of service. She is passionate about leadership and empowering others, and sees financial advising as one of the most impactful ways to help others work towards their goals.

Grace grew up in Aurora, Illinois. She first came to Wisconsin to pursue her Bachelors of Business Administration at St. Norbert College and has proudly called Northeast Wisconsin “home” ever since. Grace spends her free time volunteering, listening to music, and enjoying nature with her husband Brian.

Grace passed her Series 65 Exam in February of 2020 and earned her Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation in August, 2022

Samantha Kolb
Samantha KolbPrivate Client Advisor & Advisor to Employer Plans
Samantha joined Appleton Group in September of 2021 as a Research Associate and passed her Series 65 Registered Investment Advisor Representative examination in January of 2022. She completed her B.A. as a double major in English and Theater at St. Norbert College in 2017 and is a lifelong resident of Neenah, Wisconsin. Sam looks forward to helping private clients and employer-sponsored retirement plans discover Appleton Group’s complete suite of wealth management strategies and providing life-long multi-generational financial planning.

Samantha has always loved the arts, and you can usually find her watching movies, reading novels, writing, or dreaming about the next show coming to the Fox Cities P.A.C.

Administrative and Support Staff

Karen Anderson
Karen AndersonChief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Karen oversees all administration, firm financials, information technology, and facilities. She  works with Mark Scheffler on human resources, leadership, and strategic planning.

In addition to serving as COO, Karen has also assumed the role of Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). She oversees our firm’s ongoing regulatory compliance, periodic SEC examinations, annual ADV amendment filings, year-end compliance review, and continuity/business continuity planning.

Karen also serves on our firm’s marketing and advertising committee.

Cherie Wirth
Cherie WirthDirector of Client Services
Cherie’s 15+ years of service to Appleton Group have prepared her well to oversee all client reporting, account maintenance, deposits and distributions, statement generation, as well as all client communications.

Cherie also chairs our firm’s marketing and advertising committee.