Press Release (4/2008):

Appleton Group Wealth Management's Assets Soar During Recent Quarter

Principals of Appleton Group Wealth Management LLC announced that the firm’s assets under management have exceeded $111 million, an increase of over 27% since the start of 2008.  “While many firms are struggling during this difficult market environment, our firm continues to shine.” said Mark Scheffler, Senior Portfolio Manager and Founder.  “Investors are increasingly interested in our proactive approach to wealth management, which has resulted in the sharp increase in the assets that we are asked to manage.”

“The Appleton Group Wealth Management Discipline prepares for both good and bad markets, and we believe it is one of the best ways to manage an investment portfolio,” said Scheffler.  “Fact is, our wealth management offerings continue to be among the most efficient in the marketplace, working to produce positive returns over time with as little risk as necessary along the way.”

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Press Release (9/2007):

Ranking from Institutional Investor magazine puts Appleton Group Wealth Management among top 20 Rising Stars of Retirement Plan Advisors

Mark Scheffler, founder and senior portfolio manager of Appleton Group Wealth Management, was named to the list of the 20 Rising Stars of Retirement Plan Advisors in the September issue of Institutional Investor magazine. The stars were nominated by industry peers. They were selected based on an age criteria of 40 years or under, and having the credentials and experience and a career consistency that indicated they will be the ones to watch as leaders and trend setters in the industry going forward.

The list is comprised of retirement plan advisors from across the nation who work directly with 401(k) and defined contribution plans. Mark Scheffler is the only Wisconsin-based advisor to land in the magazine's top 20 Rising Stars. The firm is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin and manages a suite of asset allocation portfolios and advises a proprietary mutual fund family.

According to Scheffler, it is an honor to be included in such a prestigious list. "We are very proud of the work we do with retirement plans," Scheffler said. "Since people are living longer, and the extra years of life have to be financed somehow, we must provide better risk management tools to help protect against market downturns, yet allow participation in favorable markets. Appleton Group composites are perfectly suited lifestyle allocation models that do just that," he said.

Appleton Group Wealth Management is an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and currently manages $82.7 million for high-net worth individuals, institutions, corporate-sponsored retirement plans, foundations, trusts and other entities. Mark Scheffler is both Founder of the firm and Senior Portfolio Manager.

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(7/2007):

The following article about Appleton Group Wealth Management was featured in the July issue of Emerging Manager Monthly.

Appleton Group Offers Risk Managed Portfolios to Institutions

The old saying goes, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. But the phrase seems to overlook one important question, is the juice worth the squeeze?

For institutional investors looking to increase returns without dramatically altering the risk makeup of the portfolio, the same question should be asked, says Mark Scheffler, senior portfolio manager and founder of Appleton Group Wealth Management.

Scheffler, whose firm manages approximately $60 million for private clients, believes his firm's focus on risk management will be an attractive investment opportunity for institutions and has begun to market the firm to this space.

"We are definitely built to be more on the risk management side," he said, adding that the firm has built itself out over the past several years specifically in preparation for entering the institutional marketplace.

Schffler said he has also been intrigued by his initial introduction to the emerging manager space.

"The really refreshing thing about the emerging manager space is that emerging managers really get it. I think that more than anything, because of a relatively small asset size, you can be nimble," he said.

Scheffler said he believes there are two common market cycles - one that rises 10% or more and one that falls 10% or more - and he has built his portfolio to capture as much of both ends as possible.

Scheffler said he uses ETFs to gain exposure to equities, fixed-income and real estate, which allows the firm to implement its discipline very effectively.

"We've started at the point in time when ETFs were just starting to get on the radar screen," he said. "Those are tools that are very powerful in gaining or reducing exposure."

Scheffler said he looks at what institutions are doing with their money in either supporting ETFs in particular markets or not supporting ETFs and assesses whether there is enough support to continue to hold a particular ETF depending on the tide.

The process is purely quantitative, with the heaviest weighting given to institutional money flow.

That measure, combined with 30 and 50 day moving averages, "can give us enough data to make reasoned and well thought out decisions regarding asset allocation," he said.

The portfolios have a standard allocation of 55% to large-cap, 25% to small-cap, 20% to high-dividend paying stocks.

(7/2007):

Appleton Group Wealth Management appeared in "Top Dog Report" in Wealth Manager magazine.

(7/2007):

Fastest Growing Firm in the State of Wisconsin

According to a ranking in the July 2007 issue of Financial Advisor magazine, Appleton Group Wealth Management is the fastest growing firm in the state of Wisconsin in the asset category: less than $100 million assets under management.

Press Release (4/1/2007):

Mark Scheffler Qualifies as Fiduciary Adviser Under Pension Protection Act

Press Release (10/17/2006):

Wealth management firm announces donation to arts groups

The Appleton Group LLC will pledge a portion of its 2007 profits to three Fox Cities arts organizations in an effort to link the success of community-based organizations with local business profitability. Mark C. Scheffler, Appleton Group Principal and Chief Compliance Officer, announced his firm will donate 3% of profits divided equally between the Fox Valley Symphony, The Appleton Art Center and the White Heron Chorale.

When Scheffler started his firm in 2002, it was his goal to integrate his business with mission focused non-profits. “When you spend a dollar with a company that is located outside of the area, that dollar leaves our community. By doing business with local firms that are committed to community non-profits, your dollars are reinvested in local organizations that contribute to our quality of life.”

Scheffler is a graduate of Lawrence University where he majored in music composition and theory. “Not a day goes by that I’m not called on to think creatively and use the analytical skills learned in composing music when reviewing financial markets,” Scheffler said.

Representatives from the arts organizations acknowledged that each organization’s ongoing success depends on the willingness of new businesses such as the Appleton Group to pledge financial support.

“This gift is significant in that it so closely ties with our own mission of serving local adults and children through live musical performance and educational programs,” said Marta Weldon, executive director of the Fox Valley Symphony. “We partner with every donor in the belief that our programs help to grow a stronger and healthier community.”

Community involvement is a mission echoed by other arts organizations. “Support such as this will allow us to create and present music to the highest standard by artists right here in the Fox River Valley,” said Rick Bjella, artistic director/conductor for the White Heron Chorale.

"As an institution, The Appleton Art Center is invigorated with the news of this generous investment in the visual arts of our community,” said Timothy Riley, executive director of the Appleton Art Center. “We are grateful to the Appleton Group for strengthening our programs for the enormous benefit of the public."

All three arts organizations have administrative offices located in the Appleton Art Center building on Appleton's Houdini Square which is also home to The Appleton Group.

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Press Release (6/15/2006):

The Appleton Group presented with 2006 Rising Star Award

Award presented by Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognizes The Appleton Group for early success and uniqueness.

The Appleton Group LLC is the proud recipient of The 2006 Rising Star Award.  The award was presented to The Appleton Group at the Fox Cities Chamber Small Business lunch. “Being recognized by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry is humbling, but we’re just getting started,” said Mark Scheffler, Senior Portfolio Manager and Founder of The Appleton Group.  Scheffler credits the award to the Appleton Group’s uniqueness and innovation in managing clients’ assets. “Our star is indeed rising, and we invite investors throughout northeast Wisconsin to use us as a significant portion of their investment portfolio,” he said.

The Appleton Group competed against ten other companies in the Fox Cities area.  The criteria for the award include firm size, location, history, uniqueness, and community involvement.  The award is given to those companies that have gotten off to a strong start and exhibit the potential for growing into a prosperous enterprise in the future. The Appleton Group, with only seven employees, has quadrupled their wealth management offerings to include the Appleton Group Portfolios, The Appleton Group Composites, The Appleton Group 401(k), and a proprietary mutual fund.

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(6/5/2006):

The Appleton Group Featured in The Business Journal of Milwaukee.

Scheffler's money management is music to clients.

Ex-teacher wins recognition for strategy inspired by music.

A background in music education isn’t the typical training for a man who has won honors as one of the nation’s top money managers.

But for Mark Scheffler, founder and senior portfolio manager of The Appleton Group LLC, it makes perfect sense.

“I’m using the same parts of my brain working with portfolios that I did when I was conducting and writing music,” he said.  “You use the same kind of skills in communication and the attention to detail in both music and money management.”

A graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton and active in local choir, Scheffler in 2002 founder The Appleton Group, a private wealth management company.  Since then, he has grown his client base to 58 and increased managed assets from $12 million that first year to more than $51 million.  His firm’s average client has $888,000 in assets.

Those growth figures helped The Appleton Group become the only Wisconsin-based company named by Morningstar, a Chicago investment research firm, to On Wall Street Magazine’s list of the top 75 money managers.  The publication also rated The Appleton Group’s tax-managed portfolio as the No. 1 large-cap- blend portfolio in the country.

“The key to being successful in money management is to think critically and to ask the right questions.”  Scheffler said from his office overlooking downtown Appleton. 

Dave Ogilvie knew Scheffler from the Rotary Club and was impressed with his evaluation of the stock market and his investment management style.

Ogilvie retired from Pierce Manufacturing in 2005 and was part of a family group that sold the town of Menasha fire truck manufacturer to Oshkosh Truck Corp. a decade ago.

“I was disappointed at the way things were being done at the more traditional firms,” Ogilvie said.  “Even though many advisers said they knew a stock market correction was coming, it seemed no one was prepared for the crash the market took in 2001 and 2002.”

CAREER CHANGE

Scheffler was a music teacher in Kenosha when he opted for a career change and moved back to Appleton.  He participated in Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s training program and worked for the firm for six years before leaving to launch The Appleton Group.

“I thought I could provide a better, more personalized approach to investing,” said Scheffler.

Scheffler had signed a non-compete clause with Baird, forcing him to start over from scratch in recruiting new clients.

He isn’t the only musician who turned to a career in the markets.  Alan Greenspan, who retired earlier this year as chairman of the Federal Reserve, was a saxophone player with a traveling big band.

Scheffler’s approach to managing funds involves objective and independent analysis, he said.  Offering only fee-based services allows Scheffler to focus more on clients and their needs rather than hitting a commission goal, he said.

Scheffler said he maximizes clients’ returns while exposing them to a minimal risk.  That approach led to a career highlight in 2003, when the returns on three of the four Appleton Group Portfolios beat the S&P 500.

Focusing on a limited number of investment options has allowed Scheffler to carefully observe and gauge the market.

BEYOND PRIVATE CLIENTS

For people who would like to follow Scheffler’s strategy but don’t have enough personal wealth to be a private client, Scheffler started two mutual funds in early 2005 that follow the same principles.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the structure of music,” he said.  “That’s the process I have followed with the funds.  I have a limited number of options, but I am able to create something beautiful with them.”

When discussing investments, Scheffler often mixes in examples from music or other art forms.  For example, he likes to tell a story about Michelangelo.

“People always ask me how I do what I do and I tell them what Michelangelo told people who asked how he created such beautiful statues,” Scheffler said.  “He simply said that the statue was in there all the time.  All he did was remove the debris.  That’s what I am trying to do.”

Press Release (3/14/2006):

The Appleton Group Portfolios Now Available Through Schwab's Money Manager Analysis and Proposal System® (MMAPS®).
Agreement with Schwab makes local portfolios available nationwide

Principals of The Appleton Group LLC announced that The Appleton Group Portfolios, their flagship wealth management offering, are now available through Schwab’s Money Manager Analysis and Proposal System® (MMAPS®) as of January 2006. The Appleton Group Portfolios, which utilize The Appleton Group Wealth Management Discipline^TM, used with investors since 2000, offers investors the opportunity to participate in the equity markets while simultaneously managing investment risk.

As a result of this relationship, money managers and financial advisors nationwide can use The Appleton Group Portfolios in their clients’ accounts.  “This is a great platform that allows other money managers to compare our portfolios based on several criteria such as performance, risk and firm assets,” said Peter Mutschler, Director or Client Development.  In addition to being offered through Schwab, The Appleton Group Portfolios also participate in Mobius Data Manager, eVestment Alliance, and Informa Investment Solutions databases.  “By being on Schwab’s nationwide platform, it allows us to be compared side-by-side to hundreds of other money managers,” said Mutschler.

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Press Release (3/12/2006):

The Appleton Group LLC Reaches Yet Another Milestone

Firm’s assets under management exceed $50 million

Principals of The Appleton Group LLC, Wisconsin’s top-ranked separate account manager, announced that the firm’s total assets under management have exceeded $50 million. This represents yet another milestone in the company’s quest to provide outstanding wealth management services to investors in northeast Wisconsin. “This milestone is significant, but we’re just getting started,” said Mark Scheffler, Senior Portfolio Manager and Founder of The Appleton Group LLC. “Our firm is flourishing, and we are humbled by the tremendous responsibility that comes with that success. Serving our clients in an objective and independent fashion is our main focus, and we invite investors and advisors alike to discover the value we bring through our family of separately managed accounts, composite portfolios, our 401(k) platform and mutual fund family.

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Press Release (1/24/2006):

Appleton Group to appear on the cover of Marketplace Magazine

The Appleton Group is pleased to announce that we will be featured in Marketplace Magazine including a cover photo for the January 24 edition. This gives us exposure to over 15,000 subscribers in the Northeast Wisconsin region. Click here to view the article.

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Press Release (12/15/2005):

Appleton Group Introduces Wendy Hoeft - Director, Retirement Plan Relations

The Appleton Group is pleased to announce that Wendy Hoeft has joined the firm as the Director – Retirement Plan Relations.   Her role is to market the firm’s 401(k) program by delivering innovative and cost-effective 401(k) wealth management services to retirement plan sponsors and their participants.  Wendy is excited about helping individuals and companies contain their 401(k) expenses.  Wendy joins the firm with over 10 years experience in the financial industry, most recently with Members Financial Services.  Wendy has her Series 7, 65 and 63 licenses.

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Press Release (10/13/2005):

Appleton Group Tax Managed Growth Portfolio Ranked Top Large Cap Blend Portfolio in Nation

Ranking from On Wall Street magazine puts portfolio among top 75 money managers in country

The Appleton Group Tax Managed Portfolio is the #1 ranked Large Cap Blend Portfolio in the country according to the October issue of On Wall Street magazine.  The magazine worked with Morningstar to develop a ranking methodology and reviewed more than 5000 professional money managers including 400 in the large blend portfolio category. The ranking is based on both historic returns and the amount of risk an investor is exposed to in order to get those returns. 

The Appleton Group was the only Wisconsin-based company to land in the magazine’s top 75 money managers. The firm is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin and, in addition to separately managed accounts, also represents a family of proprietary mutual funds.

According to Mark Scheffler, senior portfolio manager and founder, the ranking is further validation of his long-term investment strategy. “Our number one ranking is based on our unique ability to thrive during both favorable and unfavorable market conditions,” Scheffler said. He also credits the high ranking to the Appleton Group’s ability to objectively manage risk. “Our ranking validates our belief that investors should focus on the quality of their money manager, not on the firm’s amount of assets under management. Size simply doesn’t matter,” he said.

The magazine ranked 15 different categories of separately managed accounts (SMAs) according to Morningstar data. The magazine ranked SMAs according to Treynor ratios that were weighted 25% for one year, 35% for the portfolio’s three-year Treynor ratio, and 40% for the five-year ratio. The Treynor ratios measure return for each unit of risk taken and higher scores are better. The Appleton Group Tax Managed Portfolio received a 5-year Treynor ratio of 55.9 and an overall ranking from the magazine of 5.2 earning it the top spot for large blend portfolios. The five-year Treynor ratio of 55.9 was the highest score awarded to any of the 75 top portfolios. The portfolio offers investors the opportunity to participate in the U.S. equity, fixed income and real estate markets.

The Appleton Group Tax Managed Portfolio invests across all U.S. industries, market capitalizations, and balances the need to produce positive returns over time, control taxes and manage risk.

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