Nfocus Financial Partners of Dallas Named "Practice of the Year" by Signator Investors, Inc.

BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nfocus Financial Partners, led by Founding Partners Michael J. Smith, IAR, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF, and Lucas Lawson, IAR, CLU, was named Practice of the Year by Signator Investors, Inc. This national competition recognizes and rewards excellence in business management, and is the pre-eminent measure of accomplishment within Signator Investors.

"I am very pleased, but not surprised, to recognize the team at Nfocus as our Practice of the Year winner," said Chris Maryanopolis, head of Signator Investors, Inc. "Their having been finalists in this competition in 2012, 2013 and 2014 demonstrates their dedication to clients and focus on providing the best customer experience."

"A large part of our success over the years and in this competition is due to the efforts of our team members - Sharon Scott, Laurie Ray and my partner, Lucas Lawson," said Smith. "Lucas in particular, has demonstrated not just faithful support, but leadership in helping to grow Nfocus into what it has become.  I am very grateful to all of them for their contributions and feel this is a great honor for us."

Lawson added, "We at Nfocus Financial Partners are greatly honored and humbled to have been chosen from such an impressive group of competitors.  Our sincere thanks to all who have supported us throughout the years."

As part of the selection process for Signator's "Practice of the Year" award, made possible in part due to Signator's relationship with Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions, Nfocus Financial Partners, affiliated with Rockgate Financial Partners, underwent a rigorous assessment conducted by international management consulting firm Business Health. Business Health reviewed all applicants' client management, internal planning and structure, external relations, staffing and technology capabilities, and overall practice performance.

"It was an honor for Business Health to once again be asked to run the Practice of the Year Competition," said Ray Henderson, partner, Business Health.  "The quality of the finalists continues to be top notch.  Nfocus has been a finalist 4 of the last 5 years and it is a credit to Michael and Lucas and their team that the quality of their business and processes has continued to be improved and refined, leading to this prestigious award.  Nfocus ranks amongst the top practices we have seen in the U.S. and in the other countries where we work," said Henderson.

Maryanopolis added, "All of our finalists are to be commended. Service at each of their firms is superior and exemplary. As a group, we had some familiar names and some new, but all clearly work hard for their clients' trust and respect, as well as for their bottom lines."

The finalists were:

• BPG Wealth Management, LLC of Clackamas, OR, under the leadership of Jeffrey Owens
• Client Focused Advisors of New York City under the leadership of Jason Hill
• Edelman Wealth Management Group of Yardley, PA, under the leadership of Scott Edelman
• Wealth Managing Partners of Honolulu, HI, under the leadership of Nick Longpre

About Signator Investors, Inc.
Signator Investors, Inc. is a dual-registered broker dealer/investment adviser with a national network of independent firms and more than 2,000 financial professionals across the U.S. A leader in the financial services industry having the stability and scale to offer an innovative business model, Signator gives entrepreneurial financial professionals the power to effectively build unique businesses, based on their own vision and market opportunity. For more information on Signator Investors, Inc. and its national network of independent firms, visit http://www.signatorinvestors.com/

About Business Health
Business Health is an international consulting firm specializing in the financial services industry. Business Health has developed and marketed a suite of unique and exclusive business diagnostic tools which are supported by a range of specialized consultancy services.

About Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions
Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions^SM provides a comprehensive clearing and custody platform, brokerage services, trading capabilities and practice management and consulting to registered investment advisors, including strategic acquirers and professional asset managers, retirement recordkeepers, broker-dealer firms, banks and insurance companies. Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions' goal is to help clients ensure that they are always future-ready by offering knowledgeable consulting, exceptional people and transformative technology.

Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions ("Fidelity") is an independent company, unaffiliated with John Hancock Financial Network, Nfocus Financial Partners and Business Health. The information and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and in no way represent the advice, opinions, or recommendations of Fidelity. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between Fidelity and the third party companies referenced in this announcement, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information found herein. Fidelity has not been involved with the preparation of the content supplied herein and does not guarantee or assume any responsibility for its content. Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions and Fidelity Investments are registered service marks of FMR LLC. 789359.1.0

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SOURCE Signator Investors, Inc.