Russ Cesari and Jim Christy Land on Bank Investment Consultant’s Top 100 Bank Advisors List

Herndon, Va. — Northwest Financial Advisors (NWFA), the investment program serving members of Northwest Federal Credit Union, today announced that NWFA’s most senior-level wealth advisors, Russ Cesari and Jim Christy, made Bank Investment Consultant’s 2019 Top 100 Bank Advisors list.

Bank Investment Consultant (BIC), a dedicated online resource for bank- and credit union-based financial advisors and managers, ranked Cesari No. 4 and Christy No. 37 on this annual list which recognizes an elite group of top-performing financial advisors working within the nation’s banks and credit unions. Cesari and Christy’s names have appeared on the prestigious list for the last eight years. The ranking is based on six quantitative factors of individual performance, including but not limited to assets under management (AUM), production and amount of fee-based business, to produce one composite score and reveal advisors who perform highly across the board.¹

NWFA Senior Vice President Karen Benedict said, “Russ and Jim have played a pivotal role in driving the growth of our business from its formative years. I’m extremely proud of both advisors who excel in the financial advisory business. Consistently ranking on BIC’s list is an indication of the trusted, long-term relationships they have formed with their clients and the care and diligence with which they manage their accounts. While their performance numbers are impressive, it’s the qualitative factors behind them that are the most meaningful.”

Cesari has been an advisor with Northwest Financial Advisors for nearly 19 years, followed closely by Christy who has been with the firm for 16 years. LPL Financial, the nation’s leading independent broker/dealer and NWFA’s securities custodian, has recognized both advisors as top-performing advisors in its Financial Institution Services (FIS) division for the last 12 years.^{2, 3}

BIC’s top 25 list of 2019 top bank advisors can be viewed at bankinvestment.comtop25. The top 50 list can be viewed at bankinvestment.comtop50.

About Northwest Financial Advisors

Serving individuals and businesses across the nation for more than two decades, Northwest Financial Advisors (NWFA) is owned by Northwest Capital Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwest Federal Credit Union, and offers a comprehensive range of personalized, objective wealth management advice and solutions to help individuals and families create, grow and preserve their assets. LPL Financial, the nation’s leading independent broker-dealer and NWFA’s securities custodian, ranked NWFA the No. 1 investment program among its credit union programs and the No. 7 investment program among its bank and credit union programs combined in 2019 (based on total investment revenue). For more information about Northwest Financial Advisors, visit nwfllc.com.

About Bank Investment Consultant

Bank Investment Consultant is the dedicated resource for bank-based financial advisors and wealth managers. As advisors in the bank channel contend with changing fee models, competition from independent and wirehouse firms, and increased compliance guidelines, only Bank Investment Consultant delivers the relevant bank- and investment-related analysis and insights required to make smart investment decisions, better serve retail clients and achieve financial performance goals. As a sibling brand of Financial Planning and American Banker, Bank Investment Consultant is ideally positioned to serve the needs of these professionals, bringing deep resources and an authoritative perspective.

About LPL Financial

LPL Financial is a leader in the retail financial advice market and the nation’s largest independent broker-dealer.⁴ The firm serves independent financial advisors and financial institutions, providing them with the technology, research, clearing and compliance services, and practice management programs they need to create and grow thriving practices. LPL enables them to provide objective guidance to millions of American families seeking wealth management, retirement planning, financial planning and asset management solutions. LPL.com

¹Bank Investment Consultant’s annual Top 100 Bank Advisors list recognizes bank and credit union advisors throughout the country who have excelled in a number of key areas including assets under management, production and percentage of fee-based business.

²Based on total revenues, Financial Planning magazine June 1996-2019.

³Rankings based on total production among all LPL Financial Institution Services (FIS) advisors through September 30, 2019.

⁴2018/2019 Kehrer Bielan TPM Survey. Based on Financial Institution Market Share.

Northwest Financial Advisors, Northwest Federal Credit Union and Bank Investment Consultant are not affiliated with LPL Financial.

Securities are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Investment advice offered through Northwest Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) is not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Northwest Financial Advisors, and may also be employees of NWFCU. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, NWFCU or Northwest Financial Advisors. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: