Savant Wealth Management, a national RIA based in Rockford, Ill., has made four new hires as part of a five-year growth plan that also includes an upgrade of technology and practice management changes, Savant announced today.

Savant, which was founded 30 years ago, is investing in talent and technology; is changing marketing and practice management policies; and is looking at acquisitions, the firm said.

The following people were added to the firm’s advisory leadership team:

• Chris A. Walters, formerly Savant’s chief growth and practice officer, will assume the duties of chief advisory officer. He will oversee all aspects of Savant’s advisory enterprise.
• Jason R. English has joined Savant as director of growth, a newly created position designed to deepen Savant’s commitment to client acquisition and retention. English was previously vice president of emerging channels sales and strategy at Edelman Financial Engines.
• John M. Hanley, formerly Savant’s director of business intelligence, was named director of practice management. Hanley will supervise the business intelligence team to support Savant’s growth initiatives.
• Brian P. Conroy has been named regional director for the Chicago area, which includes seven offices. He will oversee market growth, recruiting, and the regional advisory team. Conroy previously served as a manager of advisory and business development for three of Savant’s Chicago-area offices.

Savant is actively recruiting other advisory leaders and expects to add more regional directors and a head of mergers and acquisition to enhance new partner optimization in the near future, and plans to grow by three to five times its size in the next five years, Savant said. The firm now has $14 billion in AUM. It acquired three RIA firms last year.