Hylant Financial Services Consolidates to Form Growing Division Within Hylant Group

TOLEDO, Ohio - March 21, 2007 - In early January of 2007, Hylant Financial Services (HFS), led by President Paul Abendroth, consolidated its talented investment advisory staff of Hylant Group, Inc., into its own division.

Since its inception in 2001, HFS has specialized in offering qualified plan and investment advisory services to mid-size businesses and not for profit institutions.  In addition, HFS offers wealth management and financial planning expertise to individuals and corporate executives. 

HFS now consists of sixteen highly experienced investment professionals in four locations across the Midwest, led by Paul Abendroth in the Toledo, Ohio headquarters.  HFS’s investment advisory staff has grown to include Michael Schork, Jr. in Ann Arbor, Michigan; T. Grey Kennedy, AIFÒ in Cleveland, Ohio; Daniel Palmer, CFPÒ AIFÒ in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and John Ostrosky, Nathan Cherry, F. Michael Bercher, CFAÒ and Thomas Daney, MBA in Toledo.  The group currently manages approximately $800 million in plan and individual assets. 

Paul Abendroth says of the current consolidation, “We have seen tremendous growth in our business because of our people.  They are known in the community for putting their clients’ interests first, and as a result we have been able to accommodate existing Hylant relationships and new clients alike.”  Over the next five years, Abendroth is planning to continue HFS’s aggressive growth initiative.  This strategy will consist of an HFS presence in each of Hylant Group’s eleven corporate offices, stretching from Tennessee to Michigan.

Chairman and CEO Patrick Hylant states, “The ability to provide additional services to our existing clients is crucial.  We have the right people in place to provide these services, as well as grow our Financial Services segment to meet the needs of new clients we look to obtain.”

Founded in 1935, Hylant Group is a full-service business insurance brokerage with 11 offices in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Tennessee.  Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Hylant Group was ranked by Hales Report as the sixth largest privately held brokerage in the United States in 2006. 

With more than 635 professionals, the firm is positioned to serve a wide variety of clients locally, nationally and internationally.  A member of the Worldwide Broker Network, Hylant offers complete risk management services, employee benefits consultation, loss control, 401(k) and financial services, healthcare management and insurance for businesses and individuals.