Chris Fehr, CPA

Chris Fehr is a wealth advisor with Freedom Financial Wealth & Tax in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. He is a representative of Arete Wealth Advisors and Arete Wealth Management. As a CPA, Chris uses the opportunities in the tax code to help clients preserve money that would otherwise be sent to the IRS. He then helps clients turn those saved dollars into lasting family wealth and philanthropy. Our mission at Freedom Financial Group is to provide the families and businesses we serve with innovative financial strategies, solutions, and planning that result in financial clarity, security, and overall financial health. Making strong commitments to our clients and building life-long relationships are tenets of success at Freedom Financial.

Opened three new franchise locations in Decatur and Lincoln. Led all aspects of firm, including operations, marketing, and back office. Achieved superior growth and exceptional store performance each year. • Results: 2nd in first year stores out of 350+ new franchisees. 2nd in two years stores. New locations finished in the top 75 new offices • Achieved consistent growth of 40%+ each year • Hired, Trained, Managed and Retained Employees • Conducted Site Selections and negotiated real estate contracts • Advised poor performing franchisees in improving and growing their operations • Developed and Executed Marketing Plan: guerilla marketing, traditional marketing, web marketing, community and non-profit events • Executed annual P&L, actions plans and budgets Guest Franchisee at over 30 Franchise Discovery Days • Assisted franchise development team in closing multi and single unit deals • Established 401k owned business. Assisted franchisees with small business financing. • Maintain franchise law expertise and guidelines for development

Led the development, implementation and execution of the retail brokerage/investment advisory business, including financial and operating plans, product and service management, marketing, technology, and supervision of operations. Developed and coordinated broker dealer/investment advisor strategic plan with parent company to enhance market presence and production. Responsible for maintaining profitability. • United a fragmented and decentralized broker dealer under common leadership. • Supervised 5-10 regions comprised of over 60 insurance agencies and 800 registered agents. Coordinated production goals, marketing campaigns, and promotions with parent Chief Marketing Officer. • Increased capitalization of the firm, from limited to full service broker dealer, and successfully registered firm as an investment advisor. • Led multiple due diligence reviews for strategic alliances and business combinations. • Led all SEC product filings, including vendor relationships and fulfillment services. • Developed Wilshire Associates branded lifecycle mutual funds for proprietary annuities. Created detailed training plans for new products and services. • Led and achieved five clean regulatory examinations - 3 SEC, 2 FINRA. Expert knowledge of securities laws and regulations.

Led GAAP financial reporting and analysis for the marketing division, including strategic and sales plans, division budget, and expense management. Responsible for sales force compensation programs, expense reimbursement, and insurance licensing and appointments. Directed systems resources and project management for the Marketing division. • Led all divisional planning, forecasting, and reporting activities. Controlled and managed $35 million budget. Responsible for 21% savings over 2 year period through cost control and efficiency initiatives. • Redesigned board meeting presentations and earnings calls commentary for division. Created divisional reporting dashboard. • Presented Marketing Division results to monthly Operating Committee comprised of CEO, CFO and Division senior leadership • Created sales forecasting process, resulting in accountability and performance. • Restructured agency compensation process through automated and streamlined compensation systems. Efficiency gains and stronger controls led to 90% error and 10% staff reductions. • Provided all divisional reporting for financial statement preparation and SEC filing. Designed and implemented divisional Sarbanes-Oxley disclosure controls and procedures.

Led fund administration and compliance of $1 billion variable insurance trust. Controlled investment adviser, fund custodian, and external auditor relationships. • Created, reviewed, and certified annual financial statements and internal controls. Directed annual audit. • Strengthened fund governance during market turmoil by implementing Sarbanes-Oxley disclosure controls and procedures and requiring an independent chairman. • Collaborated with Wilshire Associates to replace low performing managers and increase returns. Small cap fund performed in the top quintile over two years. • Successfully negotiated sale of fund complex, including all financial analysis and cash flow projections.

Created and implemented compliance department for the firm including policies and procedures, exception reporting, and audit programs. • Established and provided leadership as Director of Australian subsidiary. • Established branch office in Brazil.

Mutual Funds Analyst Managed mutual funds compliance and $50 million broker dealer accounting functions. Participated in cross-functional team that developed proprietary mutual funds. Developed share class financial models, including commission rate and ROI projections. Accounting Manager Responsible for internal and external financial reporting of $100 billion stock and bond portfolio, employee pension, and variable insurance products. Implemented new accounting and reporting system and successfully transferred entire portfolio to new custody banks. Managed custody banking relationship.

Developed a $250,000 summer sales business. The School of Hard Knocks!