David Wagner is a member of the Aptus Investment Committee and is responsible for equity research, selection, the evaluation of macro-level trends, and advising about the current market environment.
Prior to joining Aptus, David worked with both Opus Capital Management and Driehaus Capital Management where he was responsible for conducting research and analysis for various small and microcap equity strategies. David is a regular contributor on CNBC, Bloomberg, WSJ, and Barrons.
David is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Cincinnati. He earned his BS in Accounting and BBA in Finance from the University of Kentucky. He also earned his MBA specialized in Finance from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.
David resides in Mt. Lookout, Ohio with his well-accomplished dog, Saddie. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and all things Cincy sports. Outside of work, you will find David working on his farm and treating himself to a nice glass of bourbon. To Dave, the little things in life bring him the most joy – such as mowing and admiring his lawn with his lawnmower named ladybird – is always up there on his list.
“Young firm with bright individuals that all have a desire to win. Also, HQ is basically in a vacation town.”
Brett Bennett is responsible for portfolio reviews and assisting in fund due diligence. He is passionate about supporting Aptus’ financial advisory clients and working to improve financial outcomes for their clients.
Prior to Aptus, Brett was at Envestnet and Schwab working in a variety of roles that included money manager research and providing investment advice to help clients reach their investment goals.
Brett holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute. He graduated with a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Colorado-Denver and received his undergraduate degree in Finance from Bentley University where he was a member of the men’s track and cross country teams.
Having grown up in Maine, Brett now lives in Denver, CO with his wife Lisa, and their 3 dogs. He enjoys being in nature and can often be found hiking, fishing, and mountain biking. He and Lisa enjoy travel and usually try to visit warm, beach-y spots. They also are big Nuggets, Rockies, and Avalanche fans!
“Having been introduced to Aptus through a mutual industry friend, I was able to see first-hand the positive culture, sense of mission to make a strong impact for advisors and clients, and the energy that the team brings every day. It’s no wonder that the firm’s value-adds resonate so strongly in the marketplace. Joining Aptus was an easy decision.”
I am a lifelong Ohio resident, I enjoy spending time with my family (wife Marissa, Daughters Alex, Bri and kittens Gracie and Mav) and absolutely love golfing. I believe in supporting the community I live in and spend time trying to give back, I am a past president of the Rotary Club of Miamisburg, current President of the Miamisburg Merchants Association, and a member of the Board of Girls on The Run Dayton.
I have 22 years of experience in the Financial Services industry and firmly believe that the key to helping our clients live their best financial life is to show them how much we care. In my opinion, clients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. I currently hold Series 6,7, and 66 securities registrations and I am an Investment Advisor Representative. I am also licensed to offer Life and Health insurance in FL, IN, KY, MI, NC, NY, OH, RI, SC and VA. I am licensed to offer Life insurance in AZ and PA. I am licensed to offer securities in CO, DC,FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, and VA.
Kevin Komar serves as Co-Owner and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® at Ko-Advisors, where he specializes in integrating tax strategy with comprehensive financial planning. With over 16 years of experience, Kevin holds the Series 24 and Series 66 licenses, as well as the CFP® designation.
Kevin’s background in tax preparation—gained through working alongside his father since 2006—provides him with a unique perspective when evaluating investment strategies. His expertise lies in identifying tax-efficient planning opportunities, helping clients make informed decisions about wealth accumulation, protection, and distribution. By remaining actively involved in tax preparation, Kevin stays current on evolving tax laws, allowing him to bring timely insights to both financial planning and investment discussions.
Kevin holds a finance degree from Cleveland State University and completed the rigorous requirements to earn the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation in 2018. His holistic approach to financial planning and his commitment to acting in the best interest of clients make him a valuable member of the investment committee, particularly in evaluating strategies through a tax-efficient and long-term wealth management lens.
Based in Hinckley, Ohio, Kevin lives with his wife, Lindsay, and their four children. Outside the office, he is an avid golfer and remains active in his children’s extracurricular activities, reflecting his belief in building a strong financial and personal legacy for future generations.
Jeremy has served the needs of his clients for over two decades. He started his financial services career in 1997 ata bank and trust company prior to founding Ftacek Financial Services.
His roots are in investment advisory services, delivering customized solutions in all aspects of his clients’ lives, including saving for retirement, estate planning, and wealth accumulation.
Jeremy’s hard-working nature and candid attitude about investing stems from his upbringing in central Illinois. He treats his clients’ financial concerns as if they were his own and simplifies complex financial strategies with easy to understand terminology.
“If you want a boutique financial fit, come see us, others tend to deliver plain vanilla style solutions.”
When he is away from the office, Jeremy loves spending time with his family. His family of five; wife Julie, sons Blake and Brandon, and Daughter Brooke, enjoy being active. Jeremy enjoys live music events, golfing, fishing, and is active in his children’s youth sports programs as both a sponsor and coach.
Vic LeDoux comes to Ascension with over 12 years of experience in the healthcare finance industry. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor degree in Sports Medicine as well as a graduate of Louisiana State University with a Masters degree in Administration.
Steven grew up in northern Indiana, the heart of the rustbelt in a small, factory town. He credits his work ethic to watching his parents work overtime or multiple jobs for most of his life. Focused on athletics, he received a full-ride basketball scholarship until he had a knee injury that forced him to shift his efforts towards academics.
Outside of work, he admittedly still thinks about his work. He enjoys reading about investing as much as possible and loves pouring through economic data. He still retains his athletic side, though – in his free time, he enjoys exercising and following professional football.
His desire is to support and leave an impact in supporting the STEM discipline. His grandfather was an engineer for GM, his mother is a math teacher, and his sister working on obtaining her PHd in Nuclear Physics – it runs in his family and he sees the tremendous value in supporting STEM in public education.
Drew started in the financial business in 2001 with Morgan Stanley after a degree in Finance from Virginia Tech.
After two years, he transitioned to the wholesaling community where for the past 10 years he has been a field representative in the institutional credit world. Drew lives in Franklin with his wife, Kristen, and two daughters, Emily & Abigail. His hobbies include golf, reading history and watching his beloved Hokies.