Finance - Newsmakers in the industry

People in the News

Banking

Suzanne M. Fraley joined Commerce Bank as vice president and branch manager of Commerce Bank, Ozark. She has 10 years of experience in banking and financial services.

Jay Titus was promoted from business banking market manager to senior vice president at Bank of America. He joined the bank in 1994 and has worked in commercial lending and small business lending. Titus received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Drury. He is also a graduate of the Missouri Bankers Association's School of Lending.

Investing

Kenneth R. Cain joined Springfield Trust Company as senior vice president. Cain has 20 years of experience in financial planning, estate planning and trusts. Most recently he was employed by Area BancShares Corporation in Owensboro, Ky. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of North Florida, a master's degree in business administration from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Florida Bankers Association Trust School, Cannon Financial Institute Graduate Trust School and the Cannon Private Banking School. Cain holds the certified trust and financial advisor designation.

Jeanene Elston has joined Great Southern Investments as an investment counselor. At the brokerage firm Elston will work in the areas of investment management, estate planning, wealth accumulation, tax-reduction strategies and insurance.

Awards &

Achievements

Paula Dough-erty, of American Express Financial Advisors, received both the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant professional designations from The American College-Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Shari Hoffman, vice president and trust officer for Springfield Trust Company, was awarded the certified trust & financial advisor designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers.

Brian A. Lescar, CFP, portfolio manager and investment officer with Commerce Bank Investment Management Group, was authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to use the certified financial planner certification mark. This identifies people who have met the experience and ethical requirements of the CFP board.

Terry Muns and David Haik, American Family Insurance agents, were honored during a conference at the U.S. Virgin Islands for being top life producing agents with American Family. Of 4,000 agents, 169 earned the qualification to attend the Life Diamond Leaders Outing in the Virgin Islands.

Betty J. Neal, of the financial services firm of Edward Jones, attended one of the nation's largest money manager's meetings in St. Louis. She was one of 45 brokers invited to attend the meetings.

Susan Reynolds, CPA with Decker & DeGood PC, became the first Certified Quickbooks ProAdvisor in the Springfield area. The designation involves testing on numerous aspects of Quickbooks.

Union Planters Bank was named a preferred lender under the Farm Lending Program of the USDA Farm Service Agency. The designation includes all of the bank's locations in eight states.

Richard L. Weston, CFP, of Tax and Financial Advisors, received the certified in long term care designation from the Corporation for Long Term Care Certification.

Lawrence W. Zahn, CPA, CFP, a senior consultant with Baird, Kurtz & Dobson, CPAs, was awarded the certified financial planner designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.