Savvy Advisors – a registered investment advisor (RIA) affiliated with Savvy Wealth – announced hiring two experienced wealth managers, Craig Austad, CLU, CFP, and Eric S. Passin.
Based in Denver, Colorado, Austad joins Savvy after nearly 30 years in the financial services industry. He has held financial planning-oriented roles at various organizations, including Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management, where he served clients for 12 years. Now, he is implementing Savvy Wealth’s technology solutions to power Flourish Financial Partners (his dba brand), which was originally founded in 2016.
Austad works with clients to build, manage and protect comprehensive financial plans, specializing in retirement income and tax-efficient strategies. And he provides guidance on late-stage college planning, helping families navigate the complexities of tuition funding, financial aid options and student loan strategies to minimize long-term financial impact.
With nearly 35 years of experience guiding clients toward their wealth management goals and applying a practical financial planning process, Passin brings a wealth of expertise to Savvy. Based in Denville, New Jersey, he was most recently a wealth advisor at Farther. Throughout his career, Passin has held key positions at some of the industry’s most well-known firms, including TIAA, J.P. Morgan, and Charles Schwab, where he honed his ability to deliver tailored financial strategies for diverse clients.
Passin works with a client base primarily aged 60 to 75, helping them navigate key decisions around retirement, income planning, tax optimization and wealth preservation. He aims to empower clients of all ages with the knowledge they need to confidently secure their financial futures and leave a lasting legacy for subsequent generations.
Savvy has assembled a team of over 30 advisors who offer a wide range of financial planning services, including retirement planning, estate planning, tax strategy, alternative investments, direct indexing and more. Savvy Wealth designed these tech-forward services to provide an efficient and seamless client experience. And earlier this year, Savvy successfully raised $26.5 million in Series A funding to support the continued growth of its advisor team and accelerate the development of its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology platform.
Launched in 2021, Savvy enables advisors with purpose-built technology to transform client relationships and drive exponential practice growth. Over the past two years, Savvy has focused on onboarding experienced advisors who align with the company’s overall mission and has now successfully scaled to over $900 million in client assets under management nationwide.
KEY QUOTES:
“Joining a tech-forward firm like Savvy is a refreshing reminder that the future of our industry is bright. Savvy Wealth’s proprietary technology and solutions will be instrumental in helping me grow my practice and reduce time spent on back-office tasks. Partnering with Savvy allows me to do what I do best, whether it’s guiding families through major milestones or refining their broader financial goals.”
- Craig Austad
“High-quality client service will always be my top priority, which means building deep relationships, helping my clients improve their financial literacy, and providing personalized guidance unique to their needs. Savvy Wealth provides the infrastructure to enhance this commitment, allowing me to leverage advanced tools and resources that help me streamline processes, improve client interactions, and ultimately grow my business on my terms.”
- Eric Passin
“Craig and Eric have joined Savvy at a transformative time in our journey. We are experiencing rapid growth and embracing innovative ideas that will shape the future of our firm. Their expertise and passion for client service align perfectly with our efforts to deliver a personalized financial planning experience. I’m excited to support them throughout their growth trajectories at Savvy.”
- Ritik Malhotra, founder and CEO of Savvy Wealth
