Steven Schreiner opened Experience Wealth in April from 2111 Stewart Ave., Suite 300 in Wausau, launching a four-person independent practice that helps central Wisconsin families and business owners plan for retirement, taxes and estate transitions, the Wausau Pilot & Review reported.
Focusing on Regional Business Challenges
Schreiner, who holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designations, leads a team that includes Heather Schreiner, Susan Schulz and Barbara Hogue. The firm primarily serves Wausau, Merrill and Central Wisconsin, though it works with clients throughout the United States.
The region’s economy shapes the practice, Schreiner said.
From Fitness to Finance
Before launching Experience Wealth, Schreiner worked as a financial advisor with an established wealth management company. He previously owned and operated a health and fitness business, experience he said parallels financial planning because both fields require understanding the whole picture of a person’s circumstances.
Independent Practice Affiliated With Cetera
Experience Wealth operates as an independent practice affiliated with Cetera, a national broker-dealer.
Retirement Plans and Exit Planning for Employers
The CPFA designation reflects additional training in workplace retirement plans. Schreiner works with employers on 401(k) and other retirement plans, focusing on plan design, investment options, fees, employee participation and education rather than what a company may be doing wrong.
For employees, he said, the key is understanding the benefit.
The CEPA designation gives him a structured approach to exit planning, helping owners connect business decisions with personal financial goals and coordinate with CPAs, attorneys and other professionals.
Steven Schreiner said Experience Wealth helps bring the financial pieces together and coordinate with a client’s CPA, attorney, and other professionals to develop a cohesive strategy. Experience Wealth states the goal is to help build a stronger business today while preparing for the financial security, lifestyle, and legacy a client wants beyond ownership.
How Experience Wealth Charges Clients
Schreiner works with clients in one of two ways. Other clients work through traditional commission-based brokerage accounts, where compensation may come from commissions on certain investments. The firm reviews costs with each client up front.
Many clients are approaching retirement, already retired or running a business, with situations involving tax planning, estate and legacy planning. The firm also serves clients with simpler needs who want a more streamlined investment relationship.
What Clients Are Asking Amid Market Uncertainty
Most questions Schreiner hears now come back to uncertainty about market volatility, interest rates, future taxes, Social Security and long-term care.
“Investments matter, but they’re just one piece of a much bigger picture,” he said.
Advising Clients Through Evolving Needs
Schreiner plans to grow the practice carefully with the client experience at the center, staying current with planning tools and technology as client needs change.
Those relationships are the most rewarding part of what I do.”
Questions Readers Ask About Experience Wealth
Does Experience Wealth require a minimum account size?
No. Schreiner said that being a good fit has less to do with account size and more to do with the kind of relationship and planning a client needs, and no single percentage or dollar amount reflects what every client pays.
What is the difference between the CPFA and CEPA designations?
The Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) reflects training in workplace retirement plans like 401(k)s, while the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) provides a structured approach to connecting business decisions with personal financial goals during ownership transitions.
Can Schreiner help with passing a family farm to the next generation?
Yes. He spends much of his time on questions that include passing a family business or farm to the next generation and managing the taxes around those transitions.
Experience Wealth is located at 2111 Stewart Ave., Suite 300, Wausau, and can be reached at 715-907-8471 or steven@experiencewealth.com. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.