SignatureFD launched SignatureFRANCHISE on September 10, 2026, creating a specialized wealth practice designed to help franchise owners coordinate business decisions with their personal financial and family goals, according to Business Wire reporting. Led by Kenton “Kenny” Loar, CFP®, the new division operates as SignatureFD’s ninth specialized community.
Leadership and Industry Background
According to Business Wire, Loar has previously advised families as a financial planner, financed franchise businesses in a banking capacity, and worked within a franchise brand that he previously helped finance.
“Franchise owners are entrepreneurs whose business and personal financial lives are often deeply interconnected,” Loar said, according to Business Wire. “At SignatureFRANCHISE, our role is to bring those perspectives together, helping owners evaluate decisions in the context of their complete financial picture and what they ultimately want their wealth to achieve.”
Services and Lifecycle Support
The practice supports franchise operators throughout the entire business lifecycle, from emerging founders establishing their initial locations to multi-unit enterprises managing complex corporate structures. According to Business Wire, client services cover multiple financial disciplines:
- Business growth and financing strategies
- Tax planning and asset protection
- Real estate holdings and investment management
- Insurance policies, succession planning, and estate administration
SignatureFRANCHISE integrates these offerings into SignatureFD’s established corporate framework, which categorizes wealth planning into four pillars: Grow, Protect, Give, and Live.
Connecting Business Success to Personal Wealth
The operational premise behind SignatureFRANCHISE is that business planning and personal financial planning are frequently treated as separate entities, which can cause owners to miss crucial planning opportunities before a liquidity event occurs. According to Business Wire, Heather Robertson Fortner, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of SignatureFD, stated that the specialized community model allows the firm to deepen client relationships as their needs evolve, helping them navigate the intersection of business and personal finance.