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About Apella

Apella was founded in 2014 by two financial advisors, Patrick Sweeny and David Connelly, who were passionate about finding a better way to help investors achieve their long-term goals.

Their vision was to build a different kind of company that was based on four guiding principles:

01

We are fiduciaries and believe in putting our clients’ interests above our own. Always.

02

We recognize that investors are unique, deserve individual attention, and are not an algorithm or numbers on a spreadsheet.

03

Our experienced financial professionals are personally invested in preserving clients’ capital, growing their wealth, and helping them achieve their financial futures.

04

We are committed not just to saying the right things, but to actually doing the things we say.

Our Mission

To inspire and elevate our clients and our team to explore possibilities and fulfill their dreams.

Our Values

Pursue Excellence

We delight in creating remarkable experiences for everyone we serve. Each hand raised and voice shared represents Apella’s leadership and growth and reflects our commitment to continuous improvement.

Act with Integrity

We strive to do the right thing, every time. We hold ourselves compassionately accountable for delivering on commitments both spoken and implied.

Build Community

We are stronger together. Our unified resilience empowers us to work through tough challenges. As champions of each other and our collective results, we collaborate effectively every day.

Demonstrate Empathy

We seek first to understand. We listen with our heart so those sharing feel wholly seen and heard. Our humble hope is that over time, with patience and care, we will foster authentic and connected relationships.

Leadership Team

Patrick A. Sweeny

Patrick A. Sweeny is a founding partner of Apella Wealth, where he leads the firm’s strategic growth initiatives through both organic expansion and acquisitions. In 1994, he co-founded Symmetry Partners, an investment management firm dedicated to providing evidence-based investment strategies to financial advisors nationwide.

Prior to launching Symmetry, Mr. Sweeny spent a decade on Wall Street, holding roles in institutional trading and sales of stocks and bonds at Weeden & Co. and Dean Witter, as well as serving as a floor trader on the Commodities Exchange in New York for Paine Webber.

He holds a degree in Economics from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.

Mr. Sweeny lives in Roxbury, CT with his wife, Michele. Their daughter, Megan, son-in-law Alex and two grandchildren live nearby.

Jim Scanlan, CFA

Jim joined Apella in early 2019 and has held a variety of roles including responsibility for the firm’s M&A program, Finance, Accounting and Human Resources functions. Jim currently serves as President of Apella.

Prior to joining Apella, Jim served as the Director of Research for RMC Investment Advisors and began his career as an investment banking analyst focused on M&A, Equity and Debt financing at BMO Capital Markets in the Healthcare coverage group.

Jim is a CFA Charterholder and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Stonehill College where he was a Moreau Honors Scholar.

When not in the office, Jim enjoys playing golf, reading, and getting outside for a hike, a run, or just enjoying the beach. He is an avid Boston Sports fan, with the Patriots being a favorite. Jim and his fiancée currently reside in West Hartford, CT.

Meghan Martin

Meghan Martin is Chief Operating Officer overseeing the operational and client relationship teams supporting Apella’s team of financial advisors. She believes in providing a superior customer service experience to every client. In her last role, Ms. Martin was employed by Symmetry Partners, Apella’s sister firm, as the Director of Operations. During her 14 years at Symmetry, Ms. Martin gained experience with billing, trading and customer service. She stepped down from her position at the firm in 2014 to raise her two daughters.

Ms. Martin lives in West Hartford, CT with her two daughters, Hayden and Winnie.

Jason Schuck

Jason Gentile, CFP

As Chief Wealth Officer, Jason Gentile has been helping clients reach their long-term financial goals for over 15 years. Mr. Gentile joined Apella in 2006 and holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification. In addition to his financial planning responsibilities at Apella, Mr. Gentile is a member of the Financial Planning Association and Board. He also has more than eight years of experience in the qualified plans space. Prior to joining Apella, Mr. Gentile was employed by Advest, Inc./Merrill Lynch as a Senior Registered Associate. Mr. Gentile holds B.S. in Business from Eastern Connecticut State University and currently resides in Hebron, CT with his three sons.

Timothy Richards, J.D., LL.M.

Mr. Richards serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at Apella Capital, overseeing the firm's legal and regulatory functions with a strategic focus on enterprise-wide risk management and compliance integrity. Since joining in 2018, he has led the evolution of Apella’s compliance infrastructure, ensuring regulatory frameworks align seamlessly with operational and growth objectives.

With over 15 years of experience as a Chief Compliance Officer for registered investment advisers and investment companies, Mr. Richards brings a deep expertise in fiduciary standards, regulatory governance, and industry best practices. His leadership ensures that compliance is not only a safeguard but also a driver of sustainable growth and client trust.

Michelle Margo

Founders

Patrick A. Sweeny

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

David E. Connelly, Jr.

Co-Founder

Patrick A. Sweeny

Patrick A. Sweeny is a founding partner of Apella Capital. He focuses on investor education and the strategic growth of the firm. In 1994, he also co-founded Symmetry Partners—a national financial solutions and investment management firm focused on serving independent financial advisors. Previously, he spent a number of years on Wall Street with Weeden & Company and Dean Witter Reynolds in institutional trading and sales in both the equity and fixed income markets. Additionally, he was a member of the Commodities Exchange as a floor trader with Paine Webber.

Mr. Sweeny is a recognized speaker on asset class investing and transforming advisor businesses into more efficient models. He speaks at industry conferences and regularly guest lectures at universities. He received his B.A. in Economics from Fairfield University.

David E. Connelly, Jr.

David E. Connelly Jr., is a founding partner of Apella Capital. He focuses his time on portfolio management and strategic growth of the firm. In 1994, he also co-founded Symmetry Partners—a national financial solutions and investment management firm focused on serving independent financial advisors. Previously, he was a financial advisor with Dean Witter Reynolds serving high-net worth clients. Prior to Dean Witter Reynolds, he was with Merrill Lynch and Putnam Mutual Funds. He has also worked in the aerospace industry.

Mr. Connelly received his B.S. in Finance from Northeastern University and his M.B.A. from the University of New Haven.

A dedicated team of Advisors & specialists, working together for You

Our professionals are passionate, hard-working individuals who truly want to make a difference in the lives of those they serve. They are personally invested in helping you plan for—and achieve —your preferred financial future.

Our team has decades of experience in all the critical areas that help make up a successful financial plan. We have the scale to serve backed by personalized, hands-on service and support, including paraplanners, operations staff, a full suite of the latest tools and technology, and experienced professionals in key areas such as college planning, social security, tax management, retirement plans, and more.

We’ll help you anticipate and prepare for life’s biggest financial hurdles, so you can worry less about the future and enjoy today more. And we will provide timely education and communications and exceptional service along the way.

Whether you’re just beginning your personal financial journey, or you’re seeking help with more intricate planning and investment needs, we’re committed to putting our collective knowledge and experience to work for you.