As it continues to reinforce its growth and evolution, Waddell & Reed, Inc., a subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR), has added a 30-year veteran to help lead the effort. Mark J. Schlafly has joined Waddell & Reed, Inc. as Executive Vice President, with primary responsibility for financial advisor acquisition strategy, leadership development, sales growth and sales support.

Schlafly, 55, served as President and CEO of FSC for nearly three years, along with tenures at Russell Investments as a Managing Director, as Senior Vice President, Brokerage, at LPL, and as Vice President, Managed Products, at A.G. Edwards. He reports to Derek Burke, President of Waddell & Reed, Inc.

“Mark is a well-known, respected industry veteran whose hiring brings additional executive talent to Waddell & Reed, Inc.,” said Thomas W. Butch, Chairman and CEO of Waddell & Reed, Inc. and Executive Vice President of parent firm Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. “Along with Derek Burke and the leadership team, Mark will help us enhance our position as a leading independent broker/dealer.”

“Adding Mark to the team reflects an important step forward, as his addition provides leadership resources to exploit the significant opportunities present in our industry,” said Burke. “His experience with successful independent advisors and his strategic perspective will help accelerate our growth and our broad-based strategic initiatives within the broker/dealer.”

In addition to advisor recruiting and leadership development, Schlafly will oversee the advisors resources and sales support desk, known as the Financial Advisors Sales Team (FAST), and have responsibility for the products group.

Burke noted that Schlafly joins in conjunction with the launch of a series of technology, product and brand initiatives, collectively known as “Project E,” which are designed to enforce the firm’s potential for growth and help it adapt to a changing industry landscape. Last year Waddell & Reed announced a unique partnership with Envestnet and Docupace to construct a next-generation technology platform.

“This is a tremendous opportunity with a firm built around a planning-based model that puts clients at the forefront,” said Schlafly. “The culture, the executive commitment to growth and evolution, and a network of more than 1,800 advisors nationally position us well to create opportunity.”

Schlafly has Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses. He’s a graduate of St. Louis University and holds the Chartered Financial Planning designation.

About Waddell & Reed

Founded in 1937, Waddell & Reed, Inc. is one of the oldest financial planning firms in the U.S., providing total planning services to clients throughout the United States through its network of more than 1,800 financial advisors. It is a subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR), which had firmwide assets under management of approximately $95 billion at March 31, 2016.

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Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Waddell & Reed, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC and a Federally Registered Investment Advisor.

Waddell & ReedRoger Hoadley, 913-236-1993VP, Director of Communications

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