Pairing of Illinois Firms is on Cutting Edge of Emerging National Financial Trend; Two Fiduciaries Seek to Put the 'Trust Back Into Trusts' for Clients ROCKFORD, Ill. and FREEPORT, Ill., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Savant Capital Management of Rockford, IL, and State Bank of Freeport, IL, a division of Foresight Financial Group (OTC:FGFH.OB) (BULLETIN BOARD: FGFH.OB) , announced today that their two organizations will start offering clients the best of their wealth management and bank trust department services under one roof and on a fee-only basis. The joint undertaking is the only such formal partnership of its kind in Illinois known to Savant/State Bank and one of only a handful so far announced nationwide. The groundbreaking new partnership gives both State Bank and Savant clients unique access to next-generation trust services that includes the outstanding local service of State Bank and the investment expertise of Savant, an award-winning financial planning and wealth management firm with nearly $1.3 billion in assets under management. The team-up of Savant and State Bank bundles together a wide range of key trust and investment services to provide truly objective fiduciary advice, an approach that is in stark contrast to traditional trust companies that tend to promote proprietary in- house investments and inconvenient "unbundled" financial advisor and bank services that are often disjointed and commission-driven. Brent Brodeski, managing director of Savant said: "The shared mission of Savant and State Bank is clear: to 'put the trust back into trusts'. Peace of mind and family harmony result from expert insight and integrated planning. The alliance between State Bank and Savant Capital Management offers the best of both. Our organizations have spent years advising individuals and families on multi-generational strategies, designed to help them make the most of their assets, enhance their quality of life and achieve personal and financial goals. By pooling our efforts to deliver a next-generation integrated trust and investment solution, we are now taking the work of Savant and State Bank to a whole new level." Doug Cross, president & CEO of State Bank said: "State Bank is excited to begin this venture with a firm like Savant that shares our goal of providing the best trust and investment services available. We are pleased to offer these new services within the comprehensive realm of products and services available within the Foresight group of banks. We believe both our clients and Foresight shareholders will benefit from our partnership with Savant and we look forward to assisting our clients with their trust and investment needs." Savant Principal and Financial Advisor Richard A. Bennett said: "The advantages of breaking down the old barriers between wealth managers and bank trust departments are many. By offering a true open architecture solution devoid of proprietary products, our clients can be confident they will get truly impartial advice. What you end up with is an integrated team -- a trust officer, an investment specialist, attorneys and other professionals -- all coordinating with each other; all focused on you and your family. Together, Savant and State Bank are on a mission to bring simplicity, ease, clarity, confidence and perspective to your family's financial matters." Troy Lessman, director Trust and Investment Department of State Bank said: "State Bank will benefit from Savant's vast investment expertise and their impeccable reputation. Savant will benefit from being able to provide fiduciary trust services to their current clients so as to enhance and maintain investment relationships with multiple generations of family. Savant and State Bank, along with all our clients, will benefit from this venture, which should be the cornerstone for a long and prosperous relationship." The State Bank Trust Department will be staffed by Julie Morhardt and Troy Lessman, who have over 30 years of collective experience in such work. Morhardt will oversee the operational functions of the Department; Lessman will handle sales and account administration. State Bank's Trust Department will offer trust administration and investment management, and additional services including IRA, estate settlement, guardianship, estate & retirement planning, but with a unique twist. Bank customers will have access to the investment management capabilities, retirement and estate planning services of award-winning Savant, which manages investments for individuals, families, non-profit and retirement plan clients. Under the seamlessly integrated arrangement, Savant clients will likewise benefit from using the trust services offered by this joint venture -- a capability much in demand from long-term Savant clients. ABOUT SAVANT CAPITAL Savant (http://www.savantcapital.com/) is an independent, fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL. Savant is regularly recognized among the top wealth managers in the United States. For the last six years, Savant has earned a place on Bloomberg Wealth Manager's Top Wealth Managers List. Savant has further been recognized as one of the nation's top financial advisors by Robb Report Worth magazine each year since 1997. In 2003, Savant was included in The Wealth Factor, a book profiling ten of the most innovative and respected wealth management firms in the nation. Since 2004, Savant has been selected by Medical Economics magazine as one of the "Top 150 Financial Advisors for Doctors" in the nation. Savant has also appeared on top advisor lists published by JK Lasser's and The Family Wealth Alliance. ABOUT STATE BANK and FORESIGHT FINANCIAL GROUP State Bank is a local community bank committed to providing the highest quality service and targeted competitive products. As a part of Foresight Financial Group (OTC:FGFH.OB) (BULLETIN BOARD: FGFH.OB) , State Bank joins four other banks (German American State Bank, State Bank of Davis, Lena State Bank and Northwest Bank). Each bank is independently chartered and governed by its own separate board of directors, allowing for local, completely independent decisions. DATASOURCE: Savant Capital Management, Rockford, IL; State Bank, Freeport, IL CONTACT: Patrick Mitchell, +1-703-276-3266, , for Savant Capital Management and State Bank; or Matt Armstrong of Savant Capital Management, +1-815-227-0300, Web site: http://www.savantcapital.com/

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