The big picture: As many of you know, after a long and meaningful career, our partner and friend, Stan Rickner, is officially retiring, with his last official day at the firm scheduled for March 31, 2026.
The back story: When Stan Rickner and Steve Ellis merged Seasons Financial Group, LLC (“Seasons”) with SageOak Financial, LLC (“SageOak®”) back in 2022, their goal was to build a succession plan that ensured Seasons’ legacy clients and their loved ones would be taken care of for many years to come.
This long-term succession plan is now entering its next phase. We are incredibly grateful for the care Stan has shown clients over the years and for the lives he has impacted, previously through Seasons and, more recently, SageOak®.
Our Team & Steadfast Commitment to You
For those of you who have worked with Stan for many years and are wondering what this means for your financial care, rest assured that the rest of your dedicated team remains in place:
- Steve Ellis remains an owner and will continue serving clients.
- Nancie Owsley (Client Relations Manager), Dr. Fielding Elseman (Associate Advisor), and Gail Benedict (Contract Support Specialist) also remain in place.
- Our evidence-based investment philosophy, our commitment to fee-only fiduciary advice, and our dedication to your well-being remain the same.
Additionally, I (Tyler) will continue to serve as the firm’s Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer, serving clients and overseeing operations, with an eye towards continuously improving the high level of client service you expect and deserve.
SageOak® Ownership Update – Required Regulatory Notice
To facilitate Stan’s retirement, we are finalizing an internal update to our ownership structure, scheduled to take effect on or about March 31, 2026, pending the execution of final legal agreements and related documentation.
- What is happening: Current owner, Tyler Gray, will become the majority owner of SageOak Financial, LLC again. Steve Ellis will retain a significant ownership stake.
- The legal details: Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, this transaction is technically considered an “assignment” of your advisory agreement.
- Required action by you: Nothing. To be clear, this transaction does NOT alter the terms of your advisory agreement, the fees that you pay, or the services that you receive. By simply continuing your relationship with us after receiving this notice, you are consenting to this updated ownership structure.
The Bottom Line
We are incredibly grateful for the legacy Stan has been a part of building over the years. Steve, Nancie, Fielding, Gail, and I are honored to carry that torch forward, continuing the high standard of service, trust, and integrity you deserve.
Have questions? We are here to help, so please feel free to contact us at any time.
(The full email and letter sent to clients includes our dedicated client service phone number and email address in this section for clients to use when contacting us about this announcement.)
As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and we look forward to serving you and your loved ones for generations to come!
