Member News

Appointment formalizes Norvell’s leadership of the boutique wealth management firm’s growing financial planning business for individuals and families

BUFFALO, N.Y., February 26, 2024 — Courier Capital, LLC (“Courier Capital”), an SEC-registered investment advisory firm and affiliate of Five Star Bank, today announced that Nicholas T. Norvell, CFP® has been named Director of Financial Planning. He continues to serve as Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager.

As Director of Financial Planning, Mr. Norvell will lead Courier Capital’s comprehensive and holistic financial planning for individuals and families, helping them to reach their goals. He will continue to manage investment portfolios for his longtime clients and serve on the firm’s investment management committee, which guides its active and passive strategies tailored to client needs.

“Courier Capital has long been a trusted provider of customized financial planning for individuals and families, and we’re pleased to formalize Nick’s leadership of this important and growing area of our business,” said James E. Iglewski, President of Courier Capital. “Nick’s dedicated and tailored approach to financial planning exemplifies Courier Capital’s bespoke, client-centric approach and commitment to research-driven independent guidance.”

Mr. Norvell co-founded Courier Capital’s former sister company HNP Capital in 2009. The Rochester-based wealth management firm and fellow Five Star Bank affiliate merged with Courier Capital in May 2023. With more than 25 years of experience in the financial services sector, Mr. Norvell has dedicated his career to working closely with families and individuals, formulating, implementing, monitoring, and updating their comprehensive financial plans. He earned his B.A. in Business Economics from State University of New York at Oneonta.  Mr. Norvell resides in Honeoye Falls, NY with his family.

In addition to serving individuals and families, Courier Capital serves businesses, institutions, non-profits and retirement plan sponsors. Experienced executives lead key verticals of the growing Buffalo-based firm.

• Thomas J. Hanlon, CFA, CFP®, CEBS, is Executive Vice President of Wealth Management and Co-Chief Investment Officer. He joined the firm in 2005 and served as President for seven years. In his role, Mr. Hanlon focuses on researching and monitoring Courier Capital’s mutual fund and exchange traded fund investment platform and provides strategic direction. He is based at Courier Capital’s Buffalo headquarters.

• Rebecca L. Westervelt, AIF®, is Senior Managing Director and Director of Retirement Services. She leads the firm’s retirement plan fiduciary oversight offering for 401(k), 403(b) and Deferred Compensation plans, including independent investment selection and monitoring, service provider due diligence and fee negotiation, and participant education and support. Ms. Westervelt joined Courier Capital in 2023 through its merger with former affiliate HNP Capital and leads its Rochester office.

• Jason M. Stronz serves as Senior Management Director and Director of Institutional Services, leading Courier Capital’s institutional asset management and consulting offering, including customized portfolio management for foundations, endowments, or corporate accounts. Mr. Stronz serves clients across Upstate New York from the firm’s Jamestown office.

Courier Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), is one of the largest registered investment advisory firms in Western New York with assets under management of approximately $2.9 billion as of December 31, 2023. Learn more about the firm’s leadership, history and unique approach at couriercapital.com.

About Financial Institutions, Inc. and Courier Capital, LLC
Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) is an innovative financial holding company with approximately $6.2 billion in assets offering banking, insurance and wealth management products and services through a network of subsidiaries. Its Five Star Bank subsidiary provides consumer and commercial banking and lending services to individuals, municipalities and businesses throughout Western and Central New York and its Mid-Atlantic commercial loan production office serves the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region. SDN Insurance Agency, LLC provides a broad range of insurance services to personal and business clients, while Courier Capital, LLC offers customized investment management, financial planning and consulting services to individuals and families, businesses, institutions, non-profits and retirement plans. Learn more at five-starbank.com and FISI-investors.com.

Disclosure
Courier Capital, LLC (“Courier”) is an SEC registered investment adviser located in Buffalo, NY, Rochester, NY, Jamestown, NY and Pittsburgh, PA. Courier and its representatives are in compliance with the current registration and notice filing requirements imposed upon SEC registered investment advisers by those states in which Courier maintains clients. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing involves gains and losses and may not be suitable for all clients. Investment products and services are not FDIC Insured, are not a deposit or bank guaranteed, are not insured by any Federal governmental agency, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested. For information about Courier, including its registration, fees and services, please contact Courier or refer to the Investment Advisor Public Disclosure Website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov).