facebook twitter instagram linkedin google youtube vimeo tumblr yelp rss email podcast phone blog search brokercheck brokercheck Play Pause
Several Promotions Announced at Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors As Firm Continues Quality- Focused Growth  Thumbnail

Several Promotions Announced at Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors As Firm Continues Quality- Focused Growth

Kate Pitts Promoted to Associate Vice President, Client Experience and Relationships; Holly Wanegar to Associate Vice President, Wealth Advisor; and Hailey Costa to Manager, Client Service 


POMFRET CENTER, CT (January 31, 2023) 

Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors (WHZ) has announced several promotions as the firm continues quality-focused growth. Kate Pitts was promoted to associate vice president, client experience and relationships; Holly Wanegar was promoted to associate vice president, wealth advisor; and Hailey Costa was promoted to manager of client service. The announcement of the promotions comes just weeks after the firm also announced that for the ninth consecutive year,  all of its financial advisors eligible for the Five Star Wealth Manager Award1 were selected to receive it for 2022.

Pitts joined WHZ in 2021 as director of client experience and relationships after 10 years at State Street in Boston.  In that role, she expanded and elevated WHZ’s online and offline technology tools and operations related to delivering an exceptional client experience, as well as deepening the firm’s relationships in the broader community. 

“Kate’s contributions to strengthening our firm’s relationship with our clients and the local community over the past two years have been incredible, and I know that her impact on our commitment to helping others to live well will only continue to grow as she steps into her new role as a vice president,” said WHZ Managing Partner and Chief Goals Strategist James Zahansky, AWMA®. 

“I’m really looking forward to continuing to build upon an already exceptional client experience as well as the great relationships we’ve already established with our clients and community partners and forging new ones in the months and years ahead,” Pitts said. 

read more below


image of Weiss, Hale & Zahansky Strategic Wealth Advisors Fearless Flyer e-newsletter

View previous campaigns.

get started on living well 

Subscribe to the Fearless Flyer

Get the financial tips and insights you need to fearlessly pursue your goals, plus access to subscriber-only benefits like our Tax Resource Center and more.

* indicates required



Wanegar – who joined WHZ in 2019 as director of client service after 7 years at other financial firms in Hartford – will be moving to an advisory role in her new position as associate vice president, wealth advisor. 

“Holly has a wealth of knowledge in the industry and has done an incredible job in helping us to serve our clients over the last several years. In addition, Holly has passed industry licensing exams as a part of her career development over the past few years. I have no doubt she’ll continue to do an outstanding job as she transfers her client service and leadership skills over to an advisory role, working on client-focused financial planning strategy alongside the rest of our financial advisory team,” said WHZ Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer Laurence Hale, AAMS, CRPS®

Costa will be backfilling Wanegar’s role as director of client service after nearly two years at WHZ in the role of senior associate, client service, and 9 years at various financial firms In Rhode Island.

“Hailey has also done an outstanding job serving our clients since joining our team in 2021. I’m happy to see her take on this well-deserved new leadership role, and I’m looking forward to all that she’ll accomplish for our clients,” Hale said.

“The growth and success of our firm is a direct result of the strength of our team – not only their knowledge and skill but also their commitment to providing our clients with an exceptional wealth management experience,” Zahansky said about the simultaneous promotions.  

“That strength is due in part to our commitment to embracing a culture where our ultimate goal is to help not just our clients to live well, but our team as well. We do that by investing in their professional development and putting a lot of focus on empowering them to achieve their greatest potential. That’s something we’re really proud of and it’s very rewarding to watch them grow right along with our firm,” he said.

WHZ was founded in Pomfret, Connecticut in 2006 as a fiduciary, independent investment firm. Today the firm offers wealth management and customized financial planning services to individuals, families, business owners and executives, and not-for-profit institutions in 25 states and is a partner of Commonwealth Financial Network®, the largest privately-owned independent Registered Investment Advisor/broker-dealer in the United States.


12022 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. The 2022 award was presented in November 2022 based on data gathered between February 2022 and September 2022. A total of 2950 Connecticut-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 290 (10% of candidates) were selected to receive it. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or selected for the award. (Fee paid for use of marketing materials.) Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information,  visit fivestarprofessional.com.




You & Your Money Podcast

Tune in for market updates and financial tips to help you Plan Well, Invest Well and Live Well.

Listen & Subscribe

WHZ on YouTube

Quick Tip videos designed to empower you to reach your financial life goals.

Watch & Subscribe


More News & Resources

Loading Posts...

Read More