Our Team
Kurt Powers
President / CEO
Kurt has successfully set up and overseen fully managed investment centers since 1994. He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
Kurt spent the first several years of his career learning the lending and management side of banking before settling on his specialty: Financial Institution Investment Center Management. Kurt served as the President of Institutional Financial Services, managing the investment division for 15 separate community banking groups. In 2002, Kurt fulfilled his dreams of starting his own business, FMS Financial Services, Inc. His current position is President / CEO and majority shareholder. Kurt enjoys using his banking background and many years of experience to tailor-make successful operations for financial institutions to bring investment and insurance services to their customers and earn significant amounts of fee income.
He is proud to have an over 24-year working relationship with partners Gary Wilnau and J. Brent Browning, bringing experience and continuity to their financial institution, financial planner, and investment vendor relationships throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Kurt holds securities licenses of 6,63,7, and 24 (Securities Supervising Principal), insurance licenses for life, accident & health, and property and casualty, and is a Financial Advisor for Packerland Brokerage Services.
Kurt has been President of his local church's council, and President of a youth baseball organization. He lives in Milwaukee, but spends much 0f his work time in his second home in Wausau. When not at work, Kurt enjoys fishing, hiking, biking, and watching football, baseball, and basketball. He and his wife Jennie have two sons, Jake and Ryan, and are grandparents of 4.
J. Brent Browning
Sales Manager / VP Bank Marketing
Brent graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1977 with a BSB in accountancy and went to work for a regional accounting firm in Southern Illinois. After 4 years he started an insurance and investment career with Country Companies where he was a career agent. After 17 years with Country Companies Brent became Sales Manager for the insurance and investment department of Banterra Bank, a $750 million dollar financial institution with 19 branches. In 1999, Brent moved to Batavia, IL with his wife Donna and his three sons Ryan, Mark and Alex. Brent became a Program Manager with IFS, Inc and remained in that capacity until December 2002 when he was promoted to Vice President Sales and has been a mainstay of Kurt Powers staff for the past 10 years. Brent's current title with FMS Financial is Vice President of Sales and he is an ownership partner. Brent maintains an office and residence in Sheboygan, WI. During Brent's career with Country Companies and Banterra he lived in Eldorado, IL where he served on the Eldorado School Board for two terms, served as President of the Eldorado Police Pension for 19 years, served as the President of the Eldorado-Raleigh Park District for 14 years, rand the Eldorado Youth Association for 16 years, and was a high school basketball official for 15 years. Brent carries a LUTCF designation and is a Financial Advisor.
Gary R Wilnau
Vice President Operations
Gary began his career in the insurance industry in 1990 with Pioneer Financial Services as an Operations Manager. In 1994 he became licensed and branched off into the sales field where he sold health and life insurance to individuals and small business owners.
In 1995 he became the Administrative Manager with the second -largest managing general agency for Fortis Insurance Companies. While with Fortis, Gary managed 6 regional offices across 5 states.
In 1998 Gary became Vice-President of Operations for IFS Inc., helping to manage the investment center for 15 community banking groups. He then moved with Kurt Powers to FMS Financial Services, where Gary currently serves as the Vice President of Operations, in addition to being an ownership partner.
Gary and his wife Michelle (School Teacher) reside in Genoa, Illinois with their daughter Alyssa and son Ethan.
Dale Elam
Financial Professional - Milwaukee Office
Dale has been in the banking and financial service industry since 1996 and has been a West Allis resident since 1998. He has been nationally recognized for his investment and insurance sales and service by American Equity, American Express, Allianz, F & G, and Dressander BHC. Dale earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois-Chicago and has worked for LaSalle National Bank, Maritime Savings Bank, and has been a Financial Advisor with FMS Financial Services, Inc. and its affiliates since 2001.
Dale is licensed to offer a wide range of financial and investment products and is a financial advisor with Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. His fixed offerings and back-office support is provided by FMS, which has several locations in Wisconsin and a home office in St. Charles, Illinois.
Dale is very proud of the relationships he has developed with clients in helping them achieve their financial goals with a conservative approach. He is known for his availability for meeting with his clients multiple times during a year to make sure that their plan stays on course and is in proper balance. Dale is a 401k and IRA rollover representative working with safe income and RMD planning.
Dale has three children and is expecting his first grandchild. Dale is active in the community, in his church, and was a long-time coach in youth athletics. Dale also works for fund raisers of college scholarships for young students. Dale enjoys traveling with his family, visiting new historical sights, and loves to hike with his dog, Archie.
Ryan Powers
Financial Professional
Ryan joined FMS in May 2018 after earning his bachelor’s degree from Augustana College-Rock Island in history. During his time at school, Ryan also earned his Series 6, Series 63, and life insurance license. He moved to Wisconsin immediately after graduation to start work in the financial services industry.
Ryan has taken the lead in assisting young members of the credit union with mapping out and executing their savings and investment plans. He also has enjoyed helping members plan for retirement, as well as aiding those who are already retired with safe, conservative plans and income distribution. He looks forward to continuing to provide customized and thorough financial services for customers at Park City Credit Union and Brokaw Credit Union.
Ryan likes to spend his free time hiking, reading, and watching sports.
Mark Brown
Financial Professional - Sheboygan Office
Mark has over 8 years of experience in the Insurance and Financial Insurance industry and is a 12 year resident of Kiel. Mark's educational background includes 2 Bachelor's Degrees from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Previously, Mark was a Hotel Management Professional and worked for many years in luxury hospitality bringing a solid background for P&L, employee relations and operations from the business industry.
Mark is security licensed and has earned his 6 and 63 licenses making his background ideal for individuals who own 401K's, Mutual Funds, Annuities and all forms of Life Insurance. He is a financial professional with Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc.
Mark has an excellent reputation among his clients as a caring and careful listener who helps his clients reach their financial and retirement goals. He takes the time to get to know his clients and understand their goals so he can tailor an approach that best fits their needs.
Mark is a believer in diversification within a portfolio of investments and the use of different positions of money to reduce risk. Mark is a 401K and IRA rollover specialist working with safe income, required minimum distribution planning in retirement, as well as establishing and servicing IRA and ROTH IRA retirement accounts.
Mark and his wife Christine have two chihuahuas, Ruby and Bella, and two cats, Brie and Millie at home. Mark has two grown daughters: Corinne works as a Psychologist while Abby holds a Doctoral in Physical Therapy. Mark's personal interests include stamp collecting, skiing, traveling our National Parks--41 so far, hiking, and keeping up with international friends. Mark speaks French fluently and spent a couple of years living in France.