Prairie Wealth Advisors Names Mike Finnegan Chief Investment Officer

Prairie Wealth Advisors, a Nebraska-based registered investment advisor, has appointed Mike Finnegan as its new Chief Investment Officer to lead the firm’s investment philosophy and portfolio strategy. The hire follows a significant merger with The McEwen Group that has positioned the firm to approach $1 billion in assets under management. This strategic move highlights a growing trend of mid-sized RIAs institutionalizing their investment processes to support increased scale and sophisticated client needs.

Prairie Wealth Advisors announced the appointment of Mike Finnegan, CFA, as Chief Investment Officer, a role in which he will oversee the firm's investment philosophy and strengthen its manager research and due diligence capabilities. Based in Omaha, Finnegan is tasked with building a systematic investment framework designed to move beyond generic model portfolios to offer more differentiated strategies for the firm’s clients. His responsibilities also include the further development of Prairie Wealth’s alternatives program and serving as a primary voice for market commentary and client communications.

Finnegan joins the RIA with over 30 years of industry experience across asset allocation, portfolio construction, and investment leadership. He previously held senior roles at ManchesterStory Fund Management, Guggenheim Investment Management, and Principal Financial Group. Notably, during his tenure at Principal, he served as the lead portfolio manager for target date funds that saw assets grow from $3 billion to $20 billion, demonstrating a track record of managing significant scale and multi-asset strategies.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Prairie Wealth Advisors as it nears the $1 billion assets under management milestone. This growth follows a recent merger with The McEwen Group, which effectively doubled the firm's headcount and expanded its regional footprint. CEO Craig Hundt noted that the addition of dedicated investment leadership reflects the increased sophistication and ambition of the combined entity, aiming to pair personalized wealth planning with institutional-grade investment processes.