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Western & Southern Financial Group Acquires Till Financial, Expanding into Digital Family Banking Services and Investing in the Next Generation

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CINCINNATI, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Western & Southern Financial Group, a leading financial services company serving more than six million customers with insurance, retirement and investment solutions, today announced the acquisition of Till Financial, the fintech platform redefining how families raise financially capable kids. The transaction represents a significant strategic investment and marks a defining step in the company’s expansion into digital family banking solutions.

The acquisition delivers a proven platform to the millions of families Western & Southern already serves and accelerates the company’s direct-to-consumer strategy. Building on its 2018 acquisition of Gerber Life Insurance Company and subsequent addition of Fabric Technologies in 2022 – now branded Fabric by Gerber Life and home to the Plan Like a Parent™ platform – Till reinforces Western & Southern’s commitment to supporting families from early childhood through young adulthood.

“Families today need more than products – they need practical, modern solutions that help build financial confidence in an increasingly digital world,” said John F. Barrett, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Western & Southern Financial Group. “By pairing our strength and stability with Till’s innovative platform, we are deepening our commitment to serve families along life’s journey and helping the next generation build financial foundations for life.”

Family banking is an emerging category within consumer finance, and Till brings deep expertise across consumer fintech, product design, and payments infrastructure, with a dedicated focus on family banking since its founding in 2018. The platform delivers a collaborative family-centered experience through the Till app and debit card, featuring parental controls, automated allowances, shared savings goals, and security and fraud protection.

“We’ve spent years building Till into a platform families and partners truly rely on, and choosing the right partner for our next chapter was one of the most important decisions we could make,” said Taylor Burton, founder and chief executive officer of Till Financial. “What drew us to Western & Southern is that they think in generations, which is exactly how families think about raising kids. Together, we have a rare opportunity to help raise a generation that is better prepared for their financial futures.”

The acquisition meaningfully diversifies Western & Southern’s portfolio beyond traditional insurance and financial products and advances the company’s vision of delivering integrated financial wellness solutions across every life stage.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provided legal counsel to Western & Southern. Till Financial was represented by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and legal counsel was provided by Goodwin Procter LLP. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Western & Southern Financial Group

Founded in Cincinnati in 1888 as The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, Western & Southern Financial Group, Inc., is No. 310 on the Fortune 500® and the parent company of a group of diversified financial services businesses. It serves 6.3 million customers — individuals, families, businesses, foundations and nonprofits — with a wide range of insurance, investment and retirement solutions through an ever-growing distribution system. Assets owned ($90.0 billion) and managed ($42.3 billion) totaled $132.3 billion as of March 31, 2026.1 Western & Southern is one of the strongest life insurance groups in the world, with seven life insurance subsidiaries that maintain very strong financial strength ratings. For more information, visit westernsouthern.com.

1 The financial information presented here is preliminary and unaudited.
Review our current financial ratings.
From Fortune ©2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune 500 are registered trademarks of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune Magazine and Fortune Media (USA) Corporation are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Western & Southern Financial Group.

About Till Financial

Founded in 2018, Till Financial is a leading family banking platform helping families raise smarter spenders. Built around a collaborative family experience, parents get the tools to guide spending, saving, and earning, while kids get hands-on practice making real financial decisions. Till serves families nationwide through partnerships with organizations in student travel, youth sports, and other family-focused categories. Till is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at tillfinancial.com.

Contact:
Pete Schramm
Western & Southern Financial Group
513-419-2712
pete.schramm@westernsouthern.com

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SOURCE Western & Southern Financial Group

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LEAP Group Relaunches HumanView, a Growth Intelligence System Built to Explain Why Customers Behave the Way They Do

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Reimagined from the ground up, HumanView pairs statistical modeling with expert analysts to turn millions of real-world customer signals into business decisions

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LEAP Group today announced the relaunch of HumanView, its growth intelligence service. The new version has been rebuilt from the ground up and now has a dedicated home at leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

HumanView analyzes what customers say and do across social platforms, e-commerce sites, review platforms, search behavior and user-generated content, including signals from Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Amazon and Walmart+ that general AI tools cannot always access. Because the data reflects unprompted, real-world behavior, it avoids the response bias built into surveys and focus groups.

The service works in three layers. HumanView captures signals at scale, decodes millions of records through validated statistical models such as regression, correlation and clustering, and then relies on experienced analysts to interpret the patterns. Clients receive clear, human-validated insights instead of another dashboard.

“Machines find the patterns. Humans find the point,” said Alan Gilleo, CEO at LEAP Group. “The first version of HumanView showed us how much customers reveal when nobody is asking them questions. This version is built to explain why they act the way they do, and to put those answers in front of everyone making decisions, from product to service to marketing.”

HumanView focuses on three areas:

Growth Intelligence: customer motivations and how people perceive a brand and its competitors

Market and Category Intelligence: product pain points, service friction, unmet needs and competitive gaps

Audience Intelligence: new segments, positioning opportunities and gaps in the market

Every model is designed and validated by data scientists and benchmarked before it informs a recommendation.

To learn more about HumanView, visit leapgroupnetwork.com/humanview.

About LEAP Group
LEAP Group is a boutique marketing agency holding company with offices in Louisville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Chicago. Guided by the belief that brands should “Market Less. Matter More.,” LEAP gives clients access to specialized experts across its entire network. Learn more at leapgroupnetwork.com.

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SOURCE LEAP Group

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STEPHEN A. SMITH ADDRESSES WHITE HOUSE DINNER ATTENDANCE, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO HBCUs AND PROTECTING CORPORATE INVESTMENT IN BLACK EDUCATION

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NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stephen A. Smith, media mogul, New York Times bestselling author, and proud 1991 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, is addressing the public discussion surrounding his decision to attend a White House dinner with President Donald Trump, emphasizing his commitment to the long-term financial stability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

For Smith, the decision was rooted in a commitment to institutions that have educated generations of Black leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.

“I will always advocate for HBCUs and the students whose futures depend on them,” Smith said. “My reason for attending the White House dinner was to discuss the challenges these institutions face in securing long-term funding and to make the case that corporate America must continue to invest in them.”

Smith acknowledged federal support through the FUTURE Act while expressing concern that political tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) could discourage private companies from supporting HBCUs. He maintains that these institutions deserve sustained corporate partnerships, philanthropic contributions, and public investment.

“If we truly believe in free-market capitalism, businesses should be able to support educational institutions and charitable causes without fear of criticism or repercussions,” Smith said. “HBCUs have made extraordinary contributions to this country. They deserve sustained public and private investment.”

Ashley Christopher, Esq., Founder and CEO of the HBCU Week Foundation, recognized Smith’s advocacy and decision to engage with the administration.

“Stephen A. Smith has been a powerful advocate for HBCUs, using his platform and influence to shine a national spotlight on our institutions,” expressed Christopher, “His continued support of HBCU Week helps advance our mission of connecting students with life-changing educational opportunities, and we are proud to have him as our ambassador.”

Since Smith became an HBCU Week Ambassador in 2019, the initiative has facilitated more than 15,000 on-the-spot college acceptances and raised and awarded more than $150 million in scholarships, according to the HBCU Week Foundation.

As public discussion continues, Smith is emphasizing the importance of ensuring HBCUs have the resources and partnerships needed to educate future generations and expand opportunities for students.

CLICK HERE to watch Smith’s full response to his White House visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

media@mrsasinc.com

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SOURCE Straight Shooter Media

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Advantex Announces Completion of Financing and Extension of Maturity Date of Previously Issued Debentures

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Advantex Marketing International Inc. (CSE: ADX) (“Advantex”), a leader in the merchant cash advance and loyalty marketing products for merchants, today announced the completion of a $250,000 secured debt financing. Advantex issued a $250,000 non-convertible debenture which bears an interest rate at 12% per annum and matures December 15, 2027. The proceeds raised from this issuance of the Debenture will be used for working capital purposes.

Advantex has also extended the maturity of its existing $700,000 in 12% secured debentures from October 10, 2026 to December 15, 2027.

About Advantex Marketing International Inc.

Advantex provides working capital to merchants. Advantex also provides specialized marketing programs that enable members of Aeroplan to earn Aeroplan points at participating merchants.

Advantex shares trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol ADX. For more information go to Advantex’s profile on www.sedar.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the future business and operations of Advantex. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The business and operations of Advantex described herein is dependent on a number of factors and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ material include, but are not limited to, changes in Advantex’s economic and competitive conditions including but not limited to the industry sectors in which Advantex operates.

The statements in this news release are made of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and Advantex undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Advantex Marketing International Inc.

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