Jonathan Henschen, owner of the recruiting firm Henschen & Associates in Marine on St. Croix, Minn., passed away on July 4, following a sudden cardiac event. He was 64 years old.
Henschen had over 30 years' experience in the financial services industry; he was a pioneer in the independent recruiting space, specifically, and had a unique ability to communicate and connect with financial advisors. He even owned an internet patent for finding financial broker/dealers.
"Jon Henschen has had a profound impact on my life and career. His deep understanding of the financial services industry along with his tell-it-like-it-is style made him the ideal mentor. The values that he lived by and his engaging personality made it an honor to be his business partner and friend," said Vern Coates, senior vice president of business development at Henschen & Associates.
Henschen’s legacy will live on, with Coates planning to take over the recruiting firm.
"I admired Jon for the way that he distinguished himself in the industry as an unbiased voice who was primarily concerned with a desire for increased transparency and awareness in financial services," Coates said. "I know the financial advisor clients who worked with him developed true friendships over the years. A lot of trust is put into the guide who can successfully navigate the recruiting process. Jon built Henschen & Associates with that authentic, relational approach and I’m honored to carry on his legacy."
Henschen was born on July 3, 1959, in St. Louis, and grew up in suburban Chicago, according to the Country Messenger. After attending Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis., he moved to California and worked as a janitor. He later worked in the laser optics engineering field, before getting his Series 7 license in 1989.
In the 1990s, he spent several years wholesaling mutual funds and variable annuities, where he began to build his knowledge of the IBD channel.
In 2001, he founded Henschen & Associates, with the goal of focusing on IBDs. In 2010, he expanded into RIAs. He also had a patent for finding financial broker/dealers.
In 2022, he was recognized as a finalist for the ThinkAdvisor Luminaries awards in the thought leadership category.
Henschen was a contributor to WealthManagement.com, and was frequently quoted in this publication and others on issues related to independent broker/dealers and registered investment advisors. He wrote over 120 articles that appeared in various industry publications.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie, whom he was married to for 35 years, and daughters, Hannah and Addie.