Ethan A. Watts

Ethan Watts is a wealth transfer specialist based in our Rockford, Illinois, office, where he focuses on helping clients navigate the complexities of estate planning and multigenerational wealth transfer. He works closely with Savant’s estate planning attorneys and advisory teams to analyze estate documents, tax returns, and financial statements and to prepare clear, actionable wealth transfer deliverables, including diagrams, audits, and planning summaries.

Earlier in his career, Ethan gained experience as an investment analysis intern for a commercial real estate company, where he evaluated potential property acquisitions by analyzing projected cash flows and investment viability. He began his career at Savant as an intern in the summer of 2024 while completing his bachelor’s degree. During that time, he worked alongside Savant’s senior director of wealth transfer, Mike Cyrs, to help incorporate and establish a 501(c)(3) scholarship foundation, which was an experience that reflects his commitment to long-term planning and community impact.

In 2025, Ethan joined the firm part-time as a junior associate and transitioned to a full-time associate advisor role later that year. In that position, he supported clients across the firm with tax planning, investment planning, retirement planning, and cash flow modeling. He assumed his current role in 2026.

Ethan earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Beloit College in Wisconsin, graduating summa cum laude. He also holds an associate’s degree in economics and philosophy from Rock Valley College in Rockford, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Active in the Rockford community, Ethan serves on the board of directors for Generations Credit Union and is a member of the Parish Advisory Council at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Loves Park, Illinois.

Ethan and his wife, Margaret, were married in 2025. They enjoy traveling, participating in church events, and attending concerts in Madison and Chicago. In his free time, Ethan enjoys reading, particularly theology and the lives of the saints, and listening to a wide range of music, from symphonies to indie and rock.