GlobeNewswire Inc | Sep 23, 2021 09:00AM EDT

September 23, 2021

DALLAS, Sept. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avantax, a leader in tax-focused financial planning, has added Chief of Staff, Holly Manton, and Vice President of Software Engineering, Suman Aluru, to the companys Senior Leadership Team.

As Chief of Staff, Mantons focus includes streamlining strategic projects and initiatives and maximizing synergies across departments to best serve the firms Financial Professionals. Since joining the firm in 2004, Manton has worked with Financial Professionals in several operational roles, including Client Services, Premium Wealth Management Support, and as a Senior Relationship Manager. Manton also worked for Avantaxs parent company, Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR), on the Corporate Strategy team where she helped simplify complex business problems, identify and build business strategies, and provide data-driven insights and solutions for Blucora, Avantax and TaxAct, the digital tax software business of Blucora.

Aluru joins Avantax from 7-Eleven, Inc., where he served as the Head of Finance and Accounting technology; prior to that, he led the first digital journey of accounting, asset transfer and wealth management financial planning as the Director of Digital Technology at Charles Schwab. At Avantax, Aluru leads the strategic transformation of Avantax platforms to further enhance the experience of Avantax Financial Professionals.

Holly and Suman bring significant skills, experience and strategic value to the leadership team at Avantax, and I couldnt be more pleased to welcome them to these critical leadership roles, said Todd Mackay, President of Avantax Wealth Management. Hollys experience working with our Financial Professionals brings priceless perspective and know-how, and Sumans extensive experience in digital transformation and building high-performance teams further strengthen our leadership team. I look forward to seeing the value Holly and Suman will create for Avantax and our Financial Professionals.

About Avantax Wealth ManagementAvantax Wealth Management offers a tax-advantaged approach for comprehensive financial planning. Avantaxs Tax-Smart approach helps clients leverage taxes to create financial growth opportunities. Most financial companies treat taxes as an afterthought, or not at all, even though taxes are one of lifes most complex and costly expenses. Avantax technology, tax and wealth management insights are used by Avantax Financial Professionals to uncover and tailor opportunities across their clients financial lifecycles to help enable better long-term outcomes. The wealth management segment of Blucora, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOR), which includes the Avantax Wealth Management and Avantax Planning PartnersSMbrands, had a collective$88 billion in total client assets as of June30, 2021. For more information, please visit us at www.avantax.com or on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Media Contact:Tony Katsulos Avantax(972) 870-6654pr@avantax.com

Investor Contact:Dee LittrellBlucora, Inc. (972) 870-6463IR@blucora.com