Company: WTFCN
Filing Date: 2025-04-03
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-031671
Chunk: 71

Company: WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORP
Filing Date: 2025-04-03
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 71
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 on these reviews, including with respect to salary adjustments and incentive award

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TABLE OF CONTENTS amounts, were presented to the Committee. The Committee exercised its discretion in modifying any recommended adjustment or award. Committee Process . During 2024, the Committee reviewed both the Company’s compensation philosophy and the actual compensation being paid by the Company. The Committee met, including in executive sessions without any members of management present, to discuss, evaluate and set executive officer compensation. In determining compensation for each of the NEOs, the Committee focused on the total compensation received by each NEO, as well as the allocation of each element of compensation in relation to those provided by the peer companies identified above. The Committee acted pursuant to a written charter that had been approved by our Board. Compensation Consultant . The Committee has the sole authority to retain and dismiss its own outside compensation consultants and any other advisors it deems necessary. The role of a compensation consultant is to assist the Committee in analyzing executive compensation packages and to provide the Committee with information regarding market compensation levels, general compensation trends and best practices. The consultant also provides advice regarding the competitiveness of specific pay decisions and actions for the NEOs, as well as the appropriateness of the design of the Company’s executive compensation program. In 2024, the Committee again engaged Meridian to advise it on executive compensation-related issues, conduct benchmarking and pay-for-performance analyses and to provide advice relating to establishing bonus opportunities and target incentives for 2024. In addition, Meridian provides guidance on leading practices on compensation as well as an analysis of director compensation. Meridian attended meetings of the Committee, including executive sessions, upon invitation. Meridian did not provide any other services to the Company. The Committee has assessed the independence of Meridian pursuant to the rules of the SEC and concluded that Meridian’s work for the Committee does not raise any conflicts of interest. 50

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2024 Summary Compensation Table The following table summarizes compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our NEOs for 2024, 2023 and 2022. The section of this Proxy Statement entitled “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” describes in greater detail the information reported in this table and the objectives and factors considered in setting NEO compensation.

| ​ | ​ | Name and Principal Position (a)                                    |    ​ | ​ | ​ | Year(b) |   |      |   |         ​ | ​ | ​ | Salary($) (c) |   |           |   |         ​ | ​ | ​