Michael Hamburger recently joined Avant as Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, an announcement made roughly 18 months after the company's initial prelaunch. Avant began operations in the second half of 2010 under CEO Brent Payne, but has since shown limited market activity.

Avant's activity had been sparse since its official launch. The company introduced a lead store last August and cut prices in February, but otherwise struggled to build momentum. The new appointment aims to inject fresh life into the operation.

Hamburger's dual title as both COO and Co-Founder has drawn scrutiny. The "co-founder" designation appears unusual for someone joining a company more than a year and a half after its public pre-launch phase.

Before joining Avant, Hamburger resigned from his position as Vice President of Marketing at Wealth Masters International (WMI). An email exchange between former WMI COO Mary Dee and WMI President Karl Bessey suggested problems regarding Hamburger's compensation. Hamburger reportedly claimed a "handshake" deal for a three-year, $300,000 contract.

Mary Dee's email indicated WMI had trouble honoring commitments. She stated, "I couldn't say 'yes' because I've seen Kip NOT keep his word so many times." The exchange highlighted deeper financial issues within WMI, with reports of unpaid creditors accumulating.

WMI plans to hold its m2 conference in Maui on December 5th and recently appointed Troy Allen as Chief Technology Officer. However, the company has failed to retain several high-profile executive staff during the latter half of this year, signaling broader instability. The full impact of these leadership losses and WMI's financial challenges has yet to fully reach its member base.