Focus Drives Partner Growth through Sub-Acquisitions, New Hires

- Transactions boost client assets by approximately $450 million -

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Focus Financial Partners, LLC, the largest partnership of independent wealth management firms, today announced that four of its partner firms have completed strategic transactions in the last 60 days, either closing on important sub-acquisitions or recruiting well-respected new professionals to their firms. The four firms – JFS Wealth Advisors, LLBH Private Wealth Management, CapGroup Advisors and The Buckingham Family of Financial Services – all underscored the importance of the Focus relationship in facilitating or supporting these transactions and appointments.

“We are excited to have the talented team from H.L. Zeve on board. Their engrained presence in the Pittsburgh market allows us to extend our services to a broader range of high-net-worth clients.”

“These recent transactions are excellent examples of the kind of growth plans that Focus has always supported,” said Rudy Adolf, founder and CEO of Focus. “For any financial advisor, the client is always the top priority, leaving little time to think about strategic acquisitions or senior recruitment. In leveraging Focus’ national network and industry relationships, our partner firms can strengthen their business continuity, client services and growth trajectories far more easily than they could on their own.”

Supported by Focus Financial, the following four strategic transactions have closed in the last 60 days:

• Pittsburgh-based H.L. Zeve Associates merged with JFS Wealth Advisors: JFS Wealth Advisors, an independent wealth management firm in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, acquired Pittsburgh-based H.L. Zeve Associates, a wealth advisory firm with $325 million in assets under management. The transaction, completed on December 31, 2012, brings JFS Wealth Advisors’ assets to over $1.2 billion of client assets under management, making it a premier firm in the Pittsburgh market. Under the agreement, Harvey Zeve, founder and CEO of H.L. Zeve, has joined JFS as a consultant and Steve Lee, president of H.L. Zeve, will stay on as managing principal. Founded in 1986 by Bob Jazwinski, JFS provides integrated financial planning and investment strategies to over 1,000 clients across 30 states. Mr. Jazwinski said, “We are excited to have the talented team from H.L. Zeve on board. Their engrained presence in the Pittsburgh market allows us to extend our services to a broader range of high-net-worth clients.”
• LLBH Private Wealth Management strengthens leadership with new managing director: On December 1, LLBH Private Wealth Management, a Westport, Connecticut independent RIA with nearly $1 billion in client assets, appointed Haley Rockwell as a new Managing Director. Ms. Rockwell joins LLBH through a partnership agreement with Greenwich, CT-based Chronogram, a private wealth management firm, where she managed $110 million in client assets and served as owner and CEO. In joining LLBH, Ms. Rockwell can leverage LLBH’s multi-family office offering and resources for her ultra-high-net-worth clients. LLBH’s continued growth and success has allowed it to expand its family service offering, including trustee and concierge level services, to meet the needs of its ultra-high-net-worth clients.
• CapGroup Advisors hires financial advisor Jeremy Kuhlen and acquires private client assets: Richmond-based CapGroup Advisors, a founding partner of Focus Financial with over $1 billion in assets, hired Jeremy Kuhlen as Managing Director, effective January 1, 2013. Kuhlen previously co-founded Mentor Wealth Management, a Richmond-based firm with approximately $35 million in assets. Under the agreement, CapGroup will merge Mentor’s clients into its Private Client Practice. As a member of CapGroup, Kuhlen can now offer his clients access to a large team of industry professionals and institutional resources, including sophisticated portfolio management and technological infrastructure. Kuhlen’s strong relationships in and around Richmond will help support CapGroup’s growth and business development goals.
• The Buckingham Family of Financial Services hires wealth advisor, author and blogger Dan Solin: The Buckingham Family of Financial Services, comprised of Buckingham Asset Management, BAM Advisor Services and BAM Risk Management, has appointed well-known author and blogger Dan Solin as a wealth advisor at Buckingham Asset Management and as director of investor advocacy at BAM Alliance, a community of more than 130 independent wealth management firms. In his new role, Solin will be responsible for enhancing the vast library of thought leadership materials already produced by firm thought leaders, including Carl Richards and Larry Swedroe, and will help lead the firm’s business development efforts. Prior to joining the BAM Alliance, Solin was Senior Vice President at Index Fund Advisors, an Irvine, CA-based RIA, where he managed significant levels of assets and was responsible for business development.

About Focus Financial Partners

Founded in 2006, Focus Financial Partners, LLC, is the leading international partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms. With almost $60 billion in client assets and over 800 employees, including over 100 partners, Focus provides wealth management, benefit and investment consulting services to individuals, families, employers and institutions. Clients benefit from Focus’ independence, unrivaled access and continuity. Focus principals maintain their entrepreneurial independence, benefit from the synergies, scale, economics and best practices of the market leader and achieve an eventual, smooth ownership transition. Focus was included on Inc. magazine’s 5000 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies in 2011 and 2010. In 2012, Focus was named a Crain’s New York Business “Fast 50” growth firm in New York City. For more information, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com.