Hightower and Merrill teams launch independent practices with $1B-plus in assets

Two advisor teams that left Hightower Advisors and Merrill Lynch within the past week have launched independent practices, together overseeing more than $1 billion in client assets, InvestmentNews reported Wednesday.

The larger team by headcount is Perennial Wealth Partners, an eight-person practice that most recently operated inside Hightower and has launched under Integrated Partners, a national registered investment adviser and financial planning firm. Perennial manages more than $500 million in client assets and serves high-net-worth individuals and families, including women seeking an active role in their financial lives, along with business owners, executives, professionals and retirees.

Perennial's six financial advisers and two operational partners are Ben Audley, Sam Awad, Greg Bogdan, Kurt Helmich, Michael Im, Mary Beth McLean, Brady Peat and Carrie Shoener. The report says they formed the practice to exercise fuller control over how they operate and serve clients. "Our relationship as a team is an incredible asset for our clients," said Im, the firm's chief operating officer and a founding partner.

Nick Economos launched Economos Private Wealth from Danville, Calif., outside San Francisco, through LPL Financial's supported independence model, bringing approximately $580 million in advisory and brokerage assets from Merrill Lynch.

He has more than 25 years of industry experience serving corporate executives, business owners and multigenerational families.

Integrated Partners will serve as Perennial's registered investment adviser. Founded in 1996, it supports more than 220 advisors across 116 regional offices and reported $23.6 billion in regulatory assets under management and 493 employees as of Oct. 10, according to PWD's records. In August, Integrated Partners launched SIGIL, a virtual family office for ultra-rich business owners and families.

Perennial selected Integrated Partners for its customizable open-architecture platform, back-office infrastructure and CPA partner program, according to the report.