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Bob Oros, CEO of Hightower

Industry Spotlight > Mergers and Acquisitions

Hightower Takes Stake in HNW-Focused Firm in Washington

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What You Need to Know

  • RIA Hightower's strategic investment in Bellevue, Washington-based Highland Private Wealth Management is its fifth deal so far in 2022.

RIA Hightower said Wednesday that it made a strategic investment in Highland Private Wealth Management, an RIA in Bellevue, Washington that was founded in 1999 and manages $1.2 billion in client assets.

The transaction marked Hightower’s fifth deal of 2022 and followed its announcement two weeks ago that it facilitated a sub-acquisition for Fairport Wealth, an advisory business in Cleveland, Ohio that manages $3.3 billion in client assets.

Among the other deals this year, Hightower said in February it made an investment in Grant Tani Barash & Altman, a business management firm based in Beverly Hills, California, that provides high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients with bill payment, tax preparation and other concierge-style financial management capabilities.

As of June 30, Hightower’s assets under management were $108.4 billion, while assets under administration were about $132.6 billion, it said, noting it now has 131 advisory businesses in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Hightower didn’t specify how much of a stake it took in Highland or provide financial terms of the transaction.

“What we can say is that the transaction involved cash and equity,” Bob Oros, Hightower CEO and chairman, told ThinkAdvisor. ”In all of Hightower’s transactions, the principals maintain an economic interest in, as well as strategic and management control of, the business,” he said.

Although Highland is an RIA, “post-transaction it will join Hightower’s RIA so its assets will move to Hightower’s ADV,” Oros pointed out.

For the deal, Highland was advised by Raymond James’ Asset & Wealth Management investment banking team and received legal counsel from Peterson Russell Kelly Livengood, Hightower said.

Highland, which has 18 employees, including five advisors, offers wealth counseling, investment management and financial planning services to executives, professionals, business owners, wealth beneficiaries and other HNW households, Hightower said.

Highland’s “mission is to preserve and grow clients’ wealth while also helping them discover how their money can support the things that matter most in life, which Highland refers to as Living Fully,” according to Hightower.

Describing Highland as a “high-growth organization with a strong bench of multi-generational leaders and a differentiated approach to client service,” Oros said in a statement: “There is a real synergy between Highland and Hightower, culturally and philosophically.

“Highland recognizes that the world is changing. They are forward-thinking in the way they’ve evolved their offering to meet their clients’ total life needs,” he added.

Although the deal “expands Hightower’s presence in the Pacific Northwest, Hightower doesn’t view geography as a key factor” in deciding whether to do an M&A deal with an advisory firm, Oros told ThinkAdvisor.

“What Hightower looks for in an advisory business is a strong management team and bench of next-gen leaders, a history of robust organic growth, a diverse roster of clients and close cultural alignment with Hightower’s focus on helping clients find fulfilment in all aspects of their lives,” he explained.

“At Highland, we believe in acting as the central ‘wealth confidant’ to clients, providing them with deep financial knowledge and specialized coaching to help them connect their money to a life of meaning and purpose,” according to John Christianson, Highland CEO and founder.

“Our strategic partnership with Hightower — which includes access to institutional-level value-added services, operational scale and support — is a key step in advancing how we serve our clients and grow our business,” Christianson added. “The partnership enables us to retain our entrepreneurial spirit and autonomy, which has been central to our success.”

(Pictured: Bob Oros, CEO of Hightower) 


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