Buckingham Strategic Wealth, the St. Louis-based wealth management firm, has expanded its depth of talent with the acquisition of Focus Wealth Management, which will assume the Buckingham name.

The transaction gives Buckingham a presence in the Northern Virginia area while providing that team of advisors with access to greater resources to better help clients reach their most important life and financial goals.

Focus, which was founded in 2001 and has locations in Fairfax and Middleburg, Virginia, is led by Helen Modly, CFP^®, CPWA^®, who has more than 35 years of experience in the investment industry. Like Buckingham, Focus provides academically rooted, evidence-based investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, families and businesses.

“We’re extremely excited about the opportunity to leverage Buckingham’s considerable resources to better serve our clients,” said Modly, who will remain a wealth advisor and advisory team leader of the Fairfax and Middleburg offices, both of which will continue to serve clients. “Going forward, we as a team will be able to focus even more on offering our clients the sound, independent financial advice they’ve come to expect and deserve, which is what we consider the highest and best use of our time and talents.”

The transaction, which closed on July 1, 2017, also brings to the Buckingham team Susan Chesson, MBA, CFP^®, Barbara Ristow, CFP^®, MSFS, Tiffiny Dimel, Jessica Jarosik, CFP^®, Krystyn Rash, RP^®, and Tammy Funkhauser, along with about $288 million in assets under management (as of March 31, 2017). Modly and Chesson will become shareholders in Buckingham.

Buckingham President David Levin echoes Modly’s sentiment. “It’s clear that we share a common belief in doing the right thing — acting in our clients’ best interests — at all times,” Levin said. “We share core values, the same core investment philosophy, and an approach that focuses on delivering deeply personal levels of client service, so the fit was a natural one. Aligning our resources expands the remarkable level of talent at Buckingham and represents an opportunity for us to more effectively serve clients.”

The addition of Focus is Buckingham’s 28th transaction since the firm completed its first acquisition in Santa Rosa, California, in 2010. Buckingham, which manages or administers $10.2 billion in assets (as of March 31, 2017), now has offices in 17 cities across the nation.

“This transaction represents another step in Buckingham’s strategic efforts to provide ever deeper and more evolved comprehensive wealth management solutions to clients in Virginia, in the Washington D.C. area and across the country,” Levin said. “Together, our teams are positioned to devote more time focusing on what’s important to our clients — their goals and plans for the future — in a way that truly connects their money and their values.”

Buckingham is a partner firm within Focus Financial Partners and home to BAM Advisor Services and The BAM ALLIANCE, a community of more than 140 independent, like-minded advisory firms throughout the country that collectively manage or administer $29 billion (as of March 31, 2017).

This article is for general information only and is not intended to serve as specific financial, accounting or tax advice.

Focus Wealth Management Joins Buckingham Strategic Wealth

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