Coastal Bridge Advisors, Waddell & Associates, and One Charles Private Wealth announced the completion of their strategic merger. The combined firm has more than $10 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The unified firm will operate under the Coastal Bridge Advisors name. The combined firm brings together approximately 20 partners and 52 professionals.
Its offices are located in Hingham, Massachusetts; Milford and Westport, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Los Angeles, California.
The combination expands client resources, technology, advisory capabilities, planning intelligence, and investment capabilities.
David Waddell, formerly CEO and Chief Investment Strategist of Waddell & Associates, will serve as Chairman and Chief Investment Strategist of Coastal Bridge Advisors.
Kevin G. Burns, founder of Coastal Bridge Advisors, will serve as Co-Chairman. Jim Betzig will serve as CEO. Mark Dupont will serve as President. Bill Loftus will serve as Chief Revenue Officer.
Paul Squarcia and Erik Wallin, founding partners of One Charles Private Wealth, have joined Coastal Bridge Advisors as Managing Partner of the Florida office and Managing Partner of the Massachusetts office, respectively.
Perry Green, former Chief Financial Officer of Waddell & Associates, has joined Coastal Bridge Advisors as Chief Planning Officer. Sean Gould, a former Waddell & Associates partner, has joined as Managing Partner in the Tennessee region.
The transaction also marks the retirement of the Waddell & Associates and One Charles Private Wealth brands.
Waddell & Associates was a 40-year-old brand with deep family roots. One Charles Private Wealth was a Massachusetts-based brand known for its circle-of-care service model for more than a decade. Coastal Bridge Advisors traces its roots to 2008 and operates as an independent registered investment advisory firm. The firm serves individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and institutions with financial planning and wealth management services.
Coastal Bridge Advisors is a Network Firm within Focus Financial Partners. Waddell & Associates and One Charles Private Wealth were also Focus Network Firms before the transaction.
KEY QUOTES:
“It’s an exciting time in the evolution of Coastal Bridge Advisors. I am honored to welcome David as CBA’s new chairman and chief investment strategist. His market acumen and the incredible culture he and his firm have built over four decades are a perfect complement to ours. Together with Paul Squarcia, Erik Wallin and their team from One Charles Private Wealth, we are stronger on many levels. The entire firm focuses every day on building our clients’ proud legacies for generations of families to come. This combination affirms that commitment.”
Kevin G. Burns, Founder and Co-Chairman of Coastal Bridge Advisors
“This is about getting better for our clients. We were never interested in growth for its own sake. What makes this opportunity different is that it allows us to preserve the values and personal service our clients expect, while adding broader planning intelligence, deeper investment capabilities and enhanced technology needed to serve them even more powerfully in the years ahead.”
David Waddell, Chairman and Chief Investment Strategist of Coastal Bridge Advisors
“In our business, scale certainly matters. This combination brings together partners and team members whose wealth management experience and ability are incredibly difficult to assemble in today’s marketplace.”
Mark Dupont, President of Coastal Bridge Advisors
“We’re proud to announce that Paul and Erik, founding partners of One Charles Private Wealth, have joined CBA as managing partner of our Florida office and managing partner of our Massachusetts office, respectively. Perry Green (former chief financial officer of W&A) joins as CBA’s chief planning officer, and Sean Gould (former W&A partner) joins as managing partner in the Tennessee region.”
Jim Betzig, CEO of Coastal Bridge Advisors
“Moving forward collectively under the Coastal Bridge Advisors banner reflects a vision for a bold, shared future while reflecting our commitment to preserving the culture, care and client relationships that have long defined all three of our firms.”
Paul Squarcia, Founding Partner of One Charles Private Wealth
