Corient announced it has acquired the business of Palo Alto Wealth Advisors, a Palo Alto, California-based registered investment advisor with $766.7 million in assets under management, as the firm continues to build its West Coast presence and deepen its reach in Silicon Valley.
The deal adds a team that focuses on advising technology professionals, founders, and entrepreneurs, an area Corient said aligns with its existing client base and long-standing emphasis on serving ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth individuals and families.
Palo Alto Wealth Advisors was founded by Ryan Schmidt and Nate Blair and provides tailored wealth advice for technology professionals and their families. Corient said the Palo Alto team has joined the firm as part of the transaction.
Corient operates as a fiduciary, fee-only wealth management firm and said it is structured as a private partnership model designed to give clients access to a broader set of capabilities across the firm. Since launching in 2020, Corient said it has grown to more than 260 partners and over 1,300 employees, with approximately $218 billion managed for clients across the United States.
All figures cited by the company were as of late 2025 unless otherwise indicated, and Corient noted that certain reported asset figures may differ from regulatory assets under management as defined and reported in its Form ADV.
KEY QUOTES
“Corient has deep expertise serving founders and entrepreneurs, including a substantial number of technology leaders. The Palo Alto team shares that focus and brings additional depth that strengthens our leadership in the space. Their culture, experience and client-first approach make them an exceptional addition to the Corient Partnership, and I’m thrilled to welcome them.”
Kurt MacAlpine, Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Corient
“Corient’s partnership model gives us the best of both worlds. We maintain our client-focused, fiduciary approach while gaining access to deeper expertise and broader capabilities – including tax, trust, and family office services – that meaningfully enhance how we can serve technology entrepreneurs and their families.”
Ryan Schmidt, Partner at Palo Alto Wealth Advisors
