Maridea Wealth Management, a Brooklyn, New York-based registered investment advisor managing approximately $2 billion in assets, has announced that River Cities Financial Services and Dietz, Futrell & Walters Insurance (DFW Insurance) have joined its national platform.
The partnership establishes Maridea’s first presence in Ohio, adding three offices in Marietta, Beverly, and Chillicothe while expanding the firm’s integrated wealth management, financial planning, and insurance capabilities.
The two affiliated firms have longstanding relationships with individuals, families, and business owners throughout Ohio. Their addition supports Maridea’s strategy of expanding into new geographic markets by partnering with established advisory businesses that maintain deep relationships within their local communities.
DFW Insurance was founded in 1948 as an independent insurance agency. Its wealth management affiliate, River Cities Financial Services, was established in 1985, extending the business into financial planning, retirement planning, investment planning, and estate planning.
Together, the firms provide a combination of personal insurance, business insurance, employee benefits, and comprehensive wealth management services.
Their operating model allows clients to address multiple financial needs through established advisory relationships, including investment management, retirement preparation, estate planning, and insurance protection.
The partnership brings these capabilities into Maridea’s broader platform, which combines financial planning, investment management, tax services, and business advisory solutions.
As part of the transaction, Michael Anthony, President of River Cities Financial Services and a partner at DFW Insurance, will join Maridea as Senior Investment Advisor and Managing Partner.
Anthony brings more than two decades of experience in wealth planning and investment advisory services. He purchased an investment division in 2009 and became a partner in 2014, helping develop the affiliated firms’ financial services operations.
Dustin Becker, Vice President of River Cities Financial Services and a partner at DFW Insurance, will become Maridea’s Director of Insurance.
Becker has more than 24 years of property and casualty insurance experience and has served as a partner at both firms since January 2018.
His appointment strengthens Maridea’s insurance capabilities as the company continues developing its integrated financial services offering.
Several additional professionals will join Maridea from the two Ohio businesses, providing continuity for existing clients while expanding the national firm’s advisory and insurance expertise.
From River Cities Financial Services, Investment Advisors Stacey Brooks, Keith Thieman, Brayden Sallee, and Rick Walters will join the organization, alongside Operations Manager Janelle Sprague and Client Service Associate Tammy Wells.
From DFW Insurance, Insurance Agents Mishelle Shaffer, Amber Johnson, and Deidre Barton will join Maridea’s team.
The integration is designed to preserve the established relationships that have supported the Ohio firms’ development over multiple generations.
Clients of River Cities Financial Services and DFW Insurance will continue working with their existing Ohio-based advisors and insurance professionals at the same offices.
They will also gain access to Maridea’s proprietary tax services, expanded investment research capabilities, and broader financial planning infrastructure.
These additional resources will allow the local teams to address a wider range of client needs while maintaining the personalized service and community relationships that have defined their businesses.
For Maridea, the expansion represents an opportunity to establish a presence in Ohio through two established firms with complementary service offerings.
The combination of wealth management and insurance expertise aligns with Maridea’s approach to providing integrated financial services to individuals, families, and business owners.
By bringing these businesses onto its platform, Maridea can offer additional resources to clients who may require coordinated investment, retirement, tax, estate, and insurance planning.
The arrangement also provides the Ohio advisory teams with access to a larger organization’s investment research and planning capabilities while maintaining their existing client relationships.
Maridea has emphasized that preserving the local identity of its new partners is an important component of its national expansion strategy.
For clients in Marietta, Beverly, and Chillicothe, the partnership is intended to provide additional financial services without requiring them to change their existing advisory relationships.
The announcement continues Maridea’s development as a national wealth management platform.
The SEC-registered investment advisor operates 12 offices and employs more than 60 professionals, providing integrated financial, investment, tax, and business advisory services nationwide.
With approximately $2 billion in assets under management, Maridea focuses on combining customized financial planning with investment expertise and personalized client service.
The addition of River Cities Financial Services and DFW Insurance extends that model into Ohio while strengthening Maridea’s ability to serve clients with both investment and insurance needs.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Michael, Dustin, and their teams to Maridea. They’ve built a trusted, multi-generational business rooted in genuine community relationships, and their integrated approach to insurance and wealth management is a natural complement to what we offer. This partnership supports our long-term goal of bringing Maridea’s platform to new communities like Marietta.”
Mier Wang, Founder And CEO Of Maridea Wealth Management
“What matters most to me is our community. Our clients can still walk through the same door, sit down face to face, and talk through their investments with the same trusted team they’ve known for years. Maridea’s resources and long-term vision let us do even more for those families and business owners, right here in the community we’ve always been part of.”
Michael Anthony, Senior Investment Advisor And Managing Partner At Maridea Wealth Management
“Maridea is a rapidly growing firm with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and I’m excited to work alongside such a blue-chip team of professionals. Their energy, expertise, and resources will create tremendous opportunities for our team, our clients, and the community we’ve served for so long.”
Dustin Becker, Director Of Insurance At Maridea Wealth Management
