Sowell Management, a leading registered investment advisor serving financial advisors and their clients nationwide with over $6.5 billion in client assets, has announced the launch of its Advisor Partnership Program and a strategic partnership with Merchant to fund the initiative and execute an ambitious M&A strategy. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Advisor Partnership Program is designed for both current advisors and those considering joining Sowell, providing a meaningful opportunity to participate in the equity and long-term enterprise value of the firm. The program is built to drive growth, operational scale, and new opportunities while also providing succession and continuity planning for advisors. Founded in 2001, Sowell has grown through organic growth and traditional advisor recruiting and has expanded its capabilities over the years through a CIO model, a private wealth division with Cache River, and enhanced technology and business development support.
Merchant is a global operating company providing growth capital and strategic resources to independent financial services firms, with an ecosystem comprising more than 130 partner firms and RIA practices in six countries collectively managing more than $340 billion in assets.
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“We created our Advisor Partnership Program to ensure it reflected the values and culture that have made Sowell a unique presence in the RIA space for the past 25 years. We have always treated our advisors as partners in the business, and our new Program enables us to formalize that approach.”
Daryl Seaton, CEO, Sowell Management
“Scale has become increasingly critical for sustained success in wealth management, and it will become more so as the industry continues to consolidate. Merchant’s team has a deep understanding of the RIA space and respect for what we have built here at Sowell under the current leadership team.”
Bill Sowell, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Sowell Management
“Sowell is an ideal partner firm for us. With Daryl and Bill at the helm, they lead a strong management team that knows where they want to take the business and be a premier destination for established financial advisors serving the needs of sophisticated clients.”
Matt Brinker, Managing Partner, Merchant
