Savant’s Platform Vision Accelerating with 10 New Partners in 2023
ROCKFORD, Ill. (Nov. 30, 2023) – Savant Wealth Management, a nationally recognized, fee-only registered investment advisor (RIA), announced it has acquired Clinton, S.C.-based Peay & Associates, LLC, a CPA firm providing tax and accounting services to individuals and businesses, and its associated RIA firm, SwaimBrown Wealth Management, with AUM of approximately $146 million, in a transaction that closed today. Earlier this month, Savant announced plans to acquire $2.2 billion Alabama-based Bridgeworth Wealth Management before the end of 2023.
Principal owner Jay Peay, CPA/PFS, CGMA, founded both Peay & Associates, LLC, and SwaimBrown Wealth in 2005. Peay and Ashley Tate, CPA/PFS, a minority owner in the accounting firm, will join Savant as member owners. Another five employees of the combined firms will become employees of Savant.
“The Peay/SwaimBrown deal marks our second combination purchase of 2023, and our sixth acquisition overall of a tax and accounting business,” said Brent Brodeski, CPA, CFP®, CFA®, MBA, chief executive officer of Savant. “We have leaned into acquiring CPA-led firms as part of our strategy because it helps differentiate Savant as a firm that has capabilities beyond basic financial planning. In addition, with the known shortage of CPAs in the U.S., this strategy strongly positions us to provide integrated wealth management and tax services to our clients,” he added.
“We were looking for a partner that could help us expand our service offerings to our growing client base in South Carolina. Savant has the resources we need to better serve both our clients and our employees,” said Peay. “Savant already has an office in Columbia, S.C., so we’re looking forward to expanding the firm’s presence here in the state.”
The acquisitions of Peay & Associates/SwaimBrown and Bridgeworth Wealth Management will bring Savant’s national footprint to 14 states and 38 offices. Previous acquisitions in 2023 included Basil Financial Group in Chicago, Capital Directions in Atlanta, Domani Wealth in Lancaster, PA, Paragon Financial Advisors in Columbia, S.C., The Relaxing Retirement Coach in Wellesley, MA, and R.F. Book & Associates and Wealth Management Group in Dover, DE.
About Savant Wealth Management
Savant Wealth Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for over 30 years with nearly $24 billion in assets under management and assets under advisement (as of 11/30/2023). As a trusted advisor, Savant Wealth Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting, and estate planning document preparation and other legal services through its affiliated law firm, Savant Legal LLP.
Savant is a registered Investment advisor. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Savant is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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