EP Wealth Advisors Acquires Guidant Wealth Advisors

Acquisition expands firm’s services to greater Chicago region, deepens bench with addition of experienced team

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EP Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EP Wealth”), a leading independent registered investment adviser that specializes in client-centric financial planning and investment management services, has announced its acquisition of Guidant Wealth Advisors (“Guidant”). The acquisition extends EP Wealth’s reach to the suburbs of Chicago and expands the firm’s level of expertise with the incorporation of 10 seasoned professionals.

Guidant has made delivering independent financial advice to each client its core mission since it was founded more than 25 years ago by Frank T. Patzke, CFP®. The Palatine, Illinois-based firm utilized a diligent, five-step process to determine each client’s needs and develop a comprehensive plan to address every area of their financial future. Patzke and the entire Guidant team will assume roles at EP Wealth, and look forward to the new partnership.

“EP Wealth is dedicated to partnering with firms that put their clients’ interests first,” remarked Patrick Goshtigian, CFA, President and CEO of EP Wealth. “Frank built Guidant on that client-centric philosophy in tandem with a deep emphasis on integrity, objectivity and professionalism. These overarching principles align perfectly with our own.”

“As we considered our future, we sought to maintain focus on the meaningful relationships and trust we have built with our clients,” said Patzke. “In order to continue to deliver our high standard of service, we recognized the need to add a robust partner who shares our philosophy. EP Wealth’s size and scale gives us the opportunity to provide the best-in-class offerings our clients need to succeed.”

The acquisition marks the latest transaction in a period of strategic growth for EP Wealth. Since taking a minority investment from Wealth Partners Capital Group (“WPCG”) in July 2017, EP Wealth has completed nine acquisitions in California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Illinois. In 2019, the firm acquired Guidant Wealth Advisors in Chicago, CPIC International in San Francisco, Personal Financial Consultants in Lafayette, California, Conlon Dart Wealth Management in Seattle and Pathlight Investors in Phoenix.

The acquisition closed Dec. 16, 2019, and will increase EP Wealth’s assets under management by more than $261 million. Financial and legal terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

About EP Wealth Advisors

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EP Wealth”) is a fee-only registered investment adviser and financial planning firm based in Torrance, Calif., with additional offices in the San Francisco Bay area, San Diego, West Los Angeles, Irvine, Seattle, Phoenix, and Denver. The firm manages more than $5.9 billion in AUM as of Sept. 30, 2019, and provides client-centric financial planning and investment management services to individuals and businesses. EP Wealth is led by co-founders and Managing Directors Derek Holman, CFP^®, AIF^® and Brian Parker, CFP^® and President and CEO Patrick Goshtigian, CFA^®. For more information, please visit www.epwealth.com.

About Wealth Partners Capital Group

Wealth Partners Capital Group (“WPCG”) is a financial services holding company, which has partnered with EP Wealth Advisors (“EP Wealth”). WPCG assists EP Wealth by identifying and integrating like-minded registered investment advisers who are seeking access to expanded business capabilities, strategic growth and customized transition solutions. The WPCG management team is led by partners John W. Copeland, Rich Gill and Sean Bresnan. For more information, please visit www.wealthpcg.com.