Moneta Initiates New Phase of National Growth Plan by Hiring Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions

Solving for succession and scale positions the fee-only, independent RIA for further expansion with like-minded Advisors and firms

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After expanding into four new locations over the past four years, Moneta continues to build for growth with the hiring of Shawn Paulk as Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions.

Paulk’s hire is the latest step in the national growth plan and M&A process for Moneta, a 100% partner-owned and fee-only firm that offers advisory services through its registered investment adviser (RIA), Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC.

To stay ahead of the RIA industry’s consolidation curve and protect their independence, Moneta began building its platform of internal business services in 2017 to support teams of Partners and Advisors growing into new markets beyond the firm’s St. Louis headquarters.

Since then, Moneta more than doubled its assets under management (AUM) from $16.1 billion at the end of 2016 to $30.6 billion at the end of 2022.

“We solved the equation of succession and scale for ourselves,” Moneta President and COO, Keith Bowles, said. “Along that journey, we realized the impact this could have for other RIAs and the opportunity that we had to expand nationally outside of our existing teams. For independent entrepreneurs and RIAs looking to grow, our platform is a perfect fit.”

In 2019, Moneta celebrated its 30th anniversary as a single-office RIA by announcing its first merger in conjunction with a new office in Denver. Moneta continued the momentum by opening new offices in Kansas City (2020), the greater Boston area (2021), and Chicago (2022).

“Our independence allows us to be selective in what we do and how we do it – there’s no pressure to make mergers and acquisitions from private equity or any other outside capital perspective that other firms face,” Moneta CEO, Eric Kittner, said. “We decided to invest in our platform so our advisors could focus on what they do best – serving and advising clients.”

Paulk will now leverage his extensive network of advisor relationships developed over 20+ years of industry experience to advance and accelerate Moneta’s M&A process.

“Our approach comes from a planner’s perspective – how we can help you accomplish your goals?” Paulk said. “Are you selling for succession and sustainability? Liquidity for the founding partner? A home for the next generation? How do you define success in a transaction – we’ll start there.”

ABOUT MONETA

Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC is one of the nation’s largest independent fee-only registered investment adviser firms with (AUM) totaling approximately $30.6 billion as of December 31, 2022. For our clients, we provide the resources, security, and longevity of a large-scale national firm within a structure designed for us to deliver the personalized attention you deserve. For advisors, joining Moneta means operating on the platform of a $30 billion firm without losing your entrepreneurial freedom. We are 100% partner-owned and fiercely loyal to our clients’ best interest–always.

© 2023 Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. Moneta Group Investment Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor and wholly owned subsidiary of Moneta Group, LLC. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Moneta is a service mark owned by Moneta Group, LLC. These articles do not individually or collectively constitute an offer to sell or buy securities, nor does any statement contained herein represent any specific recommendation. Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications are not indicative of performance and should not be construed as a guarantee of future investment success, nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement of Company by any of its clients.