Veteran RIA and Financial Services Leader Jorge Bernal Joins EP Wealth As Chief Operating Officer

Talent, Commitment To Clients And Growth Attract Senior Leader To Growing Nationwide Firm

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EP Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EP Wealth”), a leading fee-only registered investment adviser (“RIA”) with an expanding nationwide footprint and client base, has announced the appointment of longtime Financial Services and Wealth Management leader Jorge Bernal as Chief Operating Officer. Bernal brings more than 30 years of experience leading advisors and other key client-facing and support functions to EP Wealth.

Bernal, who most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Wealth Management at SageView Advisory Group and has also held executive leadership positions at Goldman Sachs, United Capital, Fidelity and JPMorgan, will lead EP Wealth’s Wealth Advisory, Marketing, Investments, and Wealth Management Services teams as the firm continues its growth trajectory both organically and through new partnerships.

“Jorge and I began a conversation several months ago, but it did not take long for us to realize Jorge’s values and approach are a fantastic fit for EP Wealth. We share a laser-focus on serving clients and ensuring advisors have best-in-class tools to do so,” said Ryan Parker, CEO of EP Wealth. “As we continue to grow and expand our ability to care for families across the country, Jorge’s leadership will help our advisors and business leaders consistently deliver excellent client experiences.”

EP Wealth, which recently added Chief People Officer Megan Glover to its executive team, continues to enjoy organic growth and thus far in 2024 has partnered with seven firms in both new and existing geographies. The firm’s expanding number of families served, AUM growth and breadth of offering appealed to Bernal as he considered his next career move.

“I feel extremely lucky that I was able to take the last several months to spend quality time with my family while exploring professional opportunities,” said Bernal. “I was also lucky to have options to consider, and EP Wealth clearly stood apart as a firm that has outstanding advisors, gifted functional leaders and a committed team that is equally obsessed with serving clients. I'm anxious to experience what the industry has been noticing for some time—EP is a special place."

The addition of Bernal to EP Wealth’s executive team comes as the firm continues to refine and enhance its unique approach, built on the ongoing commitment to the principles that Founders Brian Parker and Derek Holman established when founding the firm 25 years ago: the breadth and resources of a large national firm with the client experience and local delivery model of a boutique. The current role of the founders was one of many appealing factors to Bernal.

“Brian and Derek are advisors, continuing to serve their clients while the firm they founded is led by Ryan and the outstanding senior management team,” said Bernal. “In my experience that is unique, and combined with the fact that the firm continues to be primarily owned and fully operated by the team doing the work was another strong component in my decision to join EP Wealth.”

Bernal will be based in EP Wealth’s Seattle office.

About EP Wealth Advisors

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EP Wealth”) is a fee-only registered investment adviser and financial planning firm with more than 41 offices in 13 states. The firm manages more than $28.9 billion in assets as of September 30, 2024. EP Wealth provides client-centric financial, tax and estate planning, and investment management services to individuals and businesses. Headquartered in Torrance, California, EP Wealth is led by CEO Ryan Parker, along with Co-Founders and Managing Directors Derek Holman, CFP^®, AIF^®, and Brian Parker, CFP^®, and Executive Chair Patrick Goshtigian, CFA. It is backed by Berkshire Partners, a leading private investment firm in Boston. In 2024, EP Wealth celebrates its 25th anniversary serving families across the country and helping them reach their financial goals. For more information, please visit www.epwealth.com and follow EP Wealth on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Information Source: www.epwealth.com