Hargrove MSO Appoints David Haughton as Vice President of Engagement

Estate planning industry veteran joins Hargrove after helping build estate planning capabilities at Carson Group

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hargrove Management Services Organization, Inc. (“Hargrove MSO”), the organization supporting Hargrove Firm’s national estate planning operations, announced today that David Haughton, J.D., CPWA®, has joined the company as Vice President of Engagement. Haughton, who most recently served as Vice President of Estate Planning at Carson Group, will work directly with financial advisors and wealth management firms to expand the adoption of attorney-led estate planning as a core component of the advisor-client relationship.

The appointment comes as wealth management firms increasingly incorporate estate planning into comprehensive financial planning and seek solutions that combine the accountability of a traditional law firm with the efficiency and scalability of modern technology. The need has become particularly acute as advisory firms expand nationally, leaving advisors to serve clients across jurisdictions where they may not have established relationships with local estate planning attorneys.

“David understands this market from the advisor’s perspective because he has spent years confronting the same challenge our partners face every day: clients need estate planning, but advisors have historically lacked a consistent and scalable way to help them get it done,” said Alex Hargrove, J.D., CEO of Hargrove MSO. “He believed in what we were building before he ever considered joining us. Now, he will help us bring that model to more advisors and wealth management firms across the industry.”

Haughton joins Hargrove after helping build Carson Group's estate planning services and making it more accessible to advisors and their clients. That work led him to Hargrove, and ultimately to bringing its attorney-led estate planning services to Carson advisors.

“I’ve spent much of my career focused on making estate planning more accessible and practical for financial advisors and their clients,” said Haughton. “In evaluating the different services and technologies available to advisors, I had the opportunity to work directly with Hargrove and realized this was the model I had been looking for. What excites me about this role is the opportunity to help advisors across the industry make estate planning a meaningful part of the advice they provide.”

Haughton will be based in Boston, anchoring Hargrove's expanded presence in the Northeast, where a growing number of its partner firms are headquartered. In his new role, Haughton will work with Hargrove’s existing wealth management partners to increase advisor engagement and adoption while helping introduce the firm’s model to additional RIAs and financial advisors. He will also serve as an advisor-facing voice on estate planning trends, education and practice management as wealth managers take a larger role in helping clients address estate and legacy planning needs. Haughton said his mandate will center on ensuring advisors understand Hargrove’s offering and increasing adoption among firms already working with the company. Haughton brings experience spanning private-practice law, advanced planning, wealth management and estate planning technology. His prior experience includes serving as Vice President of Estate Planning at Carson Group and working as Team Lead of advanced planning at Commonwealth Financial Network. A frequent wealth management industry commentator and educator, Haughton has written extensively about estate planning for financial advisors and has participated in industry publications, podcasts and webinars.

Hargrove today supports wealth management firms collectively overseeing more than $400 billion in client assets and serves clients across all 50 states, reflecting growing demand for attorney-led estate planning across the wealth management industry.

About Hargrove Firm

Hargrove Firm (Hargrove Online, PLLC) is an independently owned national estate planning law firm providing attorney-led, malpractice-backed estate planning in all 50 states, delivered in partnership with wealth management firms. Learn more at hargrovefirm.com.

About Hargrove MSO

Hargrove Management Services Organization, Inc. ("Hargrove MSO"), provides business, administrative, and operational support services to Hargrove Firm — partnerships, marketing, advisor success, onboarding, and client services. Learn more at hargrovemso.com.

Hargrove Management Services Organization, Inc. is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. All legal services are provided by Hargrove Online, PLLC d/b/a Hargrove Firm, an independently owned law firm.