Founded in February 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina, Apollon Wealth Management was established with a vision rooted in unwavering commitment to client-centric financial planning. The firm’s guiding principle is to always prioritize the best interests of its clients by crafting bespoke wealth management solutions underpinned by transparency, integrity, and financial expertise.
The company was co-founded by Michael J. Dolberg and Robert H. Gorman, who began with a modest team of seven advisors and a small supporting staff. Despite its relatively recent inception, Apollon experienced rapid growth, even weathering the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Today, the firm boasts a workforce exceeding 100 professionals, including more than 80 experienced financial advisors.
2018 Founding Year
Established in Charleston, SC, with an initial focus on providing personalized and purpose-built financial services.
Growth Through Expertise and Collaboration
Expanded from a small team to a dynamic organization of over 100 employees in just six years while cultivating a diverse range of wealth management services to address the evolving needs of a growing client base.
2020 and Beyond Navigating Turbulence
Successfully expanded despite global disruptions, showcasing resilience and adaptability.
Invested heavily in cutting-edge technology, professional education, and internal development to uphold its high service standards.
Apollon Wealth Management measures its growth not just in numbers but also in the professional development of its team. Continuous learning, teamwork, and investment in technology form the backbone of its operations. This emphasis on innovation ensures that the firm stays ahead of market trends while delivering the best possible outcomes for clients.
In a short time, Apollon Wealth Management has grown into a respected name in the wealth management industry. By remaining steadfast to its principles of client-first service and innovative financial planning, the firm has solidified its position as a trusted partner for individuals, families, and businesses seeking tailored financial solutions.
Apollon Wealth Management emphasizes a client-first philosophy that begins with understanding the unique financial goals and circumstances of each individual. Their approach is designed to ensure clients not only achieve their financial objectives but also live the life they’ve earned, grounded in the principles of transparency, collaboration, and fiduciary responsibility.
Personalized Engagement
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Orchestration and Accountability
Accessibility and Involvement: Clients have direct access to their Apollon advisors and managers, staying involved in their financial journey as much—or as little—as they prefer.
Tech-Forward Transparency: An intuitive, online platform provides clients with real-time access to their financial plans, enabling seamless communication and transparency.
Fiduciary Standard: The firm operates exclusively under a fiduciary framework, ensuring that every decision and recommendation prioritizes the client’s best interests.
Life-Based Financial Stewardship
Peak Performance Focus
Trust and Partnership
Apollon Wealth Management distinguishes itself by creating a tailored, collaborative, and technologically advanced wealth management experience. Their client-first ethos, underpinned by a commitment to fiduciary standards and superior performance, ensures clients have the tools and support needed to achieve both financial security and personal fulfillment.
Apollon Wealth Management focuses on financial planning and working with wealthy and ultra-wealthy individuals on unique investment strategies. The firm emphasizes a fiduciary duty to clients, ensuring loyalty, fairness, and good faith. Apollon Wealth's investment strategies include a variety of asset classes and investment vehicles, tailored to meet individual client needs. They believe planning is the foundation for success, and every portfolio deserves a tailored plan.
Minority, Majority, & Full Acquisition
Apollon does not offer equity as a form of currency in the transaction rather Apollon allows advisors to retain equity in their business to convert into Apollon equity if and when they have liquidity in the future.
Yes
Max Cash: 100%
Max Equity: 0%
Apollon's standard retention terms are ~30% held in retention for 12 months.
The owner's compensation model will largely be set with the owner’s input around cash flow needs post-close. There is typically a minimum replacement cost level that will be assessed which is approximately 20% of revenue. The share of ongoing revenue growth will be based on the initial compensation level as a percentage of the current revenue.
Long-term, Apollon believes a unified brand enhances their value along with their advisor's value. They will permit co-branding for a period of 12 months.
All advisors will be fully integrated into Apollon's operational technology, systems, and processes from day one. This integration allows Apollon to drive maximum efficiency on behalf of its partners and creates capacity for client-facing activities.
Partners will have visibility into their local P&L.
Apollon’s client experience philosophy is rooted in strong financial planning. Apollon allows advisers to tailor the client experience as needed as long as it maintains the philosophy that is established on a financial planning foundation.
Understanding each office will be unique, Apollon has a defined practice management they encourage their partners to adopt.
Apollon has a full investment platform that is encouraged, but only centralized trading is required.
Apollon Wealth Management offers a compelling value proposition for advisors considering selling their firm and joining them. The firm emphasizes a collaborative and supportive environment, providing extensive resources and operational support to help advisors focus on client relationships and business growth. Apollon Wealth Management is dedicated to creating an exceptional client experience, particularly for wealthy and ultra-wealthy individuals, through comprehensive financial planning and unique investment strategies.
Advisors can leverage Apollon's centralized team for financial planning and investment management solutions. Apollon's planning department plays a crucial role in facilitating data entry, plan building, research, and the delivery of presentations. The advisor and/or their team is often responsible for scheduling planning meetings, following up with clients via email, and managing general client communications. They also oversee tasks assigned to the planning department and handle the investment aspects of the plan, coordinating as necessary with the investment and/or insurance department.
Apollon Wealth Management significantly reduces operational responsibilities for advisors, enabling them to concentrate on client-facing activities and business development. They provide a dedicated back-office team to handle administrative tasks, compliance, HR, billing, and client service needs. Apollon has centralized teams for trading, financial planning, and client onboarding to minimize non-revenue-generating activities for advisors.
Apollon has a strong focus on tax planning and cash flow and has internal team members who can be leveraged for this expertise. While the tax and cash flow focus is a differentiator for Apollon, they are continuing to work on enhancements to strengthen advisers’ appeal to the retail market.
Apollon Wealth Management offers a comprehensive suite of services to support advisors and their clients:
Apollon has a high-growth culture, and they achieve this through organic and inorganic growth strategies. By pursuing inorganic growth opportunities, Apollon has been able to expand its reach and capabilities while also helping advisors to grow organically. This dual approach has allowed Apollon to provide a comprehensive suite of services to clients and support advisors' growth goals. Apollon aims to continue driving organic growth through blog posts, email campaigns, social media presence, and a relationship with a PR firm. Apollon has a strong growth trajectory as it started in February of 2018 with $120M under assets and has grown to $6B in 2024.
Apollon has strong practice management capabilities for advisors to leverage including optimizing roles within an office to create efficiencies as well as creating an executable growth plan.