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Company Details
Sequoia Financial Group ("Sequoia") is a comprehensive financial services firm dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals and families by helping them achieve their financial goals. Founded in 1991 by Thomas Haught, the firm has grown significantly over the years, expanding its services and geographic reach to better serve its clients.
Founding and History:
- 1991: Thomas Haught established Sequoia Financial Group with a vision to provide personalized financial planning and wealth management services.
- 2001: The firm expanded its services to include asset management, offering clients a more integrated approach to managing their wealth.
- 2010: Sequoia opened additional offices in Akron, Ohio, and Tampa, Florida, extending its reach to serve a broader client base.
- 2015: The firm launched Sequoia Sentinel, its Family Office Services division, to cater to families of exceptional means with comprehensive planning and robust investment capabilities.
- 2020: Sequoia further expanded its presence by opening an office in Cleveland, Ohio, reinforcing its commitment to serving clients across the wealth continuum.
Mission and Philosophy:
Sequoia articulates its mission as serving clients across the wealth continuum, enriching lives by helping individuals and families advance their chosen future. The firm emphasizes a personalized approach, building futures with resources tailored to clients' needs, both now and in the future.
Sequoia Financial Group articulates its retail marketing position through a client-centric approach that emphasizes personalized, comprehensive financial services designed to meet the unique needs of individuals and families. Sequoia's marketing strategy highlights several key elements:
1. Comprehensive Wealth Management Services:
- Family Office Services: Through Sequoia Sentinel, the firm offers long-term planning, comprehensive strategies, and robust investment capabilities aimed at preserving clients' legacies.
- Wealth Planning: Sequoia's in-house team delivers holistic financial analysis and personalized strategies, creating actionable wealth plans tailored to individual needs.
- Asset Management: Sequoia's investment experts employ a data-driven approach, continuously evaluating the investment landscape to achieve results aligned with clients' objectives.
2. Client-Centered Philosophy:
Sequoia emphasizes a personalized approach, building futures with resources tailored to client's needs, both now and in the future.
3. Experienced Leadership:
The firm's marketing efforts are led by experienced professionals who champion Sequoia's unique strengths, delivering on a vision where families receive seamless, customized solutions for wealth management, tax, estate, and financial planning.
4. Commitment to Growth and Excellence:
Sequoia's marketing strategy reflects its commitment to growth and excellence, as evidenced by its recognition as one of Barron's top RIA firms in 2023.
Through these strategic marketing positions, Sequoia Financial Group communicates its dedication to providing personalized, comprehensive, and client-focused financial services, aiming to enrich the lives of individuals and families by helping them achieve their financial goals.
Sequoia Financial Group's investment management philosophy is grounded in evidence-based strategies and the science of capital markets. The firm's independent, open-architecture investment process ensures that all investment selections are made solely in the best interest of its clients.
Key Aspects of Their Investment Philosophy:
- Data-Driven Approach: Sequoia's Investment Research team continuously evaluates the investment landscape to identify practical, value-additive solutions. They focus on optimizing controllable variables such as fees, taxes, diversification, and risk management.
- Cost Efficiency in Competitive Markets: In markets where outperforming is challenging, Sequoia opts for lower-fee investments to enhance net returns for clients.
- Tax Efficiency: Aiming to maximize clients' after-tax wealth within defined risk constraints, tax efficiency is a core component of Sequoia's portfolio management.
- Active Management in Inefficient Markets: Sequoia seeks opportunities in less efficient market segments where active management can potentially yield excess performance.
- Smart Diversification: Sequoia diversifies investments across various asset classes, countries, sectors, styles, liquidity profiles, and other factors to manage risk and optimize returns.
Investment Team and Capabilities:
Sequoia's investment team comprises experienced professionals dedicated to delivering tailored investment solutions. Notable members include:
- Jack Zhang, CFA: As Vice President and Chief Investment Strategist specializing in alternative investments, Jack focuses on asset allocation, portfolio construction, and investment research across equities, fixed income, and alternative assets.
- Ed Antoian, CFA, CPA, MBA: A Principal and Senior Strategic Advisor, Ed was a founding member of Chartwell Investment Partners, an institutional asset manager.
- Joe Bodnar: Serving as Director and Portfolio Manager, Joe plays a key role in managing client portfolios and investment strategies.
- David Choi, CFA: As Vice President and Portfolio Manager, David contributes to portfolio management and investment decision-making processes.
By adhering to a disciplined, client-focused investment philosophy and leveraging the expertise of their seasoned investment professionals, Sequoia aims to deliver results that align with their clients' financial goals.
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Acquisition Model
Full Acquisition
Yes. For further information, please contact Alaris.
Yes
For further information, please contact Alaris.
For further information, please contact Alaris.
Mandatory Points of Alignment
Sequoia asks that advisors adopt its brand day one.
All operational functions will be centralized.
P&L management is fully centralized.
Partners control the client experience, provided it aligns with their holistic, planning-based culture.
Sequoia offers three client service models based on the client’s net worth, which advisors are encouraged to adopt. However, advisors always maintain full control over their client relationships.
Sequoia allows advisors to propose compelling investment options for consideration, but ultimately expects all advisors to adopt its platform.
Advisor Value Proposition
Sequoia presents a compelling value proposition to firms considering a sale, offering access to a larger platform, operational efficiencies, and a proven track record of success—all while ensuring clients and advisors remain the top priority. With significant financial resources, scalable infrastructure, and over 30 years of sustained growth, Sequoia has expanded from $1 billion to $21.5 billion in assets through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion. Industry milestones such as the launch of Sentinel and recognition in Barron’s rankings reinforce their credibility, while transactions like FAM demonstrate their continued momentum. For potential partners, partnering with Sequoia provides an opportunity to elevate their business without the challenges of starting over, aligning with a firm that has consistently driven growth and innovation.
Sequoia understands that your clients are your top priority, and partnering with them means offering your clients enhanced services without the need to build these capabilities from the ground up. They provide a comprehensive suite of resources, including robust asset management with billions in assets under management, family office services through Sequoia Sentinel, and in-house experts specializing in tax and estate planning (CFPs, CPAs, JDs). Additionally, Sequoia offers a centralized para-planning team to support the execution of client strategies. These services are seamlessly integrated under Sequoia's umbrella, allowing you to remain focused on cultivating client relationships while elevating the overall service you provide. It's an opportunity to enhance your offerings with ease, taking your client service to the next level.
Managing a firm can be demanding, with responsibilities such as compliance, technology upgrades, and staff management. Sequoia offers a straightforward solution: entrust these operational tasks to them. With centralized services in HR, IT, and marketing, Sequoia takes on the administrative burden, allowing you to focus on client relationships and business growth. Their scale provides access to advanced tools and technology, streamlining daily operations and enabling your advisors to perform at their highest potential. This partnership offers a valuable opportunity to reduce operational stress while driving continued progress.
Sequoia provides a comprehensive suite of financial services designed to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and businesses across the wealth spectrum. Their wealth planning services offer in-depth financial analysis, personalized strategies, and goal-setting for various life stages, including retirement and wealth transfer. Tax planning is a key focus, helping clients minimize liabilities while preserving their gains, and business owners benefit from succession and transition strategies tailored to their unique needs.
In asset management, Sequoia delivers investment strategies spanning stocks, bonds, alternatives, and more, optimizing portfolios for risk, tax efficiency, and growth. Their independent, fee-transparent approach ensures that clients receive unbiased recommendations without proprietary products. Estate and retirement planning services help structure assets for protection and distribution while offering retirement income strategies and trust planning to create lasting legacies.
For trustees and fiduciaries, Sequoia provides expert guidance and connections to corporate trustee partners when necessary. Their Family Office Services, known as Sequoia Sentinel, cater to ultra-high-net-worth families with $20 million or more in assets, offering multi-generational wealth management, tax strategies, family governance, succession planning, and philanthropic advisory services. Clients also gain access to exclusive investment opportunities, including private equity and private debt.
Sequoia further supports business leaders through executive compensation planning, aligning personal and corporate financial goals to maximize earnings and benefits. Their insurance planning services provide tailored solutions for life, long-term care, and disability insurance, ensuring clients have the right coverage to protect their wealth. Through this holistic and strategic approach, Sequoia empowers clients to achieve financial security and long-term success.
Sequoia is committed to driving the growth of your firm. With extensive resources, a broad reach, and deep industry expertise, they are equipped to take what you’ve built and elevate it to new heights. Your advisors can continue focusing on what they do best, supported by a firm that has already navigated the complexities of scaling and expansion. This partnership ensures your legacy remains intact, while positioning it for greater success on a larger platform.
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