TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EP Wealth Advisors, a leading independent registered investment adviser (“RIA”), with an expanding national presence and client base, has announced the addition of former Acrisure VP Mergers and Acquisitions Kyle Miller as Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions. The appointment marks the first executive-level M&A hire for the firm, which has executed more than 30 integrations since 2017 in concert with minority investor Wealth Partners Capital Group (WPCG). EP, Miller and WPCG will work together as the firm continues its strategic acquisition approach.
Miller, who spent the first five years of his career in wealth management and private banking roles covering investment, planning, estate, trust and banking, was a key member of the most successful M&A team in the insurance space for eight years. During his time at Acrisure, he was the deal lead on over 165 acquisitions that led to massive expansion of the firm and their enterprise value.
“Kyle is a rare talent who has demonstrated success in sourcing and executing partnerships that drive enterprise growth and value in the financial services sector,” said EP Wealth Chief Executive Officer Ryan Parker. “His earnest and thoughtful approach, paired with the perfect amount of aggressive pursuit, is exactly what we were looking for to build our internal M&A capabilities. He’s the right leader at the right time, and we’re excited about our future together.”
Miller, who will be based in Chicago, will initially partner with the team at WPCG to identify and pursue deal opportunities for EP. His work will target both new regions as well as smaller firms within the existing EP footprint. He will work closely with EP’s divisional leaders in the West, Central/Mountain and East, along with the current 21 Regional Directors and the Management Committee to identify and partner with firms with a shared focus on exceptional client service, financial planning and commitment to strategic growth.
“Along with their consistently market-leading organic growth success, I was instantly drawn to the people and the culture at EP,” said Miller. “The foundation and leadership of the firm is tremendous and most partners that have joined over the last several years have experienced significant growth. When you have that kind of story, it’s easy to be completely confident when talking to a potential acquisition about the opportunity and benefits being a part of EP provides. I can’t wait to have those conversations!”
In addition to Miller, EP has added strength to their ability to execute and scale as a nationwide firm. Project Management veteran Shelly Wright recently joined the firm as Director of the Project Management Office. EP created the function in early 2023 to strengthen execution and go to market for the ever-evolving client offering and resources the firm's advisors enjoy in service of their clients. Wright, who most recently ran her own successful consulting practice, has deep experience in enterprise evolution and execution built on senior roles with Kaiser Permanente, Ivanti and others.
In addition to the new team members, EP has announced the expansion of Alan Berkshire’s role to Chief Administrative Officer. Berkshire, who joined EP full time as General Counsel in March of 2022 following a consulting stint with the firm, adds Operations, Client Service and Partnership Integration to his leadership, along with Legal, Compliance, and Project Management. Berkshire’s deep and diverse executive experience in wealth and asset management includes serving as Global Chief Operating Officer, Investments for Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
“This is a people business,” said Parker. “It’s all about the thousands of people we serve, and the hundreds of people at EP who commit everyday to helping those thousands achieve their financial goals. These additions to our continually growing team help us march forward on our path toward fulfilling our vision of enriching lives, one relationship at a time.”
About EP Wealth Advisors
EP Wealth Advisors, LLC (“EP Wealth”) is a fee-only registered investment adviser and financial planning firm with more than 30 offices in 12 states, including California, Washington, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Texas, South Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The firm manages more than $19.5 billion in assets as of September 29, 2023. 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 Co-founders and Managing Directors Derek Holman, CFP®, AIF®, and Brian Parker, CFP®, along with CEO Ryan Parker, and Executive Chairman Patrick Goshtigian, CFA. It is backed by Berkshire Partners, a leading private investment firm in Boston. For more information, please visit www.epwealth.com.
