LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Naviter Wealth is proud to announce that it has added Bentley Blackmon as Chief Executive Officer to lead the firm launched earlier this year.
Naviter Wealth is a private and independent SEC-registered investment advisory (RIA) firm committed to helping families who have accumulated significant wealth navigate critical and complex financial decisions.
The firm’s comprehensive services include asset management built upon institutional principles, banking and lending, trust services, risk management and insurance, and portfolio administration and reporting. In addition, the firm helps clients by utilizing its network of talented professionals in the areas of estate planning and wealth transfer, tax and accounting, corporate finance, and family office services.
The firm will be led by Bentley Blackmon as Chief Executive Officer and Phillip Worthen as President. Mr. Blackmon is a Chartered Financial Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with over 25 years of experience. He is also a Certified Public Accountant maintaining inactive status. Prior to joining the firm, he spent 17 years at Stephens, Inc. and 7 years at Morgan Stanley. Mr. Worthen has over 25 years of experience, including 13 years in the wealth management industry working together with Mr. Blackmon at Stephens. Mr. Worthen and team launched Naviter Wealth on January 15, 2021 and were pleased to have Mr. Blackmon join the firm as CEO on March 31, 2021.
“Naviter Wealth was built to help clients navigate their financial journey and preserve their legacy,” said Bentley Blackmon, CEO at Naviter Wealth. “As an independent firm, we are free from the constraints and conflicts inherent within traditional broker dealers. We are now fully empowered to act as fiduciaries and provide the very best for our clients.”
Messrs. Blackmon and Worthen are supported by a full team of advisors and service professionals focused on providing client-intensive service. “A client’s experience is only as good as the team that services them. I am proud to work with one of the most highly-credentialed, conscientious and versatile teams in the industry,” added Mr. Worthen.
At their former firm, the Naviter Wealth team managed approximately $1.7 billion across a small number of families—many of which had complex planning needs.
Naviter Wealth is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, and works with clients across the United States. The firm has taken an enterprise approach to build its business model and expand its footprint—aligning world-class partners across strategy, operations, compliance, technology and investments to enhance the experience and outcomes for clients and empower advisors to more efficiently and effectively deliver comprehensive services and drive growth.
The firm’s launch was supported by Wealth Advisor Growth Network (WAGN). WAGN provides industry expertise and access to an expansive network of specialty services to help solve complex client needs. WAGN is led by wealth industry experts and influencers John Phoenix and Jay Hummel. In addition to being former RIA owners, John and Jay have played senior roles at Envestnet and American Century Investments, respectively. Jay is also the host of The Deep Dive, a popular industry podcast for RIAs, as well as the acclaimed author of both The Essential Advisor and Success and Succession, two books focused on helping advisors and customers build value in their relationship. WAGN will maintain an ownership stake in the firm and provide strategic advice.
“We are excited to partner with Naviter Wealth,” said John Phoenix. “They are an incredible team focused on building an exceptional experience for clients and advisors—and we look forward to helping the firm become a leading brand across the Southeast and beyond.”
Naviter Wealth has established an institutional relationship with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. as the trusted custodian for client assets. “Naviter Wealth is a welcome addition to the Schwab platform,” said Tim Oden, National Managing Director of Business Development for Schwab’s Advisor Services organization. “They are an excellent example of the continuing movement we’re seeing among large, sophisticated teams understanding the value and benefits of the independent model. We look forward to helping them grow their business and serve their clients with our industry-leading solutions for advisors.”
“We view the families for whom we work not as customers or clients, but as partners,” reinforced Mr. Blackmon.
About Naviter Wealth
Naviter Wealth is an independent SEC-registered investment advisor that delivers holistic planning, investment management and bespoke solutions for families with complex needs.
For additional information, please visit: https://naviterwealth.com/.
