Arizona advisory firms partner to create $730M business

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth in Scottsdale, Ariz., will see a near-50% increase in assets under management to $730 million through a partnership with Tucson-based Financial Architects. The partnership, which does not include any exchange of equity, will establish Financial Architects as a rebranded Tucson branch of Ashton Thomas, which had nearly $500 million under management prior to the merger. Ashton Thomas, which was launched three years ago when a team broke away from Gentry Wealth Management in Scottsdale, also has a branch office in Draper, Utah. Financial Architects, which has a history dating to 1965 and is one of the oldest financial advisory firms in Arizona, has been owned since 2007 by Brienne Dylewski. Ms. Dylewski joined the firm in 2003, became a part owner in 2007, and a full owner in 2013. Ms. Dylewski was part of the InvestmentNews 2017 class of 40-under-40 financial advisers. Prior to the transition to Ashton Thomas, Financial Architects was affiliated with KMS Financial Services.