Arkansas RIA recruits $650 million trio, becoming one of state’s largest advisory firms

Brian Wood, Michael Peebles and DeAnn Gann are joining Legacy from Arvest Bank and will open a new office in Northeast Arkansas.

Little Rock, Arkansas-based Legacy Capital has recruited a team managing $650 million to open a new office in northeast Arkansas, more than doubling the size of the RIA.

The team includes Brian Wood, Michael Peebles and DeAnn Gann, who are joining Legacy Capital from Arvest Bank.

The addition of the trio pushes Legacy’s assets under management to more than $1 billion, along with more than $2.5 billion worth of in-force life insurance, making it one of the largest independent advisory firms in Arkansas.

At Legacy, the team will offer holistic wealth management services to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, ranging from asset management and investments to financial and estate planning, banking and trust services, and insurance solutions.

“Legacy’s business philosophy is built upon the quality of the people we hire and partner with and what drives our approach to deliver the best possible client experience,” Legacy Capital president Matt Jones said in a prepared statement.

“We could not be more excited about partnering with Brian and Mike and their team to establish our presence in Northwest Arkansas, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic areas in the country,” Jones said.

Founded in 1977, Legacy Capital provides comprehensive wealth management services to individuals and families, including financial planning, asset management, legacy and estate planning, and insurance solutions. Legacy has had financial backing from Merchant Investment Management since 2018, and the RIA’s assets have doubled since 2020.

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“Matt and the team at Legacy Capital were one of Merchant’s first partners, and it’s been remarkable working with them and growing the firm,” said Merchant co-founder Tim Bello.