Hightower Advisors gains HNW tax advantage through strategic investment

The deal will enhance the Chicago-based firm's tax advisory services for high-net-worth and business clients.

Hightower Advisors has announced a strategic investment that will boost its tax advisory capabilities for high-net-worth and business clients.

The Chicago-based firm’s advisors will gain access to the sophisticated tax management services of GMS Surgent, a preeminent tax and advisory firm operating out of Philadelphia which will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hightower.

This is the latest investment in Hightower’s Wealth Solutions platform which provides the firm’s advisors across the United States with a suite of tools to help manage their clients’ financial needs.

The addition of the tax advisory tools will enhance the Wealth Solutions platform which already includes trust services, estate planning, insurance placement, and business owner services.

“We are thrilled to welcome GMS Surgent into the Hightower community, enabling us to provide advisors with a vetted resource to deliver comprehensive tax services to clients via a seamless experience,” said Hightower chairman and CEO Bob Oros. “This alliance empowers advisors to focus on their core services and strengthen relationships with clients.”

UNWAVERING FOCUS ON CLIENTS

GMS Surgent’s team of around 30 is led by managing partners Brian Gallagher, Jack Surgent, and Lauren Adamski. The firm was established in 1992.

“We were impressed with Hightower’s unwavering focus on the client experience, and we feel we can contribute to the broad range of service Hightower can offer its clients,” Jack Surgent said.

The GMS Surgent brand under which two separate entities operate: GMS Surgent is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services, and GMS Surgent Advisors provides tax and business consulting services.

The transaction closed June 30, with Berkshire Global Advisors serving as the exclusive financial advisor to GMS Surgent.