Wood Investment Counsel, Obermeyer merger makes a mountain of an RIA

The merger of two prominent Colorado advisory firms has earned them the top spot in wealth management in the state. The combination of Wood Investment Counsel of Denver and Obermeyer Asset Management of Aspen will manages $1.7 billion assets — beating out Weatherstone Capital Management of Denver, which oversees $1.2 billion in assets. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel provides financial planning and advisory services to select group of individuals, their families, and the foundations and corporations they lead. “The combination of [staff members' experience] deepens our experience and leverages our mutual strengths,” said Wally Obermeyer, co-chairman and president of Obermeyer Wood. Mr. Obermeyer said the two firms teaming up will broaden their client base as they move toward hiring top-line advisers. “We truly believe this will enhance our ability to serve our clients' long-term interests and build our business by recruiting and retaining high-quality investment professionals,” Mr. Obermeyer said. Prior to founding Obermeyer Asset Management, Mr. Obermeyer was the regional vice president of Heritage Trust and Asset Management. The combined firm will maintain offices in Denver and Aspen. Obermeyer Wood provides a full suite of investment advisory services focused on investment portfolio management, asset allocation and risk assessment. The firm also assists clients with significant financial changes, retirement planning, and philanthropic advisory and implementation. “Over time we have developed a strong mutual respect for one another and found that we shared core values, including a long-term investment philosophy and dedication to client service,” said George Wood, co-chairman of Obermeyer Wood. “Our discussions eventually led to the realization that combining the two firms would create a robust investment organization, allowing us to build on the best of both firms.”