Captrust acquires Chicago RIA Ellwood Associates

Captrust acquires Chicago RIA Ellwood Associates
The deal for Ellwood, which oversees $85 billion in assets, will expand Captrust's services for endowments and foundations.
AUG 26, 2021

Captrust Financial Advisors, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based registered investment adviser managing $60 billion, has agreed to acquire Ellwood Associates, a Chicago-based firm overseeing $85 billion in assets.

The deal, the terms of which were not disclosed, represents Captrust’s first foray into Chicago. Ellwood Associates is the 51st firm that Captrust has acquired since 2006.

A total of 55 Ellwood employees will be joining Captrust, including a team of consultants with an average of 20 years of industry experience.

Ellwood, which was founded in 1977, serves endowments and foundations, retirement plans, hospitals, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. It will also add expertise on alternative investments to Captrust’s investment team.

“When looking for the next step for Ellwood, we knew we wanted to be a part of a majority employee-owned firm to continue our own legacy of employee ownership,” Timothy Egan, a senior consultant and healthcare practice leader at Ellwood, said in a press release. Egan will become a principal at Captrust..

Captrust, which specializes in retirement plans, advises on $600 billion in assets.

Righting history with former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios

Latest News

Costly referral programs fuel RIA M&A growth strategies
Costly referral programs fuel RIA M&A growth strategies

With growth topping succession as the leading M&A driver, referral programs are a top of mind consideration for advisory firms making moves as Goldman Sachs, Pershing and Robinhood consider entering the referral market.

Dynasty firm Procyon Partners inks staking deal with Constellation Wealth Capital
Dynasty firm Procyon Partners inks staking deal with Constellation Wealth Capital

The $8 billion RIA is getting more fuel for geographic expansion and recruit top talent through a minority investment partnership.

Dual-share class hopes grow higher with filings from Pimco, T. Rowe Price
Dual-share class hopes grow higher with filings from Pimco, T. Rowe Price

The rush of SEC applications, which also includes JPMorgan and Schwab, reflect growing optimism over the tax-busting fund structure.

Concurrent hails first quarter advisor team growth, adding $2B in AUM
Concurrent hails first quarter advisor team growth, adding $2B in AUM

The half-dozen teams who joined the hybrid RIA in the early innings of 2025 have lifted it past a key asset milestone.

Judge Oks release of $400 million to besieged GPB investors.
Judge Oks release of $400 million to besieged GPB investors.

Meanwhile, GPB senior executives' sentencing for fraud pushed to May.

SPONSORED Compliance in real time: Technology's expanding role in RIA oversight

RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.

SPONSORED Advisory firms confront crossroads amid historic wealth transfer

As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.