Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors

Apella Wealth has added another RIA to its growing national footprint as it reveals its acquisition of a Washington, DC-based firm.

Apella announced that it has acquired Independence Wealth Advisors, a fee-only firm with $207 million in assets under management.

The deal closed June 30 and marks Apella’s third acquisition in roughly four months, following Iron Horse Wealth Management in Iowa and Marrella Private Wealth in Pennsylvania.

With the addition of Independence, Apella now oversees more than $6 billion in client assets.

Founded in 2007 by Kathleen Duffy, Independence Wealth Advisors focuses on long-term financial planning for individuals and families.

Duffy, who spent nearly a decade with Ameriprise in the early years of her advisory career, is joining Apella as part of the transaction, though her new title has not been disclosed.

“We’re proud to welcome Kathy to Apella,” said Patrick Sweeny, chief executive at Apella. “Her depth of experience and commitment to providing unbiased advice and thoughtful strategic planning make her an exceptional addition to our team.”

The move, which strengthens Apella’s reach in the Mid-Atlantic, follows the firm's earlier March addition of Marrella Private Wealth in nearby Pennsylvania. More recently last month, it made its debut in the Midwest market with the acquisition of Iron Horse Wealth Management, a $574 million AUM firm operating in Iowa.

Apella is based in West Hartford, Connecticut, and is employee-owned and operated. Since partnering with Wealth Partners Capital Group in 2021, the firm has steadily grown through M&A, completing 11 deals under that collaboration and 22 total since its inception.