Breakaway UBS, Morgan Stanley teams form $750M RIA

FEB 23, 2017

Advisory teams from Houston offices of UBS and Morgan Stanley that collectively managed $750 million have formed Icon Wealth Partners and affiliated with Dynasty Financial Partners. The new firm is headed by Mark McAdams and Steve Schwarzbach, who came from Morgan Stanley, and Blake Pratz, who was with UBS. Their teams also joined them at the new firm, which is a registered investment adviser, according to a release from Dynasty. In addition to affiliating with New York-based Dynasty, which provides technology and operational support for RIAs, Icon Wealth Partners has formed strategic partnerships with Fidelity Institutional Wealth Services, Black Diamond and Callan, the release said.

Latest News

MIT’s Andrew Lo sees AI ready to run your money in five years
MIT’s Andrew Lo sees AI ready to run your money in five years

The finance professor and quant investing veteran believes with the right guardrails, artificial intelligence could be trusted to meet the high bar of fiduciary advice.

Advisor moves: UBS advisors defect to Ameriprise, Merrill Lynch
Advisor moves: UBS advisors defect to Ameriprise, Merrill Lynch

UBS has also regained some ground as it recruited an experienced Merrill advisor in New York.

Former California advisor indicted for alleged $9.5M Ponzi scheme
Former California advisor indicted for alleged $9.5M Ponzi scheme

The ex-Bay Area broker reportedly continued to peddle fake bond investments, promising rates of returns exceeding 20%, even after FINRA suspended his license in 2014.

AI tops compliance concerns for RIAs, survey finds
AI tops compliance concerns for RIAs, survey finds

Predictive analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity are now high on compliance officers' lists as off-channel communications are relegated down the rankings.

Bluespring acquires $364M Kestra affiliate to combine with two existing firms
Bluespring acquires $364M Kestra affiliate to combine with two existing firms

Latest deal further expands the RIA acquirer’s footprint in Texas.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.