EP Wealth, Apollon unveil latest acquisitions

EP Wealth, Apollon unveil latest acquisitions
$30 billion RIA EP Wealth is deepening its Denver presence while Apollon debuts in New York with a storied 160-year-old firm.
MAR 04, 2025

EP Wealth Advisors and Apollon Wealth Management have announced acquisitions that expand their reach, with EP Wealth strengthening its Colorado presence and Apollon entering New York.

EP Wealth deepens Denver presence

EP Wealth Advisors announced Tuesday that it has acquired The Holben Group, a Denver-based RIA managing more than $190 million in assets. The deal expands EP Wealth’s footprint in Colorado, where it first grew beyond its California headquarters.

“The Holben Group team shares the values and vision that have been core to EP Wealth,” Ryan Parker, CEO of EP Wealth said in a statement Tuesday. “They are a welcome addition and will enable us to serve even more families in the region.”

Founded in 2006, The Holben Group provides financial planning and investment management services, including to first responders. Founder Jeffrey Holben and advisor Clinton Demming will join EP Wealth as vice presidents and partners, while Patricia Parker will become a wealth advisor.

“Partnering with EP Wealth enhances our offerings and allows us to deepen our client-first approach,” Holben said.

This marks EP Wealth’s second deal of 2025, following its early February acquisition of Criterion Capital Advisors in Nashville. Prior to that, it unlocked the Michigan market by adding Executive Wealth Management in January, which also pushed EP Wealth's AUM past $31 billion.

Apollon expands to New York

Meanwhile, Apollon Wealth Management expanded in the Northeast with the acquisition of C.J. Lawrence, a New York-based investment management firm whose history goes back to 1864. The deal is a significant coup for Apollon, which now officially has a presence in the country’s largest financial market.

“The addition of C.J. Lawrence marks a significant milestone for Apollon as we establish our presence in New York City,” Michael Dolberg, CEO of Apollon Holdings, Apollon Wealth’s parent company, said Tuesday.

C.J. Lawrence specializes in proprietary research and portfolio management for high-net-worth clients and institutions. CEO Bernhard Koepp will continue leading the firm under the Apollon brand.

“Apollon’s independent, client-focused model aligns with our values,” Koepp said.

Apollon's deal in New York breaks a lengthy stretch of silence for the firm, which made another expansionary step in the Northeast last October with Apollon Wealth's acquisition of CIC Wealth Management in Maryland. Before that, Apollon Financial, a fee-based advisory firm affiliated with Apollon Wealth, extended its presence in South Carolina with its midsummer deal adding the DeHollander Financial Group.

Latest News

Carnegie Investment Counsel sued over valuation suppression
Carnegie Investment Counsel sued over valuation suppression

Retiring RIA seller David Laidlaw alleges the Carnegie valued his stake on $11.7 million EBITA while pitching potential buyers on $21.3 million.

Arch pushes AI portfolio monitoring into pre-investment due diligence
Arch pushes AI portfolio monitoring into pre-investment due diligence

New tool gives RIAs and family offices AI help vetting private market deals, with some users reportedly halving review time.

$4.5M raised on trust alone: SEC alleges affinity fraud in merchant lending
$4.5M raised on trust alone: SEC alleges affinity fraud in merchant lending

Investors got projected returns dressed up as real ones, SEC says

Treasury sets auto-enrollment rules for Trump Accounts, potentially adding 60 million more children
Treasury sets auto-enrollment rules for Trump Accounts, potentially adding 60 million more children

Parents must still act to get the $1,000 federal seed and employer contributions, giving financial advisors a role in the rollout.

FINRA bars former LPL broker for stealing $1.7 million from customers
FINRA bars former LPL broker for stealing $1.7 million from customers

FINRA booted Rudy Anguiano from the industry for “conversion - the intentional and unauthorized taking of another person’s property.”

SPONSORED In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset

As AI makes financial information more accessible than ever, Lana Hock explains why human judgment, trust, and empathy remain the qualities clients value most in a financial advisor

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains