Wealth Enhancement Group gets another foothold in Texas

Wealth Enhancement Group gets another foothold in Texas
The national independent’s growth continues in the Lone Star State with a $254M RIA led by an experienced advisor duo.
JUL 02, 2024

Wealth Enhancement Group, a national independent wealth management firm, has augmented its presence in the Lone Star state.

On Tuesday, the national independent wealth firm announced its acquisition of Starfox Financial Services, an independent RIA based in The Woodlands, Texas.

Starfox manages over $254 million in client assets and is led by founding partner and wealth advisor Jose Palafox, alongside partner and wealth advisor Bill Friebel.

Welcoming the team, Jeff Dekko, chief executive officer of Wealth Enhancement Group, underscored how the Palafox, Friebel, and the others at Starfox “[treat] their clients like family and [care] deeply for their community.

“The level of dedicated, personal attention and care they provide makes them a great fit for our firm, and I'm glad they chose to join us," Dekko said in a statement Tuesday.

Founded in 2006, Starfox Financial Services operates under the motto "Faith, Family, Finance." The firm offers a wide range of services including financial planning, retirement planning, college planning, investment management, and retirement income planning.

They also work with businesses, helping them manage their retirement plans and increase the financial literacy of their workforce.

Palafox, whose 23-year industry record began with Merrill Lynch, commented on the strategic benefits of the partnership with Wealth Enhancement Group.

"This strategic partnership aligns with our philosophy of prioritizing client focus and continuous growth,” he said. “We anticipate enhancing the resources for our clients, particularly in the areas of estate and tax planning."

Jim Cahn, chief strategy officer of Wealth Enhancement Group, highlighted the “collaborative wealth management approach to financial planning and investment management” of the Starfox team.

"The advisors at Starfox are highly credentialed, educated, and experienced,” he said. “We're excited to bring them on board, so they and their clients will have access to even more resources through our Roundtable team of specialists."

With the addition of Starfox Financial Services, Wealth Enhancement Group now has six locations in Texas, including the $1.22B Houston-based Financial Advisory Group, which it acquired in late May, and has total client assets of more than $85.3 billion.

More recently last month, the national firm added Atlas Fiduciary Financial, a $219 million fee-only firm, to its Eastern US footprint.

Latest News

Advisor moves: RBC lands $1B UBS team in Pittsburgh
Advisor moves: RBC lands $1B UBS team in Pittsburgh

Elsewhere, Wells Fargo Advisors adds a $400 million Morgan Stanley veteran in Naples as an ex-Cetera advisor goes independent with LPL

GWG’s Heppner hires Puff Daddy’s attorneys as criminal sentencing looms
GWG’s Heppner hires Puff Daddy’s attorneys as criminal sentencing looms

According to a federal charges Bradley Heppner, 60, received more than $150 million in payments through funneling money from GWG Holdings to a shell company.

Investors accuse Broadstreet fund of alleged billion-dollar 'Ponzi-like' scheme
Investors accuse Broadstreet fund of alleged billion-dollar 'Ponzi-like' scheme

A $1B fund allegedly skimmed 30% off the top, then swapped cash for locked-up stock.

Lawsuit alleges Skechers founders manipulated $9.4B buyout to shortchange investors
Lawsuit alleges Skechers founders manipulated $9.4B buyout to shortchange investors

Insiders allegedly rewrote projections three times in four days.

Fintech bytes: FINNY signs Visionary Square for pay-as-you-go AI prospecting program
Fintech bytes: FINNY signs Visionary Square for pay-as-you-go AI prospecting program

TCI Wealth Advisors also has also tapped JIFFYAI to unify onboarding and servicing, while TradePMR adds ICE market data to its Fusion advisor platform

SPONSORED Built on insurance experience to deliver on long-term promises

Knighthead Life entered the market with a competitive MYGA. A strong launch earned advisor confidence and paved the way for FIAs.

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