Wealth management entrepreneur cleans up with Perigon acquisition

A New York wealth management firm managing around $150 million in client assets has been acquired by Perigon Wealth Management.

For the founder and CEO of Creative Financial Planning, it’s the next step on an interesting journey into and through the financial services industry, which began with the life-long entrepreneur’s cleaning business in the Hamptons.

Lisa Hayes, CFP, ChFC, AIF, was curious about how to invest the profits from her business and her diligent research ignited a passion for financial services which led her first to an estate planning company before launching Creative Financial Planning in 1985.  

Terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, but Hayes joins the $7.75 billion AUM Perigon as wealth manager and partner, along with Daniel Gwizdak, CFP, who started working at Creative as a student intern before joining full time in 2007 and becoming chief operating officer in 2016.

Creative Financial Planning was previously with Commonwealth Financial Network which recently announced a new partnership with iCapital to sharpen its HNW focus.

“Together, Lisa and Daniel built an incredible relationship-driven practice that focuses on the needs of their community,” said Perigon CEO Art Ambarik. “Their incredible story, decades of service and passion, dedication and knowledge of the wealth management industry are the perfect complement to Perigon’s culture.”

For Perigon, 2024 has seen plenty to celebrate. In January it entered a partnership with Premier Sports Network to advise sports professionals, it extended its Northeast footprint with twin acquisitions that added $375 million in assets, and last month it hired a seasoned investment professional as head of advisor success and integration.