By Focus Financial Partners, LLC, the nation's largest partnership of independent wealth management firms, today announced that Atlas Private Wealth Management, a Williamstown, MA-based Focus Partner firm, has expanded its presence in the New York capital region with the addition of two veteran Albany wealth advisors. Michael Hickey, CFP®, and Donald Carman, CPA, join the firm from Albany Financial Planners, Inc., where they have been sole shareholders for the past 30 years. Atlas manages approximately $1 billion in client assets and offers a comprehensive suite of wealth management, financial planning, investment management, and tax services to a national client base.
"Mike and Don share our deep commitment to clients," said Greg Britton, President and CEO of Atlas. "Their experience will allow us to expand our offering and serve more individuals, families and small businesses across the country. We remain committed to growing our business and look forward to attracting great clients and advisors to Atlas."
Mr. Hickey will serve as the Executive Vice President, a member of the Atlas investment committee and Managing Director of the Albany office. He has more than 30 years of wealth counseling experience and offers guidance for life's financial transitions, including counsel for clients who have received sudden wealth from an inheritance, legal settlement, lottery winnings or sale of a substantial asset. An Albany native, he has an extensive record of volunteer experience, including service on the American Cancer Society's Advisory Board, the Capital Leadership Program and the Environmental Task Force and the Community Orientation Project and the Albany Port District Commission.
Mr. Carman will serve as Senior Vice President, Director of Tax and Financial Planning in Albany, and brings more than 30 years of experience in tax preparation services for individuals, small businesses, estates, and trusts. He specializes in retirement plan allocations, long-term care costs, and education funding needs. Mr. Carman has served as a board member for the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, NY Special Olympics and the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"The emphasis on client service and high-quality advice made joining Atlas a natural fit," said Mr. Hickey. "By joining Atlas, Greg, and the Focus partnership, we now have access to greater resources and expertise, which will allow us to expand the services we provide our clients. We are excited to join a growing team and serve clients from around the country."
Rajini Kodialam, Managing Director of Focus, said: "The symbiotic relationship between Mike, Don and Atlas highlights the power of the strategic partnerships that Focus facilitates. We continue to support like-minded firms joining forces to enhance each other's businesses and expand their geographic reach, as this ultimately creates a superior offering for clients. We are delighted that our Partner firms continue to take advantage of opportunities like these, and given our recent close of a $550 million credit facility, we expect the momentum to continue in 2014."
Atlas Private Wealth Management has 25 employees, 10 of whom are financial planners. Atlas recently signed three succession agreements, an innovative offering from Focus providing succession planning and continuity for advisors and their clients.
About Atlas Private Wealth Management
Atlas Private Wealth Management is a fee-based investment advisory firm with approximately $1 billion in client assets. With offices in Williamstown, MA and Albany, NY, Atlas provides wealth management, financial planning, investment management, and tax services to more than 1,700 clients throughout the United States. The firm's client base consists of individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Atlas is a SEC registered investment adviser. For more information, please visit www.atlaspwm.com.
About Focus Financial Partners
Founded in 2006, Focus Financial Partners, LLC, is the leading international partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms. With approximately $70 billion in total client assets and 27 partners, Focus provides unrivaled access to best practices, resources, and continuity planning for its partner firms who serve individuals, families, employers and institutions with wealth management, benefit and investment consulting services. Focus partner firms maintain their entrepreneurial independence, while they benefit from the synergies, scale, economics and best practices of the market leader to achieve their business objectives. Focus was included on Inc. magazine's 5000 ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies in 2011 and 2010. In 2012, Focus was named a Crain's New York Business "Fast 50" growth firm in New York City. For more information, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com.
FTI Consulting
Raina Gajjar, +1 212-850-5724
Raina.Gajjar@fticonsulting.com
