Integrated Private Wealth Expands Specialized Team to Support Business Owners Through Liquidity Events

Integrated Private Wealth (IPW), the specialized business-owner unit of the Boston-based registered investment advisor Integrated Partners, is significantly bolstering its ranks as it seeks to provide a comprehensive, high-touch experience for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of company sales. The firm recently announced three key strategic hires and one internal promotion, marking a concerted effort to deepen its operational, research, and planning capabilities for clients preparing for—or emerging from—a major liquidity event.

The expansion comes less than a year after the launch of IPW in February, a venture specifically engineered to address the unique financial hurdles faced by business owners. By integrating tax, estate, and investment strategies well in advance of a potential transaction, the firm aims to move away from the traditional, reactive wealth management model that often leaves entrepreneurs vulnerable during the critical period surrounding a business sale.

Strengthening the Core Leadership and Operational Capacity

Among the new additions to the team is Ron Bowker, who joins as chief of staff. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Bowker brings more than 25 years of experience in strategic leadership, finance, and organizational development to the IPW unit. His background is extensive, including service as the chief of staff and adviser to the CEO at NEOM, and prior to that, as the director of operations and chief of staff at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. In his new role, Bowker will work directly alongside executive director Homer Smith to refine the unit’s strategic initiatives and streamline internal processes, ensuring the team is positioned to handle the heightened operational demands of high-net-worth clients.

The focus on professional expertise is a hallmark of the firm’s strategy. According to Smith, the objective is to build a team that mirrors the multifaceted nature of the clients they serve. “Business owners and families navigating significant financial transitions need more than investment management. They need a team that understands how each decision impacts their broader financial picture,” Smith noted. By curating a roster of professionals with diverse yet complementary backgrounds, IPW intends to provide a level of coordinated advice that addresses the nuances of business transition, which often involve complex tax structures and sensitive multigenerational planning.

Enhancing Research and Investment Strategy

Alongside the operational expansion, IPW has tapped Emmett Maguire III to serve as the director of multi-asset strategy and research. Maguire, who previously held roles as the principal and managing director of investment platform solutions at F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co. and as the head of multi-asset research at SVB Private, will lead the firm’s investment research efforts.

Maguire’s expertise is particularly relevant for the firm’s client base, which frequently deals with concentrated stock positions and intricate financial portfolios. His mandate includes developing tax-aware investment strategies and creating robust portfolios tailored to families with complex financial lives. The inclusion of such a high-level research head reflects the firm’s commitment to providing sophisticated, institutional-grade insights to entrepreneurs who may find their wealth suddenly concentrated in a single asset following a successful sale.

A Holistic Approach to Family Advisory

The firm’s commitment to providing personalized, long-term support is further evidenced by the addition of Audree Bobinger as an associate family advisor and the promotion of Marquis Richardson to the same role. Bobinger, another U.S. Navy veteran, brings nine years of experience in the financial services industry, including an investment advisory role at API Financial Advisors. Her professional background also includes building and managing an insurance agency with Symmetry Financial Group. Her expertise spans critical areas for business owners, including retirement income planning, the coordination of estate planning, and comprehensive risk management for multigenerational families.

Marquis Richardson, who joined the Integrated Partners ecosystem in 2023, has already established himself as a key contributor to the team. His work has focused on the intersection of investment research, portfolio management, and the planning required to navigate the tax and estate implications of business sales. In his new capacity as an associate family advisor, Richardson will take on increased responsibility for direct client relationships, further stabilizing the continuity of service that IPW provides to its entrepreneurs.

“Our focus has never been simply on growing the size of our team,” Smith explained regarding the recent appointments. “It’s about building the right team around the families we serve. By bringing together professionals with complementary expertise across investments, planning, and operations, we’re strengthening our ability to help clients navigate complexity with thoughtful, coordinated advice.”

Contextualizing the Firm’s Growth

The launch of the IPW unit and these recent personnel additions occur during a period of robust growth for the parent firm, Integrated Partners. In August of this year, the firm announced a significant milestone, confirming that it had surpassed $30 billion in assets under advisement. This figure represents a dramatic increase from approximately $12 billion just six years prior, underscoring the firm’s successful expansion strategy.

At the time of the announcement, the organization supported 282 advisors and maintained a deep network of 253 CPAs through its CPA Alliance program. This program is a cornerstone of the firm’s value proposition, as it facilitates the pairing of independent advisors with accounting firms to provide a more holistic suite of financial services. By integrating tax-centric planning—a critical need for business owners—directly into the advisory relationship, the firm has carved out a distinct competitive advantage in the wealth management space.

Founded in 1996 by CEO Paul Saganey, Integrated Partners is currently celebrating its 30th year in business. The firm’s long-standing philosophy emphasizes the importance of providing advisors with a support structure that allows them to scale their businesses while maintaining their individual vision. “We have always believed that advisors grow when they have a committed team in their corner and the freedom to build their businesses in a way that remains true to their own vision,” Saganey stated during the firm’s recent asset milestone announcement.

Looking Toward the Future of Business-Owner Advisory

The current landscape for business owners is increasingly fraught with complex tax, regulatory, and estate planning hurdles. Industry surveys have frequently indicated that private business owners are often under-prepared for the transition of their companies, leading to potential erosion of value during the exit process. The model adopted by IPW seeks to mitigate this by engaging owners well before a transaction occurs.

By coordinating tax, estate, and investment decisions—rather than reacting to these factors after a deal has already closed—Integrated Private Wealth is attempting to institutionalize a proactive approach to wealth management for the entrepreneurial class. The recruitment of professionals like Bowker, Maguire, and Bobinger suggests that the firm is serious about competing for the business of sophisticated entrepreneurs who require a team-based, multidisciplinary approach to wealth.

As the firm continues to mature, its focus remains squarely on the alignment of its internal resources with the specific, often urgent, needs of clients undergoing life-changing financial events. With a seasoned team now in place to lead these efforts, Integrated Private Wealth is poised to continue its trajectory as a specialized player within the broader Integrated Partners ecosystem, helping business owners navigate the complexities of their financial futures with greater clarity and purpose.