Sapient Private Wealth, an independent fee-based RIA, has become a Focus Financial Partner-the fourth partner acquired by the firm this year, company officials announced Tuesday.

 In exchange for Focus' investment in Sapient, Sapient will receive a mix of cash and Focus stock. The acquisition with Sapient gives Focus Financial over $45 billion in manageable assets.

Launched last year, Eugene, Ore.-based Sapient manages over $500 million in assets and serves high-net-worth individuals, families and institutions in the Pacific Northwest.

Sapient was launched with the support of Focus Connections, a consulting firm owned by Focus Financial  that works with wirehouse teams who want to become independent RIAs.

"We are pleased to become a full-fledged Focus partner,'' said Greg Erwin, co-founder, partner and wealth manager of Sapient. "Focus has been with us every step of the way as we built our independent business."

Sapient's management team of Erwin, wealth manager Alan Rexius and King Martin, co-founder and director of research, previously worked together at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. They retained 95% of their former clients from that firm when they formed Sapient.

"Sapient has clearly demonstrated the promise of our Connections program, which is designed to move top wirehouse performers to independence,'' said Rich Gill, vice president and head of Focus Connections. "We look for leading teams that are committed to an entrepreneurial spirit and want to serve their clients on an independent basis and Sapient epitomizes this approach.''