Midwest Financial Partners, formerly affiliated with AXA Equitable Advisors, today announced the launch of Octavia Wealth Advisors, an independent registered investment advisory firm based in Cincinnati, according to a news release.
Octavia’s eight partners are Mark Bodnar, Donald Hughett, Michael Ingram, Maxim Meyers, Andrew Seni, Justin Setzekorn, Luis Strohmeier and Marc Wagner. The firm will bring its 35 employees into the fold, servicing clients out of its offices in Cincinnati, Los Angeles, San Diego and Miami, the release said.
The release also noted that Merchant Investment Management LLC has partnered with Octavia and made a minority investment in the new firm to facilitate its transition.
The partners of Octavia have had a long history of working together at Midwestern Financial Partners, spanning more than 20 years for the most senior members of the team, the release noted. “This commitment to each other and their shared mission of addressing their clients’ entire set of financial needs helped to drive the business forward and grow [it] to be one of AXA Equitable Advisors’ most successful teams,” it said.
Strohmeier said the team is proud of its legacy of collaboration with AXA Equitable. "We looked at this transition through the lens of how we could best serve the increasingly diverse set of needs our clients have. Our partnership team is committed to independence and operating as an RIA firm will enable us to be the best stewards of our clients’ financial lives,” he said in a statement.
Meyers, CEO, partner and wealth advisor at Octavia, said the biggest advantage of the launch is the ability to be nimble. “If we see an opportunity that’s going to benefit our clients, we can implement it ourselves and really deliver best-in-class service,” he said.