Evoke Wealth Management New Jersey and Maven Bridge Capital of Califonia, both of which are part of the Kestra Private Wealth Services network of independent financial advisors, have merged to create a firm with offices on both coasts, Kestra announced today.
The firms will operate as Evoke Wealth Management. The move gives Evoke a West Coast presence and supports Maven Bridge Capital’s plans for expansion, Kestra said.
The combined firm plans to expand to the Southeast next, said Kestra Private Wealth Services, a hybrid registered investment advisor headquartered in Austin, Texas, that supports independent financial professional teams across the nation.
The merging firms have complementary services and clients, and both joined Kestra in 2021, Kestra said.
Evoke Wealth Management is located in Montclair, N.J., and has clients nationwide. Maven Bridge Capital is located in Brea, Calif., but had plans to expand when the merger idea came along, Kristoffer Fu, CEO of Maven Bridge Capital, said in a statement. Fu has a background in social media and business exit planning, and Evoke’s leadership is experienced in the logistics of business growth.
Evoke serves high- and ultra-high-net-worth families, physicians, biotech executives, endowments, and private foundations, while Maven focuses on serving widowed women and family-owned small businesses.
“Both teams’ journeys to independence with Kestra Private Wealth Services were driven by a desire to create client-focused businesses without the limitations that wirehouses can pose, or the drawbacks of back-office administrative tasks that come naturally with owning a business,” Rob Bartenstein, Kestra Private Wealth Services CEO and senior managing director, said in a statement. “By joining forces, the expanded Evoke Wealth Management team can continue to follow their joint vision of comprehensive client service with the continued help of Kestra Private Wealth Service’s full-service support.”
Fu added in a statement, “Since going independent I’ve envisioned growing my business via a culturally aligned partnership. Through Kestra Private Wealth Service’s community of like-minded firms I’m excited to have found that in Evoke Wealth Management. Through this merger, I can elevate my client relationships by leveraging the enhanced value proposition that their expert team brings to the table. And in turn, I look forward to supporting the growth of the team by attracting, mentoring and helping the next generation of financial advisors.”