Acquisition augments MAI’s growth in serving ultra-high-net-worth clients
MAI Capital Management (“MAI”), a registered investment advisor (RIA) focused on empowering clients to simplify, protect and grow their wealth, announced the acquisition of Service Academy Capital Management, LLC (“SACMGT”), a Dallas-based RIA serving ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and their families, institutions and family offices. SACMGT will join MAI’s UHNW division, Evoke. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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Founded in 2015 by Brian Sears, SACMGT was built on the philosophy that clients deserve a fundamentally different kind of wealth management experience: one grounded in transparency, customization and proactivity. The firm, which brings more than a century of combined experience, specializes in delivering bespoke portfolios and financial planning advice. Utilizing both private and public market investments, SACMGT constructs portfolios specific to each client’s risk profile and investment objectives.
Prior to founding SACMGT, Brian served as one of the Co-Heads of Barclays Wealth America, overseeing the Western United States, as a Global Co-Head of Distribution and Product Development for Alternative Investments at Neuberger Berman and as a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. After a career at some of Wall Street’s most recognized institutions, Sears founded SACMGT to advance what he believed was a better model built on honesty, integrity and a genuine alignment of interests between advisor and client.
“Brian and his team have built just the kind of firm we seek out—one where the client relationship comes first and the investment approach is as unique as the clients they serve,” said Rick Buoncore, Chairman & CEO, MAI. “Service Academy Capital Management’s depth of experience in alternatives, fixed income and complex planning, combined with a family office-style approach to each client relationship, will complement MAI’s platform, especially as we continue to expand our ultra-high-net-worth and family office offerings.”
The addition of SACMGT further enhances MAI’s UHNW capabilities and bench strength, while reinforcing its position as a destination for advisors who share its commitment to bespoke, client-centered wealth management.
“The addition of the Service Academy Capital team enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive, high-touch service to clients across Dallas and the broader region, one of the country’s most dynamic markets,” said David Hou, Managing Partner, Evoke. “Ultra-high-net-worth families today tend to want more than investment access. Many are looking for a full family office experience, and through this partnership, Brian and his team will be able to provide their clients access to our Family Office Service Group, which offers sophisticated planning as well as tax, estate, and lifestyle support tailored to multigenerational wealth.”
By joining MAI, SACMGT will gain access to the full breadth of MAI’s integrated platform, including compliance, operations, portfolio reporting and performance, tax and estate planning, trust services, research and a robust family office infrastructure. Sears will continue to lead client relationships and investment strategy for the firm in his new role as Investment Advisor, Senior Managing Director, maintaining the personalized service and proactive approach that defines the SACMGT experience.
“I have known and worked with members of the Evoke leadership team since 1994,” said Sears. “Over the years, we often discussed finding a way to partner, and once Evoke joined MAI last year, the decision was straightforward. After visiting MAI in Cleveland, meeting with leadership and sitting in on research calls, I found a firm that shares a philosophy similar to the one we built at Service Academy Capital Management, one that is dedicated to providing integrated wealth management solutions for clients, aims to make the right decisions for its people, and is deeply committed to giving back.”
As a 100% disabled veteran-owned firm, SACMGT’s philanthropic mission of giving back to service members is deeply aligned with MAI’s commitment to serving its communities. SACMGT has long offered pro-bono financial planning and advice to U.S. veterans and their families facing financial hardship as well as supporting other charitable endeavors.
SACMGT’s decision to join MAI reflects a broader trend of experienced, independent-minded advisors seeking a platform that combines institutional resources with the autonomy and culture of a firm built around client relationships.
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