Cedarwood Financial Partners Breaks Away to Join Commonwealth

$1 billion advisor firm is drawn to flexible choices and top-notch support.

Commonwealth Financial Network^®, a national firm dedicated to providing financial advisors with holistic, integrated business solutions, announces the addition of Cedarwood Financial Partners of Temple, Texas, with offices throughout Texas and New York, to its network of financial advisors. Managing partners and advisors Dylan Ripley and Todd Vincent—formally of Edward Jones—along with senior partner and director of technology, Angel Santiago, and their team of financial planners Jeremy Self, vice president of marketing; Alex Murphy, COO; Frank Shultz, vice president of investment solutions; Tim Hall, director of investment models; Troy Vincent; and David Boothby, vice president of business development, currently service nearly $1 billion in client assets.

Cedarwood provides advanced financial planning services to individuals and businesses. The firm focuses on retirement income and planning strategies, executive benefits and 401(k) plans, and managing the intricacies of trusts, estate transfers, and other complex situations. A motto of “Know, Serve, Live” guides its service approach, which centers around getting to know clients well, understanding what matters most to them, and putting a strategy in place that enables them to reap and enjoy the benefits. To learn more, visit www.cedarwoodfinancialpartners.com.

The team recognized that independence was the path most aligned with its values and vision for the future. When it came to selecting the right partner, Commonwealth was a clear standout. “We knew we wanted to own our own business. Once we saw that we could have the freedom and the exceptional back-office support in one, we couldn’t unsee it,” said Ripley. “From access to more investment options and integrated technology to control over how we serve our clients and charge for those services, Commonwealth was the obvious choice.”

The culture also held strong appeal, explained Vincent, who is a driving force behind the synergy and sense of personal connection that characterizes the Cedarwood team. “From our first visit to Commonwealth’s home office, we experienced a family-like feel and witnessed servant leadership firsthand,” he said.

With the move, the team has an eye on growth and development. “We’re building out a Diamond Team structure—something we intend to do in every market we’re in,” said Ripley. By leveraging alternative investments, options, and other capabilities they previously were unable to offer, they’re looking to broaden their services, elevate the client experience, attract new clients, and deepen their bench of talent.

As part of its growth plan, the firm is eager to gain momentum by taking advantage of the wider marketing opportunities independence affords them. “The added flexibility, particularly with social media, is key to effectively promoting our brand and reaching and engaging with our target prospects,” said Self.

Becca Hajjar, managing principal and chief business development officer at Commonwealth, sees a natural symbiosis with the newly joined firm. “Cedarwood has a clear vision for deliberate, purposeful growth that we share and a conscious commitment to fostering culture and connectedness that we’re very much in sync with, too,” she said. “We’re delighted to support their evolution and look forward to helping them shine in the independent space.”

About Commonwealth Financial Network^®

Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser, provides financial advisors with holistic, integrated solutions that support business evolution, growth acceleration, and operational efficiency. J.D. Power ranks Commonwealth Financial Network “#1 in Independent Advisor Satisfaction Among Financial Investment Firms, Nine Times in a Row.” Privately held since 1979, the firm has headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, and San Diego, California. Learn more about how Commonwealth partners with more than 2,000 independent financial advisors overseeing more than $272.9 billion* in assets nationwide by visiting www.commonwealth.com.

Commonwealth received the highest score among independent advisors in the J.D. Power 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018‒2022 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Studies. Presented on July 6, 2022, for January to May 2022, it is based on responses from 3,039 advisors employed by or affiliated with the firms included in the study. Not indicative of the firm’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Use of study results in promotional materials is subject to a license fee. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

*As of 12/31/2021

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