Retirement Advisors Of America And HBC Investments Partner For Long-Term Growth

DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Retirement Advisors of America (RAA), one of the nation's largest independent registered investment advisors, today announced it has partnered with HBC Investments (HBC) to recapitalize the company. Asset Management Finance LLC, a subsidiary of Credit Suisse, agreed to sell its interest in RAA, and HBC's investment facilitated the repurchase. HBC also purchased equity from existing RAA partners and provided growth capital to the firm.

The current RAA leadership team and relationship managers will continue driving daily business operations and providing exemplary service to existing clients, while playing key roles in executing RAA's growth strategy utilizing the additional insights and resources made available through the investment by HBC. RAA and HBC are both Dallas-based companies.

"HBC provides additional capital to accelerate our growth in providing investment and financial planning services in the commercial airline pilot market, however the partnership goes beyond that," said John Bentley, president and CEO of RAA. "The principals at HBC have significant investment experience and resources that will add value to our clients and allow us to further expand the services we provide."

For example, he cited HBC founder and principal Joe Colonnetta's role as a trustee of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. "The experience and expertise that qualify Joe for such a prestigious position will add a valuable dimension to our planning process," added Bentley.

Colonnetta had high praise for RAA and its management. "We invested in RAA because of its leadership team and the business model that the team has built in the past 30 years in the financial and retirement planning industry, along with the excellent service and value they continually deliver to clients," he said.

In addition to having a solid, long-term investment strategy, RAA is a specialized leader in the industry, Colonnetta said. Focusing on the airline pilot community, RAA offers a comprehensive financial planning program that assists pilots and their families in managing their financial assets to help meet strategic and individualized investment goals both before and after retirement.

Colonnetta added that RAA also has a heritage of innovation, including the firm's work in establishing the industry standards for a comprehensive and very personalized survivor assistance program. Designed to provide assistance to families who experience the passing of a loved one, RAA relationship managers work directly with families to help simplify dealing with the various financial arrangements needed to settle an estate and provide financial guidance and peace of mind for the beneficiaries during a difficult time.

About Retirement Advisors of America
Retirement Advisors of America is one of the nation's largest independent registered investment advisors, specializing in serving commercial airline pilots and their families. RAA services include 401(k) professional management, retirement planning, investment management, estate planning, survivor assistance, insurance guidance, Medicare consulting, long-term care insurance consulting and tax services. The Dallas-based firm serves more than 2,000 pilots, representing all major airlines and living in all 50 states, and currently has $1.9 billion under management. Barron's has cited RAA as one of the top 100 independent financial advisors in the United States, and Financial Times rates it as a top 300 financial advisor.

About HBC Investments
HBC Investments is a Dallas-based investment company that is open to all forms of investments, from mezzanine to minority equity to control equity in growth-oriented middle-market companies wishing to recapitalize, execute an ownership buyout or fund a growth initiative. The firm focuses on major sectors of the economy including financial services, consumer products, manufacturing, energy and media. HBC combines the best of large firm transaction experience, the personal attention of private investors and significant operational experience from working inside companies to manage private capital that can withstand various economic cycles.

SOURCE Retirement Advisors of America