Washington D.C. Investors Follow National Trend: Moving Assets to Independent Advisors

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Mar 18, 2011, 06:03 ET

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Investors nationally are moving billions of dollars in assets from the giant wire houses to independent financial advisory firms in search of truly objective financial advice. For decades investors have relied on big brand name firms, with the assumption that bigger is better and safer. But the recent financial crisis and books like "The Big Short" and "More Money than God" have revealed the conflicting agendas and exorbitant fees that can harm the very clients these firms claim to serve.

Brighton Jones, a "Forbes Top 50 Independent Advisory Firm" founded in Seattle, WA, has experienced this trend first-hand. Five years ago they began working with a select few individuals and families in the D.C. area, but recent trends prompted them to open a dedicated office to meet the growing demand for their wealth management services. In January, Brighton Jones hired Michael Battaglia, formerly vice president of Pitcairn multi-family office, to lead their new D.C. office.

"We're hearing from more and more clients in the D.C. area who are looking for objective advice and comprehensive services that span their entire personal balance sheet," said Jon Jones, CEO of Brighton Jones. "Our business is built on making sure we provide highly personalized service across a range of disciplines. I know that having Michael Battaglia lead our team here, given his 13 years of experience helping affluent clients with their financial and tax planning needs, will be a huge benefit to our clients."

Clients are looking for the personalized services that they receive from independent advisors like Brighton Jones. Having a local office is one more benefit.

Gregor Bailar, a Brighton Jones client and former CIO of NASDAQ and Capital One Financial says, "Their Personal CFO model is their secret weapon. We view Brighton Jones as an integral part of our family, helping us make smart decisions about our financial future. From job transitions to buying a vacation home to capital preservation strategies, they go the extra mile. This is in stark contrast to our experience with other firms. Having a local office just makes them even more effective."

About Brighton Jones LLC

Brighton Jones provides personalized, comprehensive wealth management services to individuals and families. The firm serves as a personal CFO for its clients and develops objective, highly customized strategic advice in the areas of investments, estates, tax planning, cash management, and overall life planning. Since its founding in 1999, the company has grown to more than $1.7 billion in assets under management and represents 500+ clients in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Their offices are located in Seattle, San Francisco, Scottsdale and Washington, D.C.