The business, while not one of the largest RIAs, is an example of a trend this publication has been tracking for more than a decade – the breakaway wealth management firm.

Regent Peak Wealth Advisors, an Atlanta-based RIA, has said that since breaking away from Merrill Lynch five years ago, it has more than doubled revenues and assets under management.

The firm oversees more than $600 million in client assets.

The creation of this RIA is part of a wider North American trend of financial sector professionals leaving large banks, wirehouses and other institutions to set up their own businesses and become independent. This trend has been going on for more than a decade, as this two-part feature from 2014 shows (see here and here).

Regent Peak Wealth Advisors has expanded access to alternative asset classes by engaging with investment solutions providers such as Atlanta-based early-stage venture capital firm Tech Square Ventures, private markets investment platform Gridline and crypto investment platform Eaglebrook. The firm also gives exposure to structured note products through NewEdge Investment Solutions and protective investments platform Halo Investing.

The founding principal and managing director is Craig Robson.