Coldstream Combines With Seattle-Based Accounting Firm and RIA to Exceed $11B AUA

Coldstream Wealth Management, an employee-owned registered investment adviser, announced that Seattle-based financial services firms Harrison Berkman Claypool & Guard, or HBCG, a full-service accounting firm, and HBC Financial Services, a registered investment adviser, are joining Coldstream.
Coldstream stated that the firms bring approximately $500 million in assets under advisement, growing Coldstream’s total AUA to $11.1 billion, while also enhancing Coldstream’s existing tax and consulting practice.
HBCG was originally founded in 1977, and HBC was added in 2001. James B. Claypool, CPA, MBA, PFS, leads the firms. Like Coldstream, the firms have been and will remain independently operated and employee-owned.
“We are pleased to welcome Jim and his experienced team of financial professionals to Coldstream,” said Kevin Fitzwilson, Coldstream’s managing shareholder. “HBCG and HBC share Coldstream’s values and uncompromising approach to service, making this partnership not only a great fit but also an enhancement to those we serve. Together, with expanded resources and greater access to investment and tax planning opportunities, our firms will provide clients with a more comprehensive offering than ever before.”
HBCG is a full-service firm comprising six professionals, including four certified public accountants. Five of those team members also work for HBC, providing a wide range of offerings to small businesses and individuals. They specialize in a broad spectrum of financial and tax-related services, including traditional tax preparation, estate planning, stock option planning and business succession planning.
“This merger is a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions to our clients,” Claypool said. “Our combined resources will empower us to offer a heightened, comprehensive level of service. Together, we are well-positioned to strengthen the client experience and provide our people with more opportunities for career development. We look forward to the future for our clients and financial professionals.”
Through its RIA, HBCG is able to extend its traditional accounting and tax services to include retirement planning and holistic portfolio management. The employees will become a new team of advisers within Coldstream and will also form a new team within Coldstream’s tax & consulting practice.
In July 2024, as previously reported by The DI Wire, Coldstream merged with Arnerich Massena Inc., a Portland-based investment advisory firm managing approximately $2 billion in client assets.
Coldstream Wealth Management is a wealth management and investment advisory firm that has been earning the trust of high-net-worth clients since 1996. Coldstream has offices in seven locations across four states.
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