Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc.

What Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc. does

Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc. is a Minneapolis-headquartered, privately held financial advisory firm founded in 1995 that serves middle-market privately held companies across the United States. The firm operates through four integrated service lines: Consulting (ownership advisory, ESOP repurchase and sustainability, executive compensation); Corporate Finance (M&A, capital markets, ESOP transaction advisory, strategic alternatives); Valuation & Opinions (ESOP/ERISA, financial reporting, tax/compliance, transaction opinions); and Interim Leadership (interim finance/accounting and HR executives). Securities-related activity is executed through its wholly-owned affiliate CCS Transactions, LLC, a FINRA-registered broker-dealer. Chartwell is differentiated by deep specialization in ESOP advisory and ownership-transition work, supported by ten U.S. offices (Minneapolis HQ, Raleigh, Atlanta, Portland, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Philadelphia, Akron) and sector verticals spanning healthcare and life sciences, distribution, consumer and retail, government services, manufacturing, technology, and architecture/engineering.

Chartwell's go-to-market is relationship-driven and sales-led, with practitioners sourced largely from Big Four accounting, top-tier investment banks (Moelis, Wells Fargo Securities, UBS, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank Alex Brown), and specialist ESOP advisory firms. Customer acquisition is supported by an extensive content library (articles, whitepapers, webinars, podcasts) and active leadership in industry associations (The ESOP Association, NCEO, ESCA, ACG). The firm is a professional services business monetized through project-based and retainer advisory engagements, with revenue mechanics tied to engagement hours, transaction success, and recurring valuation mandates.

The company has entered a notable scaling phase: leadership transitioned from founder Paul Halverson to Wil Becker (CEO) with Jeremy Alinder as CFO; Matt Clark joined corporate finance from AECOM/Moelis/Wells Fargo; the firm completed acquisitions of Legacy Equity Valuations (2023) and Atlantic Management Company (2025); and in November 2025, Keystone Capital completed an investment partnership with TPB Twin Brook providing senior debt to fund growth and employee ownership initiatives. Chartwell has served approximately 100+ clients each in healthcare/life sciences, distribution, and consumer/retail verticals, with named clients including MannKind, WinCo Foods, Scoular, Chemonics, Border States, and Taylor Guitars.

Name

Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc.

Legal name

Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc.

Website

https://chartwellfa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chartwell Financial Advisory is a Minneapolis-based, privately held national financial advisory firm founded in 1995 that serves middle-market privately held companies with ESOP advisory, valuation, corporate finance, and interim leadership services from ten U.S. offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (52315)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)

akta.pro primary industry

Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE), Fairness Opinions & Independent Financial Advice (BPAHAOAF), Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL), Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• ESOP advisory consulting
• Business valuation services
• Middle market investment banking
• Mergers and acquisitions advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory & Consulting Services: Chartwell generates revenue through professional service engagements in financial advisory, ownership and compensation consulting, corporate finance, valuation and transaction opinions, and interim leadership. Services are delivered to privately held middle-market companies across a wide range of industries on a project or retainer basis.
2. Capital Partnership / Investment: Keystone Capital completed an investment partnership with Chartwell to support its growth and employee ownership initiatives, utilizing senior debt financing from TPB Twin Brook. This represents a capital partnership structure rather than a traditional revenue line.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chartwell Financial Advisory is a national financial advisory firm that delivers four integrated core service lines to privately held middle-market companies: Consulting (ownership advisory, ESOP repurchase & sustainability, executive compensation), Corporate Finance (M&A, capital markets, ESOP transaction advisory, strategic alternatives), Valuation & Opinions (ESOP & ERISA, financial reporting, tax/compliance, transaction opinions), and Interim Leadership (interim finance & accounting, interim human resources). The firm specializes in ESOP advisory and nationally recognized valuation work, and operates nationally across 10 U.S. cities, with a FINRA-registered broker-dealer affiliate (CCS Transactions, LLC) used to effect securities transactions.

Product overview

Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc. is a national financial advisory firm serving middle-market privately held companies. Its offering is organized as four integrated core service lines — Consulting, Corporate Finance, Valuation & Opinions, and Interim Leadership — which are designed to work holistically to support ownership transitions, sustainability, and long-term value creation. The Consulting practice (Ownership Advisory, ESOP Repurchase & Sustainability, Executive Compensation) provides strategic insight into ownership and pay structures; the Corporate Finance practice (M&A, Capital Markets, ESOP Transaction Advisory, Strategic Alternatives) executes transactions and capital raises; the Valuation & Opinions practice (ESOP & ERISA, Financial Reporting, Tax/Compliance, Transaction Opinions) delivers independent valuation analyses; and the Interim Leadership practice supplies temporary senior finance, accounting, and HR executives. The firm has expanded through acquisitions of Legacy Equity Valuations (Seattle, 2023) and Atlantic Management Company (Northeast, 2025).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Chartwell has served nearly 100 healthcare and life sciences clients in recent years.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers40 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Atlantic Management CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025Chartwell is acquiring Atlantic Management Company, a provider of valuation and transaction advisory services, to expand its Northeast presence and enhance its ESOP advisory practice. The acquisition aligns with Chartwell's strategic goals and will support Atlantic's clients and team members in a larger organization. Atlantic brings valuation and transaction advisory capabilities that complement Chartwell's existing service offerings.
• Atlantic Management CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025Chartwell is preparing to acquire Atlantic Management Company, which specializes in valuation and transaction advisory services, to expand its Northeast presence and enhance its ESOP advisory practice and strategic growth capabilities.
• Legacy Equity ValuationsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Legacy Equity Valuations, based in Seattle, joined Chartwell. The team, including Nick Aberle and retired Dennis Locke, brings expertise in annual ESOP administration, gift and estate tax valuation, financial reporting, and corporate planning, adding a Seattle presence to Chartwell's national footprint.
• CCS Transactions, LLCcoreOthersCCS Transactions, LLC is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and SIPC member firm affiliated with Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc. Securities transactions are effected and offered through CCS, which does not maintain customer accounts or accept customer funds or securities. Chartwell's registered representatives, including Nick Braun, hold FINRA Series 63 and 79 licenses through CCS Transactions, LLC.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FORVIS: Major middle-market accounting and advisory firm (formed from BKD and Dixon Hughes Goodman merger) with valuation, ESOP, and M&A practices serving privately held companies. Directly comparable in target market, service offerings, and national delivery model.
• Stout: Global advisory firm specializing in valuation, financial advisory, and investment banking for middle-market companies. Highly comparable in valuation and corporate finance service lines — Chartwell VP Dan Uitti previously worked at Stout.
• Plante Moran: Major middle-market accounting and advisory firm with valuation, ESOP, and transaction advisory practices. Comparable in target market (privately held middle-market) and integrated advisory model.
• EisnerAmper: Major accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated ESOP advisory practice, valuation services, and middle-market corporate finance. Directly comparable in client profile and integrated advisory model.
• Wipfli: Top-25 US accounting and advisory firm with a significant ESOP advisory and valuation practice serving middle-market privately held companies. Highly comparable in service mix (consulting, valuation, corporate finance) and middle-market target client base.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Top-10 US accounting and advisory firm with substantial ESOP advisory, valuation, and corporate finance practices focused on the middle market. Comparable in vertical mix and middle-market private-company client orientation.
• B. Riley Advisory Services: Valuation, restructuring, and corporate finance advisory firm serving middle-market companies. Highly comparable in valuation and M&A services — Chartwell VP Dan Uitti previously worked at B. Riley (formerly GlassRatner).
• Brown Gibbons Lang & Company: Middle-market investment bank specializing in M&A advisory for closely held and family-owned businesses. Comparable in target market (privately held middle-market), transaction orientation, and ESOP-related advisory work.

Broad incumbents

• Baker Tilly: Top-10 US accounting and advisory firm with extensive valuation, M&A, and ESOP practices serving middle-market companies. Larger and broader than Chartwell, with global reach — Chartwell MD Rachel Flaskey previously served at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause.
• Houlihan Lokey: Premier global investment bank with a strong middle-market M&A and valuation practice. Competes with Chartwell's Corporate Finance and Valuation & Opinions practices on larger transactions but serves an overlapping middle-market client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1439203

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc.