Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors

What Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors does

Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors is an independent registered investment advisory firm founded in 1981 by Richard Wagener and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. Operating through Wagener-Lee, LLC as an Independent Registered Investment Advisor affiliated with broker-dealer Raymond James Financial Services, the firm delivers comprehensive financial planning services spanning investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, and insurance planning. It serves a diverse set of client segments including retirees and pre-retirees, corporate C-suite executives, business owners, solo decision makers (divorced, widowed, single), families seeking insurance protection, and women at various life stages. The practice is differentiated by a multi-generational team of roughly 12-13 professionals that includes an estate attorney, a CFA, multiple CFPs, CPAs, and licensed insurance professionals operating under one roof, enabling integrated cross-disciplinary advice that single-discipline firms typically cannot deliver in-house.

The underlying technology stack is the Raymond James Financial Services platform, which provides securities execution, custodial, and back-office infrastructure; no proprietary technology, mobile app, or API is disclosed. Revenue is generated through two streams: recurring fee-based investment advisory services via Wagener-Lee, LLC and commission-based securities transactions executed through Raymond James Financial Services (member FINRA/SIPC). Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is consistent with standard RIA AUM-based or flat-fee structures; firm-specific schedules require direct contact. The go-to-market motion is high-touch, sales-led, and relationship-driven, with thought-leadership marketing through the Bull Bear Pen investment commentary blog, how-to educational videos, and earned media appearances. The firm is founder/family-controlled with no external institutional capital, and family succession is in progress through Managing Partner Richard Wagener, Partner and CEO Stephen Lee, and Partner Amanda Piper (Wagener's daughter), with Jenifer Elder (also a Wagener daughter) joining operations. Richard Wagener has been named to Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and to the Raymond James Chairman's Council in 2023.

Name

Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors

Legal name

Wagener-Lee, LLC

Website

https://wagenerlee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors is an independent registered investment advisory firm in Columbia, Maryland, providing integrated retirement, estate, tax, and insurance planning to retirees, executives, business owners, and individuals across the Mid-Atlantic US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Broker-Dealer Affiliated Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAB)

Keywords

• Wealth management advisory
• Investment management services
• Retirement planning services
• Estate planning advisory
• Tax planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Services: Fee-based investment advisory services offered through Wagener-Lee, LLC as a Registered Investment Advisor
2. Securities Transactions: Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, which may generate commission-based revenue

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors (legal entity Wagener-Lee, LLC) is an independent registered investment advisor providing comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to individuals. Core offerings include investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, and insurance planning delivered through a fiduciary standard. The firm operates as a multi-generational team providing integrated advisory services through the Raymond James Financial Services platform.

Product overview

Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors operates as a comprehensive financial advisory practice offering integrated wealth management services. The firm provides a unified suite of financial planning services encompassing investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, and insurance planning as core offerings. Specialized advisory services address specific client segments including corporate executives (C-Suite Benefits & Strategies), business owners (Your Business, Our Expertise), solo decision makers (divorced/widowed/single clients), and women at various life stages (Women & Wealth). The practice also publishes regular market commentary (Bull Bear Pen investment commentary) and educational resources including college savings guidance and cryptocurrency analysis. All services are delivered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., with the firm functioning as an independent registered investment advisor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comprehensive Financial Planning Services Full-service wealth management including investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, and insurance planning tailored to individual client needs. Designed for individuals and families seeking integrated financial planning.
• Investment Management

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 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 core and minor.

• Raymond James Financial ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecurities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Wagener-Lee, LLC and Raymond James Financial Services Advisors. Wagener-Lee, LLC is independently owned and operated but affiliated with Raymond James for securities processing and platform services.
• Leadership Howard CountyminorOthersCommunity leadership development program. Multiple team members have participated including Rick Wagener (Leadership Premier, class of 2010), Michael Shipley (class of 2013), Jeff Smith (class of 2016), Amanda Piper (Leadership Premier, Class of 2018 and Leadership Essential, class of 2011).
• Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL)minorOthersRick Wagener, Steve Lee and Amanda Piper serve as members of the professional division and have served on the board of region 9.
• Cystic Fibrosis FoundationminorOthersSteve Lee serves on the board for the Maryland Chapter. He has chaired the Great Strides National Walk Event. Annual Block Party raised nearly $23,000. Melany Graydon earned Helping Hand Award in 2019.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wealth Enhancement Group: Independent wealth management firm delivering comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and tax services to HNW clients - a comparable holistic RIA competitor.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Independent RIA providing comprehensive financial planning with a fiduciary, fee-only model and in-house credentialed advisors - structurally analogous to Wagener-Lee's holistic advisory approach.
• Carson Group: RIA platform supporting independent advisors with comprehensive planning tools and back-office services - similar independent RIA model targeting holistic financial planning clients.
• Steward Partners Global Advisory: Independent RIA affiliated with Raymond James Financial Services, providing comprehensive wealth planning through multi-generational teams - mirrors Wagener-Lee's broker-dealer-affiliated, family-led structure.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National RIA offering comprehensive financial planning, investment management, tax and estate services to HNW clients - directly comparable full-stack wealth advisory competitor.
• Captrust: Multi-disciplined RIA offering investment advisory, tax, and financial planning services to high-net-worth individuals and institutions - directly comparable integrated wealth advisory model.

Broad incumbents

• Focus Financial Partners: Leading RIA aggregator partnering with independent, fiduciary wealth management firms nationwide - structurally comparable independent RIA model at national scale.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national RIA combining traditional advisory with technology-enabled planning for mass-affluent and HNW clients - a scaled incumbent offering overlapping retirement and wealth services.

Regional players

• Brown Advisory: Mid-Atlantic-based independent advisory and investment management firm serving HNW individuals, families and institutions - geographic and client-segment peer within the same regional footprint.

Others

• CommonWealth Pacific (formerly Commonwealth Financial Network): Independent broker-dealer and RIA platform supporting independent advisors with practice management, technology, and back-office - an enabling platform peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wagenerlee
• Facebookfacebook.com/WagenerLee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wagener-lee-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Wagener-Lee Wealth Advisors