Wealth Design Group

What Wealth Design Group does

Wealth Design Group (WDG) is an independent, privately-held financial advisory firm headquartered at 3040 Post Oak Boulevard in Houston, Texas, serving individuals, families, physicians, dentists, attorneys, executives, and business owners across Texas and the broader Southwest United States. The firm's core offering combines one-to-one financial coaching with investment advisory services built on the Matson Money methodology, which integrates Modern Portfolio Theory, the Fama-French Three Factor Model, the Efficient Market Hypothesis, and behavioral economics into systematic portfolio construction. WDG packages this investment engine with protection planning, tax strategy, retirement planning, estate planning, insurance planning, and cash-flow optimization under a unified purpose-driven coaching framework originally pioneered by founder Rick Ray.

The business operates a sales-led, event-driven go-to-market model. New clients are acquired through educational seminars, webinars (Financial Office Hours), and premium-venue Investor Coaching Series events in the Houston area and the American Dream Experience in Scottsdale, AZ. Revenue is generated through a hybrid of recurring advisory fees, securities commissions, and insurance commissions. Securities and advisory services are distributed through Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), a FINRA-registered broker-dealer and wholly-owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, while insurance products flow through Guardian Life representatives; WDG itself is not an affiliate or subsidiary of either entity. The firm operates as an office within the Rethink Wealth, LLC network.

Following Rick Ray's retirement after building a base of more than 13,000 clients and assets under management exceeding $1 billion, WDG continues to operate under a team of credentialed advisors (CFP, MDRT, CDFA, Leaders Club) supported by an Operations Director, Director of Advanced Planning, and business development staff. The firm remains bootstrapped with no external institutional investment, no disclosed funding rounds, and no regulatory actions on record. Forward signals include event expansion into Scottsdale and recent hires in growth and business development roles aimed at sustaining client acquisition through the post-founder transition.

Name

Wealth Design Group

Legal name

Wealth Design Group

Website

https://wealthdesigngroup.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Wealth Design Group is a Houston-based independent financial advisory firm that provides purpose-driven financial coaching, investment management (via the Matson Money methodology), tax strategy, retirement, estate, and insurance planning to individuals, families, and business owners across Texas and the Southwest US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Portfolio Construction & Asset Allocation Advisory (FSAEAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Planning & Goals-Based Advice (Mass Affluent) (FSAAAAAF), Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF), Estate & Legacy Planning Advisory (FSAEAAAG)

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• Wealth management
• Financial coaching
• Retirement planning
• Investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

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. Financial Advisory Services: Fee-based or commission-based financial advisory services provided through registered representatives and financial advisors. Services include investment management, financial planning, and coaching.
2. Securities Products: Securities products and advisory services offered through Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), a broker-dealer. Revenue derived from securities transactions and advisory fees.
3. Insurance Products: Insurance products including life insurance, annuities, and related coverage offered through Guardian Life Insurance Company of America representatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Wealth Design Group is a Houston-based independent financial advisory firm that delivers personalized one-to-one financial coaching integrated with investment management. Portfolios are built using the Matson Method, which applies Nobel-Prize-winning academic investing principles (Modern Portfolio Theory, Three Factor Model, Efficient Market Hypothesis) to systematic portfolio construction and rebalancing. The firm's offering is organized into four pillars: Protection, Investments, Tax Strategy, and Optimization, supported by specialized planning in retirement, estate, and insurance.

Product overview

Wealth Design Group is a financial advisory firm that operates as a unified coaching-focused platform. Their core offering combines personalized one-to-one financial coaching with investment advisory services using the Matson Method and Matson Money algorithms. The platform offers integrated services across protection planning, tax strategy, and optimization, supported by specialized areas including retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance planning. They differentiate through purpose-focused investing methodology and educational events including The American Dream Experience coaching seminars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Coaching One-to-one personalized coaching to help clients define their purpose for wealth accumulation and stay disciplined; includes education on life-altering behaviors and habits about economics and investing. Targeted at individuals and families served by Wealth Design Group.
• Investment Services Investment advisory using empirically tested Nobel Prize winning investing principles (Modern Portfolio Theory, Three Factor Model, Efficient Market Hypothesis) implemented via Matson Money algorithms, with systematic portfolio evaluation and regular rebalancing. For clients seeking academically grounded portfolio management.
• Protection Planning Protection of client wealth against market volatility and other threats using time-tested financial strategies. For individuals and families concerned about preserving accumulated wealth.
• Tax Strategy Services focused on minimizing overall tax burden associated with accumulating wealth and diversifying tax strategies. For individuals and families seeking to reduce taxable income while preserving wealth accumulation.
• Optimization (Financial Planning) Financial planning services to organize and design a plan that maximizes cash flow now and in the future while recognizing evolving client needs. For individuals and families seeking an integrated, ongoing financial plan.
• Retirement Planning Comprehensive retirement planning including Social Security optimization, 401(k) strategies, Roth IRA planning, and retirement income planning. For individuals and families approaching or in retirement.
• Estate Planning Estate management services to control the distribution of wealth after death and manage affairs during lifetime. For individuals and families focused on legacy and wealth transfer.
• Insurance Planning Insurance strategy including life insurance, disability insurance, and liability coverage to protect families from the financial consequences of life events. For individuals and families seeking protection against income, life, and liability risks.
• The American Dream Experience In-person and virtual coaching seminar program including the 'Mind Over Money' and 'Politics & Portfolios' investor coaching series, plus multi-day events at venues in Houston and Scottsdale, AZ. For prospective and current clients seeking educational engagement with the firm's purpose-driven investment methodology.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecurities products and advisory services offered through PAS, a registered broker-dealer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. WDG advisors are registered representatives and financial advisors of PAS. PAS is member FINRA and SIPC.
• The Guardian Life Insurance Company of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParent company of Park Avenue Securities. Financial advisors are also representatives of Guardian Life, offering insurance products including life insurance, annuities, and related coverage. Headquartered in New York, NY.
• Matson MoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationInvestment methodology partner providing the Matson Method and Matson Money Algorithms. WDG portfolios are constructed using Matson Money's academically-tested investment approach based on Nobel Prize winning research including Modern Portfolio Theory and the Three Factor Model.
• Rethink Wealth, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWealth Design Group operates as an office within the Rethink Wealth network, which provides operational support and brand affiliation for independent financial advisory practices.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SignatureFD: Fee-only financial planning and wealth management firm serving HNW individuals, families, and business owners with integrated financial life planning. Closely comparable in target client (HNW professionals, business owners), coaching-driven philosophy, and integrated planning stack.
• Carson Group: Coaching- and education-focused independent advisor network that supports affiliated financial advisors with coaching, marketing, and back-office services. Directly comparable to WDG's coaching-first model and event-driven acquisition playbook, and represents the type of OSJ/affiliation WDG could be a candidate for.
• Creative Planning: Large independent RIA with similar fee-based advisory, financial planning, and wealth management offerings to HNW clients. Closely comparable in business model — independent firm offering comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services — and a relevant consolidation counterparty given WDG's mid-market scale.
• Buckingham Strategic Wealth: Independent, fee-only RIA emphasizing evidence-based investing and advisor coaching. Comparable in its reliance on academic investment principles and advisor-led delivery model serving HNW individuals and families.
• Sanctuary Wealth: Partner-owned network of independent wealth management firms and advisors. Comparable in its support of independent advisors with broker-dealer and operations infrastructure, and represents a potential affiliation/consolidation pathway similar to Rethink Wealth.

Emerging players

• Ritholtz Wealth Management: Independent, evidence-based RIA known for its content-led acquisition model (blogs, podcasts, media). Comparable to WDG in its reliance on education and content for client acquisition and in its academic investment principles, but more digital-native in distribution.
• Facet Wealth: Digital-first financial planning firm offering flat-fee advice via remote CFPs. Overlaps WDG in financial planning and advice services for HNW households but contrasts sharply on delivery (digital vs. high-touch coaching) — represents the disruptive direction the industry is moving.

Broad incumbents

• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Large national RIA with comprehensive wealth advisory, estate, tax, and protection services overlapping WDG's product set. Relevant as a competitive incumbent and as an active consolidator of independent advisory firms in the same AUM band.
• Mercer Advisors: National RIA offering wealth management, tax, estate, and financial planning services. Comparable in its integrated planning offering and HNW client focus; also an active acquirer of independent practices at WDG's scale.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national independent RIA combining traditional advisor-led planning with a digital planning tool. Comparable product breadth and HNW/mass-affluent client mix, but with substantially greater scale and a more diversified delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wealthdesigngroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wealth-design-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Wealth Design Group