Laidlaw Wealth Management

What Laidlaw Wealth Management does

Laidlaw Wealth Management is a privately held, SEC-registered investment adviser (Registration Number 150040) headquartered in New York, operating under the holding company Laidlaw Holdings LTD alongside affiliated entities Laidlaw Capital Markets, Laidlaw Private Equity, and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. The firm traces its origin to 1842 as one of the first investment banking boutiques in America, and currently offers fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, corporate executive services, securities brokerage, investment banking (with a healthcare specialization), private equity via special purpose vehicles, and insurance products distributed through its UK affiliate. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring advisory fees, brokerage transaction commissions, investment banking professional fees, and alternative investment management.

The firm's core operating model is an open architecture, multi-custodial RIA platform built on third-party integrations including Charles Schwab as primary custodian, StoneX (formerly INTL FCStone) for specialized services, Orion for portfolio accounting, eMoney and MoneyGuidePro for financial planning, Redtail for CRM, and Morningstar for risk profiling. Advisors are W2 employees who participate in an equity partnership at a uniform founding share price, a structure designed to recruit experienced wirehouse advisors by offering ownership and boutique autonomy while the firm absorbs office, technology, and support costs.

The target customer base spans high net worth individuals, corporate executives, institutional investors, and (on the supply side) successful financial advisors being recruited from wirehouses such as Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch. Distribution is direct and advisor-led, supported by nine US offices plus a London office authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority, enabling service to clients in 170+ countries. Marketing relies on thought leadership content, industry press coverage, and a dedicated recruiting network rather than consumer-facing brand campaigns.

Name

Laidlaw Wealth Management

Legal name

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

Website

https://laidlawwealthmanagement.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Discretionary Portfolio Management (Retail) (FSAAAAAH), Private Client Custody & Brokerage (Execution, Reporting, Safekeeping) (FSAAABAN), Estate Planning, Trust Structuring & Governance (FSAAADAF)

Keywords

• Wealth management services
• Investment advisory
• Financial planning
• Portfolio management
• Securities brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fee-Based Portfolio Management: SEC registered investment advisor acting as fiduciary managing client portfolios on fee basis. Creating diversified portfolios across asset classes to maximize return potential while managing investment risk exposure.
2. Securities Brokerage: Full-service investment banking and securities brokerage services. Clearing relationships with INTL FCStone (StoneX) and Sterne Agee and Leach. Member of FINRA and SIPC.
3. Investment Banking: Healthcare focused investment banking and capital markets team with bulge bracket experience combined with entrepreneurial independent firm perspective. Capital raising through IPOs, secondary offerings, PIPEs, private placements.
4. Private Equity: Laidlaw Private Equity developing independent special purpose vehicles which invest directly in variety of alternative investment opportunities, bypassing traditional 7-10 year commitment requirements
5. Insurance/Risk Management: Insurance products and services offered through affiliate Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. and individually licensed and appointed insurance agents

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Laidlaw Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser that delivers fee-based fiduciary portfolio management, holistic financial planning, and corporate executive services through an open architecture platform. The firm manages client portfolios using eleven asset allocation strategies that blend passive low-cost ETFs for equity exposure with actively managed mutual funds for fixed income, while providing access to alternative investments through Laidlaw Private Equity and insurance and risk management products through affiliate Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

Product overview

Laidlaw Wealth Management operates as an SEC-registered investment advisor offering an open architecture platform for wealth management. The core offering consists of Fee-Based Portfolio Management using 11 different asset allocation strategies, combined with Financial Planning and Advisory Services. The platform integrates multiple third-party tools: eMoney and MoneyGuidePro for financial planning, Orion for portfolio management, Charles Schwab as primary custodian, Redtail CRM for client relationship management, and StoneX for client portal access. Additional services include Corporate Executive Services (stock plan administration, 401k/retirement plans), Alternative Investments through Laidlaw Private Equity, and tax-optimization strategies through partnerships with PGIM Custom Harvest and Green Harvest Asset Management. The platform is supported by risk assessment tools including Morningstar Risk Profile and DNA Behavior behavioral finance assessments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fee-Based Portfolio Management SEC-registered investment advisory service managing client portfolios on a fiduciary basis. The firm utilizes eleven different asset allocation strategies that combine passive low-cost ETFs for equity exposure with actively managed mutual fund portfolios for fixed income exposure. Designed for high net worth individuals, corporate executives, and institutional clients seeking diversified portfolios across asset classes with managed investment risk.
• Financial Planning and Advisory Services Comprehensive advice and customized financial planning services covering financial plans including Trusts, Estates, Corporate Stock Plans, Large Single Stock Exposure, and retirement planning. Designed for clients who need holistic financial planning delivered through a fiduciary advisor relationship, supported by the eMoney and MoneyGuidePro financial planning platforms.
• Corporate Executive Services Services tailored for corporate executives including stock plan administration and 401k/retirement plan management. Laidlaw leverages its investment banking capability to help corporate clients with employee financial planning, addressing concentrated stock positions, equity compensation, and integrated retirement planning for senior executives.
• Alternative Investments Special purpose vehicles developed through Laidlaw Private Equity that invest directly as a single entity in a variety of alternative investment opportunities, providing flexibility compared to traditional 7-10 year private equity commitments. The 13 portfolio investment companies span vehicles such as AirLift Investments, Private-I Partners, T-Bird Partners, Bionic Partners, Shire Investments, Bluebird Investment Partners, Pre-Game Partners, Pre-Flight Partners, Pre-Market Partners, Social T Partners, Face-Off Partners II, Chain-Link Partners, and Face-Off Partners.
• Securities Brokerage Services Full-service investment banking and securities brokerage services offered through Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. as a member of FINRA and SIPC with clearing relationships through INTL FCStone (StoneX) and Sterne Agee and Leach. Designed for clients requiring transaction-based securities execution across multiple markets and asset classes.
• Investment Banking and Capital Markets Healthcare-focused investment banking and capital markets team combining bulge bracket experience with an entrepreneurial independent firm perspective. Capital raising services encompass IPOs, secondary offerings, PIPEs, and private placements. Designed for corporate clients seeking mid-market capital markets advisory with access to Laidlaw Wealth Management's HNW and institutional network.
• Insurance and Risk Management Products Insurance products and services offered through the firm's affiliate Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. and individually licensed and appointed insurance agents. Designed to complement wealth management planning by addressing risk management needs of high net worth and corporate clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• $560+ Million AUM recruited in first half of 2019 from Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch advisors
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Green Harvest Asset ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2019Expanded collaboration providing Laidlaw Advisors access to Green Harvest's ProActive Tax Management investment strategies. Designed to provide broad exposure to equity and fixed income markets while maximizing after-tax returns. Specializes in tax-loss harvesting using low-cost ETFs. Founded 2017 in New York City by ETF experts Bob Holderith and Brian Jacobs.
• Charles SchwabcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary custodian providing wide array of investment account types, full range of investment options including stocks, mutual funds, bonds, ETFs, CDs, separately managed account services, and technology support. Schwab Alliance service designed to complement advisor relationships with dedicated phone support and secure online access.
• StoneX (formerly INTL FCStone)coreTechnology or IntegrationOnline portal for up-to-the-minute analysis, information, and commentary. Provides comprehensive customized financial services to help clients protect margins and manage volatility, particularly for mid-market clients requiring specialized services.
• PGIM Custom HarvestmajorTechnology or IntegrationInnovative tax-beneficial investment solutions providing investors broad exposure to equity and fixed income markets with minimal tracking error while maximizing after-tax returns. Specializes in portfolios of ETFs designed for tax efficiency.
• OrioncoreTechnology or IntegrationBest-in-class portfolio management software developed in 1999 when founders couldn't find suitable portfolio accounting system. Enables fiduciary advisors to operationalize their vision for success through innovative technology.
• Redtail CRMmajorTechnology or IntegrationCRM tools designed to strengthen client relationships, improve team collaboration and efficiency, increase revenues, decrease client attrition, and support business-building activities for advisors.
• eMoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationComprehensive financial planning platform built for the way advisors work, designed to scale and meet growing needs of firms. Delivers innovative, planning-led solutions that power advisor businesses.
• MoneyGuideProcoreTechnology or IntegrationSophisticated financial planning solution helping advisors navigate complex financial elements of clients' lives. Designed for advisors with the client in mind.
• MorningstarmajorTechnology or IntegrationRisk profiling partnership leveraging Morningstar's research and reporting capabilities. Morningstar has 5,230 employees in 27 countries covering 621,370 investments. Used for determining client risk tolerance and comfort levels for investment choices.
• DNA BehaviorsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBehavioral finance personality test provider offering insights into how clients approach financial planning and decision-making. Used to manage expectations and guide effective client interactions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Edelman Financial Engines: Large national RIA serving mass-affluent and HNW clients with fee-based planning and asset management — comparable fee-only fiduciary offering at materially larger scale than Laidlaw.
• Raymond James Financial: Diversified financial services firm with a substantial independent-advisor channel offering equity partnership-like economics — comparable as a competition point for advisors considering an alternative to wirehouses.
• LPL Financial: Largest US independent broker-dealer and RIA custodian, recruiting wirehouse advisors at scale with a broad platform of services — comparable as a competitor for talent and as a custodial/infrastructure option.

Emerging players

• Kestra Financial: Independent wealth management platform built around breakaway advisors with partnership equity and open-architecture infrastructure — overlapping advisor-recruitment model and target HNW client.
• Sanctuary Wealth Group: Newer independent platform explicitly targeting wirehouse breakaways with equity partnership and open architecture — competes head-on with Laidlaw for talent but at lower scale.

Direct peers

• Commonwealth Financial Network: Privately held independent broker-dealer and RIA serving individual advisors with practice management support — competing for the same breakaway-wirehouse advisor pipeline as Laidlaw.
• Cetera Financial Group: Independent broker-dealer and RIA platform with multiple affiliate brands providing partnership-style economics and open architecture to advisors — directly parallels Laidlaw's W-2 partnership and open-architecture platform.
• Focus Financial Partners: Large-scale RIA consolidator partnering with independent advisor teams via equity and centralized support — directly comparable to Laidlaw's advisor-recruitment, equity-partnership RIA flywheel, and multi-custodial approach.
• Hightower Advisors: Boutique-style RIA platform offering partnership economics and operational support to breakaway wirehouse advisors — serves the same HNW/UHNW client base with an open-architecture model.

Regional players

• Creative Planning: Large independent RIA offering fee-based wealth management for HNW and corporate executives with a planning-led, open-architecture approach — comparable offering model though larger and more US-centric than Laidlaw.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Laidlaw Wealth Management