Cowan Financial Group

What Cowan Financial Group does

Cowan Financial Group is a financial advisory firm headquartered in St. Augustine, Florida, founded in 1979 by Cary J. Cowan, Sr. The firm operates as a subsidiary brand of Arch Global Advisors (AGA) following its June 2023 acquisition, retaining the Cowan Financial Group brand name while leveraging AGA's institutional infrastructure, regulatory framework, and operational scale. The firm offers a full-service financial planning platform encompassing investment management, tax planning, asset protection, retirement planning, and estate planning services, delivered through a documented six-step methodology (Engage, Explore, Design, Implement, Manage, Enjoy). Securities are distributed through LPL Financial (Member FINRA/SIPC), while investment advisory services are offered through Arch Global Advisors, LLC, a registered investment advisor.

The firm's technology stack centers on the proprietary Asset Track Program — a managed-portfolio strategy developed under AGA leadership designed to deliver consistent, growth-oriented, cost-effective outcomes — and the Black Diamond client portal, which provides real-time performance metrics, research insights, transaction capabilities, and cost analysis. The firm employs approximately 14+ team members across three offices: St. Augustine, FL (headquarters); New York, NY (regional hub at 215 Lexington Avenue); and White Plains, NY (Westchester office opened June 2023). The team includes advisors holding CFP, CLU, ChFC, CFF, and CFA designations, with prior tenures at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, Bear Stearns, Prudential, MetLife, and Alliance Capital.

Cowan serves four primary client segments: entrepreneurs and executives, peak career professionals, pre-retirees and retirees, and high-net-worth individuals. Revenue is generated through fee-based financial advisory services (recurring, AUM-based) and securities commissions (transaction-based) through LPL Financial. Client acquisition is driven primarily by referrals, community involvement, content marketing via an extensive resource center, monthly newsletter, and client appreciation events — a relationship-based, high-touch distribution model with limited geographic concentration across the Eastern US.

Name

Cowan Financial Group

Legal name

Cowan Financial Group, an Arch Global Advisors Company

Website

https://cowanfg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management

NAICS

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

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Fee-Only Advisory (FSAEAAAL)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Augustine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Financial Advisory Fees: Fee-based financial planning and advisory services provided through registered investment advisors. Services include investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, and insurance solutions.
2. Securities Commissions: Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Revenue generated through transaction-based commissions on investment products sold to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cowan Financial Group is a private wealth advisory firm offering investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, and insurance/asset protection solutions. The firm serves high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, executives, and pre-retirees through personalized financial planning and portfolio management. Its advisory model combines a proprietary risk-based investment program with holistic planning across the full wealth lifecycle.

Product overview

Cowan Financial Group is a full-service financial planning and consulting firm offering a unified platform of advisory services. The core offering encompasses Investment Solutions, Tax Planning Solutions, Asset Protection Solutions, Retirement Solutions, and Estate Planning Solutions. These services are delivered through a six-step methodology (Engage, Explore, Design, Implement, Manage, Enjoy) and supported by proprietary technology including the Asset Track Program for portfolio management and a performance reporting portal for client access. Additional resources include financial calculators, a comprehensive glossary, tax resources, and an educational video library. The firm serves individuals, families, and business owners across various investor profiles including entrepreneurs, peak career professionals, pre-retirees, retirees, and high-net-worth individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investment Solutions Investment management and portfolio advisory services for high-net-worth individuals, including asset allocation, security selection, and ongoing portfolio oversight.
• Retirement Solutions Retirement planning services for pre-retirees and retirees, including income planning, distribution strategy, and Social Security optimization.
• Tax Planning Solutions Tax planning and coordination services, including year-end planning, Roth conversions, and tax-efficient investment strategies.
• Estate Planning Solutions Estate planning services including wealth transfer strategies, trust coordination, and legacy planning for individuals and families.
• Asset Protection Solutions Insurance and asset protection services to safeguard client wealth against unforeseen risks.
• Asset Track Program Proprietary investment program designed to manage client portfolios according to risk-based model portfolios with continuous monitoring and rebalancing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Consistent, growth-oriented portfolio performance through proprietary Asset Track Program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Arch Global AdvisorscoreOthersParent company relationship. Cowan Financial Group operates as an Arch Global Advisors company following acquisition in June 2023. Arch Global Advisors provides the institutional backing, regulatory framework, and operational infrastructure for the firm while Cowan maintains its brand identity and client-first philosophy.
• LPL FinancialcoreOthersSecurities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial is one of the largest broker-dealers in the US, providing the clearing and custody services for securities transactions. Arch Global Advisors has a relationship with LPL for securities distribution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Edelman Financial Engines: Edelman Financial Engines is one of the largest independent RIAs offering comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and wealth advisory — directly comparable to Cowan's full-service model and HNW focus.
• Mercer Advisors: Mercer Advisors is a large national RIA offering comprehensive wealth management, tax planning, estate planning, and investment management to HNW individuals — directly comparable to Cowan's full-service advisory model across the wealth lifecycle.
• Sanctuary Wealth: Sanctuary Wealth is a partnership model for independent advisors and RIAs providing institutional infrastructure — directly parallel to the Cowan/AGA partnership structure.
• Creative Planning: Creative Planning is a large national RIA offering comprehensive wealth management, tax, and estate services to HNW individuals — directly comparable to Cowan's service breadth and target segments.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Mariner Wealth Advisors is a national RIA offering comprehensive wealth planning, investment management, tax, and estate services — directly comparable to Cowan's integrated advisory model.
• Carson Group: Carson Group is an RIA aggregator and wealth management firm serving HNW clients with comprehensive planning — comparable to Cowan's integrated advisory model and partnership-style growth approach.
• Hightower Advisors: Hightower Advisors is an RIA partnership model that provides back-office, compliance, and technology infrastructure to independent advisory firms — directly parallel to the Cowan/Arch Global Advisors relationship and structure.

Others

• LPL Financial: LPL Financial is Cowan's broker-dealer partner and one of the largest independent broker-dealers in the US — included because LPL's platform, scale, and economics directly shape Cowan's product access, fee structure, and operational capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Focus Financial Partners: Focus Financial Partners is a leading RIA aggregator that partners with independent wealth management firms — directly parallel business model to Arch Global Advisors' relationship with Cowan Financial Group.
• Kestra Financial: Kestra Financial is a leading independent broker-dealer and RIA support platform that provides infrastructure to advisory firms — comparable to LPL Financial's role as Cowan's securities partner and operational backbone.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CowanFinancialGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Cowan Financial Group