Focus Partners Advisor Solutions

What Focus Partners Advisor Solutions does

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions is a Turnkey Asset Management Platform (TAMP) that provides research-driven investment strategies, back-office operations, practice management, and advanced planning support to independent financial advisors and Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) across the United States. The company traces its origin to 1999 with the founding of the SA Funds family of ten asset class mutual funds and has operated under the Focus Financial Partners partnership since 2007. It was rebranded from Buckingham Strategic Partners, LLC to Focus Partners Advisor Solutions, LLC in January 2025. The firm is headquartered in Clayton, Missouri (St. Louis area), employs 122 staff, and serves a community of 983 independent advisor members across four U.S. sales territories (Northeast, West, Southeast, Central). Total assets under management or administration stood at $50.59 billion as of December 31, 2025, comprising $19.49B discretionary regulatory AUM, $16.91B non-discretionary regulatory AUM, and $14.09B in administrative and retirement plan services.

The platform is built on a multi-custodial technology architecture supporting back-office operations, trading, rebalancing, billing, and investment management across multiple custodian relationships. Core proprietary components include the Portfolio Analytics Center (historical performance analysis, portfolio comparisons, hypothetical modeling), a branded end-client portal and mobile application, and an integrated MoneyGuideElite financial planning module. Investment models are evidence-driven and supported by an Investment Policy & Research Committee, an approved and recommended securities list, a custom fixed income team, and a custom investment modeling capability covering ETFs, mutual funds, SMAs, and alternatives. The flagship investment vehicle is the SA Funds Investment Trust, sub-advised by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and distributed by Foreside Financial Services. Adjacent offerings include advanced planning consultations, business owner services, retirement plan services, specialty lending partners, and personal trust services.

The company operates an asset-based recurring fee model, charging a percentage of AUM/AUA in exchange for bundled investment models, trading, rebalancing, billing, compliance, and operational support. Go-to-market is exclusively through the independent advisor and RIA channel; the company does not serve end consumers directly. Marketing is driven by thought leadership (blog, webinars, newsletters), peer referrals within the advisor community, and a field sales model staffed by four regional Managing Directors. The Advanced Planning Team, anchored by Chief Planning Officer Jeffrey Levine and Head of Planning Strategy Michael Kitces, serves as a key differentiator and customer-acquisition asset.

Name

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions

Legal name

Focus Partners | Advisor Solutions, LLC

Website

https://advisor.focuspartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions is a TAMP serving 983 independent financial advisors with $50.59B AUM/AUA, providing evidence-driven investment models, back-office operations, practice management, and advanced planning support as part of the Focus Financial Partners partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wealth Management TAMP Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Wealth Platforms for Advisors (TAMP/Advisor Tech) (FSAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Portfolio Management–Led RIAs (Discretionary/Model-Based) (FSAAACAC), Investment Management Advisory (RIA) (FSAEAAAB)

Keywords

• Turnkey asset management
• Wealth management platform
• Investment management services
• Practice management support
• Back office outsourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Asset-Based Advisory Fees (TAMP): As a Turnkey Asset Management Platform (TAMP), Focus Partners Advisor Solutions charges fees based on assets under management or administration. The company provides investment models, back-office support, practice management, and operational tools to independent financial advisors in exchange for a percentage of AUM/AUA.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions is a Turnkey Asset Management Platform (TAMP) that provides independent financial advisors and RIAs with research-driven investment strategies, multi-custodial back-office support, practice management resources, advanced planning consultations, and a vetted technology stack. The firm manages $50.59 billion in AUM/AUA through its core offerings and serves 983 independent advisor members across the United States. Its flagship investment vehicle is the SA Funds family of asset class mutual funds.

Product overview

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions is a comprehensive wealth management TAMP (Turnkey Asset Management Program) previously known as Buckingham Strategic Partners, rebranded effective January 2025. The platform offers a modular suite of services organized around its core investment management and advisor support capabilities. The flagship investment vehicle is the SA Funds family of ten mutual funds sub-advised by Dimensional Fund Advisors. Core service modules include Investment Models, Practice Management, Back Office Support, Operational Tools, Technology Stack (featuring MoneyGuideElite), Advanced Planning Team, Custom Investment Modeling, and Specialty Services. The offering is designed to support independent financial advisors through the complete business lifecycle from startup through exit planning, with a network of peer planners and comprehensive marketing support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Focus Advisor Solutions TAMP Platform A comprehensive Turnkey Asset Management Platform providing research-driven investment strategies, practice management, back-office support, and operational tools for independent financial advisors and RIAs across the U.S.
• SA Funds – Investment Trust A family of ten asset class mutual funds sub-advised by Dimensional Fund Advisors, designed as building blocks for fee-based advisors to construct diversified client portfolios.
• Practice Management Services Comprehensive practice management services including practice consulting, legal and compliance support, advisory business transition resources, leadership coaching, advisor learning and development programs, client segmentation, and business succession planning for independent RIAs.
• Investment Models and Custom Portfolio Construction Evidence-driven investment models with flexible portfolio management, capital market assumptions, approved and recommended securities lists, custom fixed income desk, asset location, tax management, alternative asset classes, ESG solutions, and direct management of held-away accounts.
• Vetted Technology Stack A curated technology offering including the MoneyGuideElite planning platform, white-labeled end-client portal and mobile app, advanced portfolio analytics tools, risk assessment tools, and outside account aggregation.
• Back Office and Operational Support Administrative and operational services including multi-custodial oversight, account opening, transfer oversight, NIGO resolution, account maintenance, paperless processes, dedicated service team, performance reporting, billing, trading and rebalancing, cash management, and tax loss harvesting.
• Advanced Planning Team Expert planning consultation providing advanced planning thought leadership, complex case consultations, and wealth planning standards covering retirement, income tax, estate, risk management, health, education, business owner, and charitable planning.
• Custom Investment Modeling Open architecture portfolio construction supporting ETFs, mutual funds, SMAs, and alternatives with a customizable fixed income desk, prebuilt and customized modeling options, asset allocation performance review, and competitive analysis support.
• Marketing Support Services Suite of marketing tools including a marketing playbook, marketing collateral, timely curated content, workshop toolkits, and strategic marketing alliances to help advisors grow their practices.
• Specialty Services Specialized offerings including retirement plan services, institutional investment services, small business valuation and value enhancement, high yield cash management solutions, lending partners, personal trust services, and access to 30+ industry discounts and curated partnerships.
• Network of Peer Planners A nationwide community of like-minded independent advisors, CFPs, CPAs, and planners that facilitates peer connection, problem solving, and shared learning across geographies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Advisors successfully closed a $12M–$14M high-net-worth prospect case after Advanced Planning Team coaching on Waterfall methodology.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Dimensional Fund Advisors LPcoreTechnology or IntegrationDimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as Sub-Adviser to the SA Funds – Investment Trust. The majority of SA Funds are sub-advised by Dimensional, one of the most respected money managers in America, aligning with Focus's evidence-driven, asset class investing philosophy.
• Foreside Financial Services, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorForeside Financial Services, LLC serves as the distributor of the SA Funds – Investment Trust, handling fund distribution to independent advisors on behalf of Focus Advisor Solutions.
• Focus Financial Partners, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocus Advisor Solutions is a part of the Focus Financial Partners partnership (since 2007). Focus Financial Partners is a partnership of leading wealth management firms. This partnership provides access to shared resources, best practices, and institutional scale across the network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AssetMark: TAMP focused on turning advisors into wealth managers via investment solutions, practice resources, and back-office support — directly comparable model targeting independent RIAs.
• Envestnet: One of the largest TAMPs serving independent advisors with portfolio management, financial planning, and practice management — the closest comparable to Focus Partners Advisor Solutions in scale and breadth of offering.
• SEI Investments (SEI Advisor Network): Long-established TAMP/advisor network serving independent advisors with custody, investment management, and practice support — comparable multi-decade history and similar advisor lifecycle offering.
• Orion Advisor Solutions: TAMP and advisor tech platform offering portfolio management, CRM, billing, and trading tools to RIAs and breakaway brokers — closely aligned target market and product suite.
• Brinker Capital: TAMP focused on advisor-sold multi-asset portfolios and practice management for independent RIAs — directly comparable outsourced investment management model.

Broad incumbents

• LPL Financial: Largest US independent broker-dealer offering custody, technology, and practice support to advisors — broad incumbent competitor in the RIA/back-office space.
• Schwab Advisor Services: Custody and advisor platform from Charles Schwab providing back-office, trading, and consulting to independent RIAs — broader incumbent serving the same advisor base with deeper custodial capabilities.
• Fidelity Institutional: Custody, technology, and practice management arm of Fidelity serving independent RIAs and breakaway brokers — incumbent with overlapping advisor services and broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• Sanctuary Wealth: Wealth management platform serving breakaway advisors with operational support and investment solutions — comparable niche positioning targeting high-end independent advisors.
• Dynasty Financial Partners: Platform providing technology, operations, and investment management to independent wealth management firms — closely comparable in serving breakaway advisors with a multi-service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FocusPartnersAS
• Facebookfacebook.com/FocusPartnersAdvisorSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/focuspartnersadvisorsolutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Focus Partners Advisor Solutions