Wright Ford Young Wades Into Wealth Management With Help From RIA Firm

Irvine, CA-based accounting firm Wright Ford Young & Co. (WFY) has teamed with Integrated Partners, a national financial planning and registered investment advisory firm, resulting in WFY launching a new wealth management practice.

The wealth practice, WFY Wealth Management, says on its website, “Our client service, compassion, and integrity help us stand out from the sea of similarity in the financial services industry. We are an experienced Southern California wealth manager providing financial advocacy to families and businesses both nationally and internationally.”

Founded in 1973, WFY touts itself as the largest single-office accounting firm in Orange County, CA. The CPA firm provides audit, tax, trust, and estate planning services, as well as business consulting services, to closely held companies, family enterprises, and private foundations in the Southern California marketplace. WFY has 10 partners, 75 professional staff, and employs a total of approximately 100 people.

With more than 200 advisors, 170-plus CPAs, and 116 regional offices across the U.S., Integrated is an RIA with more than $12.7 billion in advisory assets. Founded in 1996, Integrated supports financial advisors by offering a completely customizable open architecture business environment: technology, investment management, advanced planning, CPA partner program, custody, marketing, public relations, M&A, succession planning, and comprehensive business counsel.

WFY Wealth Management is the result of a collaborative effort between Jeff Myers, managing partner at WFY; Paul Saganey, founder and president of Integrated; and certified financial planner Brad Tedrick, who will serve as the wealth manager at WFY Wealth Management.

With nearly three decades of expertise in the financial services industry, Tedrick brings a wealth of relevant knowledge to his new role. As a business owner himself, he specializes in retirement income planning, investment management, and business owner growth and exit planning. In his role as a wealth manager, he will also collaborate with the firm’s CPAs to offer a holistic view of clients’ financial situations.

Joining Tedrick is another CFP, Luke Schork, who will utilize Integrated’s suite of back-office services—including solutions for business owners, familiy office services, and retirement plan administration—to enhance the overall client experience.

“We’re thrilled to introduce this new wealth management service to our clients at WFY. With all our financial advisors dedicated to business owners or high-net-worth individuals in one place, we’re poised to elevate the quality and depth of our client service,” Myers said in a statement. “This strategic move is a direct response to the growing complexity we’re witnessing, not just in the variety of wealth our clients are amassing but also with regards to the way they handle and manage it. We’re committed to ensuring that our clients have access to a comprehensive team of experts capable of addressing the multifaceted financial challenges they face.”

“As the demand for comprehensive wealth and tax services continues to rise, WFY Wealth Management is poised to be the preferred destination for addressing these needs,” Saganey added. “With this collaboration, Wright, Ford & Young clients can now connect with seasoned wealth advisors who are ready to collaborate and offer expert guidance, addressing the intricacies of their financial lives and goals.”

Last November, Integrated started a similar strategic partnership with Californian accounting and advisory firm Windes in order to launch Ovisto Wealth Management.