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Leading $700 Million Denver, CO-Based Wealth Management Team, Cardan Capital Partners, Launches as an Independent Advisory Firm

November 9, 2015 9:02 AM EST

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dynasty Financial Partners today announced its partnership with Cardan Capital Partners, the most recent independent advisory firm to leverage Dynasty Financial Partners’ industry-leading platform of integrated wealth management services and technology.

Founding Partners Ross Fox, Matthew Papazian, Marti Awad and Sarah Keys launched Cardan Capital Partners as an independent advisory firm after leaving Merrill Lynch. With client assets more than $700 million, Cardan Capital Partners immediately becomes one of the largest independent advisory firms in Colorado.

Based in Denver, Colorado, the firm works with corporate executives, professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs in Denver, Vail and Aspen as well in major markets nationwide. Cardan Capital Partners collaborates with attorneys, accountants and other advisors to understand their clients’ full financial picture and works with the children of their clients to educate them on investments, financial management and charitable giving.

The team chose the name ‘Cardan’ to reflect their approach to wealth management. The name comes from the ‘cardan’ suspension, a navigational tool used in sailing to ensure a ship’s stability and balance in both calm and rough waters.

“We have always strived for excellence by embracing the most innovative and progressive trends in the financial services industry. The continued evolution of technology and strategic partners in the independent space have made the independent model compelling for our clients and for us,” said Mr. Fox, Managing Partner at Cardan Capital. “Many of our clients appreciate being in the mountains and have vacation homes in ski resorts. We have a passion for serving clients both in the state and those who may be at a distance but who have a deep connection with Colorado.”

"The Cardan Capital Partners team is poised for expansion – both by adding advisors and expanding their geographic footprint," said Shirl Penney, President and CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners. "We look forward to partnering with them as they build their business and we are proud to add them to our Network of truly independent advisors.”

According to Tim Bello, Partner and Head of Network Development at Dynasty, “With their newly launched independent firm, we expect that the Cardan Capital team will have even greater success building out their business and will become the firm that successful advisors in Colorado and other independent minded advisors in the region will seek to join.”

Cardan Capital Partners will be utilizing Dynasty’s financial services platform of integrated wealth management services and technology. Dynasty's groundbreaking investment platform integrates industry-leading proprietary technology, research access, analytical tools, and the support of Dynasty’s home office investment team members. Cardan will also leverage Tamarac’s and Envestnet's state-of-the-art portfolio tools and reporting technology. Schwab will provide custody services with Market Counsel providing ongoing compliance support.

For more information, please visit www.CardanCapital.com.

Biographies

 

Ross A. Fox

Founding Partner
 
As a Founding Partner of Cardan Capital Partners, Ross Fox brings to the firm nearly 30 years of experience as well as a passion for the capital markets.
 
Before launching Cardan Capital Partners, Mr. Fox served as Senior Vice President – Wealth Management Advisor, Global Wealth & Investment Management and team Managing Partner and, prior to that, as Resident Manager of Merrill Lynch’s Cherry Creek office. He was a specially qualified Senior Portfolio Manager in the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program. In addition, Mr. Fox and the team were among an elite group of financial advisors vetted to manage money for the clients of other financial advisors and for the Merrill Lynch/U.S. Trust Company. Mr. Fox serves as Cardan’s Managing Partner.
 
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Georgia and was a Syracuse University Graduate Fellow as well as a Ford Foundation Scholar. He is an active participant in the Denver community and recently served on the Alzheimer’s Association board.
 

Matthew “Matt” A. Papazian, CFA

Founding Partner, Cardan Capital Partners
 
Founding Partner Matt Papazian has been advising corporate executives, entrepreneurs and high net worth families for more than 25 years. Mr. Papazian serves as the team’s Chief Investment Officer. In this role, he focuses exclusively on managing the team’s model portfolios and creating custom asset allocation strategies for our clients.
 
Prior to co-founding Cardan Capital Partners, Mr. Papazian was a Senior Vice President – Wealth Management Advisor, Global Wealth & Investment Management, with Merrill Lynch. He was a specially qualified Senior Portfolio Manager in the Merrill Lynch Investment Advisory Program. In addition, he and the team were among an elite group of financial advisors vetted to manage money for the clients of other financial advisors and for the Merrill Lynch/US Trust Company. Mr. Papazian began his career as a financial analyst for a leading healthcare company.
 
Mr. Papazian is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance at the Leeds School of Business. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst certification and is currently a member of the Denver Society of Securities Analysts and the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts. He supports numerous nonprofit initiatives and previously served on the board of the Cancer League of Colorado.
 

Marti J. Awad, J.D, LL.M. in Taxation, CFA, CFP®

Founding Partner, Cardan Capital Partners
 
Founding Partner Marti Awad has more than 22 years of experience working in the capital markets, first as a practicing tax attorney at one of the country’s top securities, mergers and acquisitions law firms and, for the past 15 years, as a private wealth advisor. Before that, she worked in the tax consulting group of a national accounting firm.
 
Her tax and legal background, coupled with her deep investment expertise, place her in a unique position to advise clients on virtually every aspect of their complex wealth management issues. She specializes in holistic financial planning and works closely with our clients’ other advisors – attorneys, accountants and family office practitioners – to ensure that our collective advice is integrated. She is driven by a passion to assist our clients in defining and achieving their goals and, ultimately, creating a legacy for future generations.
 
Before co-founding Cardan Capital Partners, Ms. Awad was a Vice President-Wealth Management Advisor, Global Wealth & Investment Management with Merrill Lynch and a specially qualified Portfolio Manager. Her earlier tenure as a practicing tax attorney affords Cardan clients and their families the advantage of her in-depth knowledge of the tax implications surrounding financial investment and tax minimization techniques.
 
Ms. Awad holds the internationally recognized postgraduate law degree LL.M. in Taxation from NYU; a J.D. from SMU; and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designations and is a member of the Denver Society of Securities Analysts and the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts.
 
Ms. Awad is a dedicated member of the Denver civic and nonprofit community and has served on numerous boards and committees. She currently serves on the boards of University Prep, 9Health Fair, Metro State University of Denver Foundation and was recently appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to the Colorado State 529 Plan board. In 2015, she was one of ten people worldwide to receive the Merrill Lynch David Brady Award for exceptional service to clients, collaboration with colleagues and contributions to the community.
 

Sarah L. Keys, J.D., M.A.

Founding Partner, Cardan Capital Partners
 
Sarah Keys is a Founding Partner at Cardan Capital Partners. With a career that spans financial services, law and international affairs, Ms. Keys brings an uncommon breadth of knowledge to the firm. She has been integral to increasing the financial strength of individuals and families by providing comprehensive, customized financial advice and investment strategies designed to grow and preserve wealth.
 
Her previous tenure practicing family law prepared her for the unique and often sensitive issues that come with growing, managing and safeguarding the wealth of family-based assets.
 
Before co-founding Cardan Capital Partners, Ms. Keys worked at Merrill Lynch serving as Vice President – Wealth Management Advisor, Global Wealth & Investment Management for nine years and, prior to that, as an attorney for four years. Earlier in her career, she worked with Fortune 500 executives to help prepare them for the cultural challenges of living and doing business abroad.
 
Ms. Keys holds a Master’s Degree in International Business Transactions from the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business. As an undergraduate at the University of Colorado Boulder, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, and was a Harvard Model U.N. participant and member of Sigma Iota Rho, the national honors society for International Affairs. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder where she was Vice President of the Rothgerber Moot Court Program. She also clerked for the Honorable Wiley Y. Daniel of the U.S. District Court of Colorado.
 

Richard “Dick” Sisung

Senior Associate, Cardan Capital Partners
 
Dick Sisung has been working in the financial services industry for nearly 50 years. After serving four years as a Destroyer Officer in the U.S. Navy, he began his financial career in the Trust Department at National Bank of Detroit.
 
Mr. Sisung moved his family to Denver in 1976 and became the head of United Bank’s Trust Department in Colorado Springs. Shortly thereafter, he merged this office with the United Bank of Denver office. In 1981, Dick joined the First National Bank of Denver Trust Department (now Wells Fargo) as Vice President and director of the largest trust and estate group in Colorado. Two years later, he spearheaded the creation of the bank’s first Private Banking facility and moved to the Private Bank as Vice President.
 
Mr. Sisung later joined Colorado National Bank of Denver to help establish a Private Banking operation there and ultimately became Managing Director of the largest office in the firm. His office specialized in complex lending and financial transactions for high net worth clients and consulted in outside private investment opportunities for their clients. In 1997, he joined Merrill Lynch as a Vice President, private wealth advisor, where he served until the launch of Cardan.
 
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Hillsdale College and attended the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University.
 

About Dynasty Financial Partners

Dynasty Financial Partners is the premiere integrated platform for the wealth management industry’s top advisors. Dynasty develops, sources and integrates wealth management capabilities, solutions and technology into its open-architecture platform to help independent advisors protect and grow their clients’ wealth. Dynasty’s core principle is “objectivity without compromise”, and the firm is committed to crafting solutions that allow investment advisors to act as true fiduciaries to their clients. For more information, please visit www.dynastyfinancialpartners.com and follow us on Twitter @DynastyFP.

Dynasty Financial Partners
Sally Cates, 212-373-1000
[email protected]

Source: Dynasty Financial Partners



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