Fiduciary Firm Joins Apella Wealth
Apella Wealth, a financial advisory and wealth management firm serving individuals, families, and businesses, announced that Financial Connections Group, Inc., headquartered in Larkspur, California, has joined Apella. This partnership is said to broaden Apella’s West Coast footprint.
Founded in 1994, Financial Connections is a fee-only, fiduciary firm with over 30 years of experience offering financial planning, retirement planning and investment management services to individuals and families through a team-based approach. Guided by its mission to “Aspire. Empower. Achieve.,” the firm is committed to integrating clients’ visions for the future with their financial resources. The firm operates offices in Larkspur, Berkeley and San Francisco, CA. Financial Connections Partners Jill Hollander, Brian Pon and Kai Bogdanovich will join Apella alongside the entire Financial Connections team.
“It is a privilege to welcome the Financial Connections team to Apella,” said Jim Scanlan, president of Apella. “Their deep financial planning expertise, strong commitment to client relationships and collaborative culture seamlessly align with Apella’s values. Apella looks forward to continuing to grow the firm’s West Coast presence as a result of this partnership.”
“We decided to merge with a larger firm to expand and enhance the services we offer to our employees and clients,” said Jill Hollander, founder of Financial Connections Group. “We identified Apella Wealth as a company with philosophies and practices closely aligned with our own, and we are pleased to join their team.”
“Financial Connections represents the type of firm that Apella is proud to partner with – one built on professional excellence and the belief in doing what is best for its clients,” said Pat Sweeny, CEO of Apella. “Apella is pleased to have their team join the firm and help Apella to continue to grow in a thoughtful, strategic way.”
This marks Apella’s 27 partnership overall, and 16 with Wealth Partners Capital Group (WPCG), a financial services holding company that invested in Apella in September 2021.
“Financial Connections is a natural fit for Apella – both firms share a commitment to providing holistic advice, enduring client relationships and preserving advisor autonomy,” said Madison Snider, director at WPCG. “This acquisition further strengthens Apella’s West Coast presence while staying true to the culture and philosophy that has driven the firm’s growth.”
The deal closed on April 1, 2026. As of closing, Apella has approximately $10.5 billion in assets under management (AUM).
Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with nearly a decade of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado.