Fortigent
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wealth management, financial services |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Jamie McIntyre, Steve Lockshin |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina , United States |
| Products | Outsourced wealth management and technology solutions for third-party advisors |
| Parent | LPL Financial Holdings |
Fortigent, LLC originated in 1994 when Jamie McIntyre and Steve Lockshin established CMS Financial Services, a firm specializing in wealth management, advisory services, and performance analytics, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. CMS concentrated on absolute return and hedge fund approaches to enhance portfolio diversification, quickly establishing itself as a prominent independent advisor in managing equity risk. By 1999, the firm’s assets under management exceeded $1 billion. CMS’s expertise in portfolio accounting and performance measurement earned industry acclaim, leading to a 1995 collaboration with Arthur Andersen to extend these offerings nationwide.
In January 2001, Convergent Wealth Advisors (previously known as Lydian Trust Company) acquired CMS Financial Services. Subsequently, Convergent Wealth Advisors was purchased by City National Bank (California) in 2007. Following the acquisition, CMS underwent rebranding to become Lydian Wealth Management in 2003 while continuing its core service offerings. The Fortigent platform advanced further under the Lydian Trust Company umbrella.
By 2005, Fortigent separated from Lydian Trust Company to operate as an outsourced wealth management and technology solution designed for third-party advisors catering to affluent clientele.
In April 2012, LPL Financial Holdings acquired Fortigent. Three years later, in 2015, the company shifted its base of operations from Maryland to Charlotte, North Carolina after implementing a $9 million restructuring initiative.