Convergent's story begins with a group of passionate, committed professionals managing the assets of one family.  And though today we're an industry leader with over $13 billion in assets under advisement, we maintain our original focus — providing our clients with objective, holistic wealth management services.

From new technologies to early use of alternative investments, we've always been ahead of the curve. While open architecture is now standard practice among wealth advisers, we pioneered this approach more than fifteen years ago.  We also were among the first to provide consolidated performance reporting, keeping our clients in the loop without tying up their valuable time. During the boom of the 1990s, we saw the increase in concentrated wealth and responded accordingly, addressing diversification, risk, and tax implications.

As we focused on a philosophy of diversification and objective, open architecture investing, our client base grew. Strategic acquisitions throughout the years have strengthened our research capabilities and our “human capital.”   Yet even as we have evolved, our foundation has remained constant: providing clients with exceptional service, objectivity, innovation, and smart thinking.
 

2010

• Convergent recognized by Financial Advisor Magazine as the 3rd largest Registered Investment Advisor in the United States.
• Lori Van Dusen ranked No. 12 in the nation in Barron's 2010 Top 100 Women Advisors list.
• Convergent’s CEO, Steve Lockshin, ranked No. 5 and Dave Zier ranked No. 8 in the nation on Barron's 2010 Top 100 Financial Advisors list.
• Steve Lockshin ranked No. 4 in the state of California on Barron's 2010 Top 1,000 Advisors list. George Dunn ranked No. 9 in Maryland, and Lori Van Dusen ranked No. 46 in New York.
• In April, Convergent hosted its third annual "Convergent 10 Symposium."  Featured speakers included Patty Stonesifer (Senior Advisor to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trustees and Chair of the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution), Robert Levy (Chairman, The Cato Institute), Liz Ann Sonders (CIO, Charles Schwab & Co) and others.

2009

• Steve Lockshin ranked No. 2 on Barron's Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors list. George Dunn (No. 24) and Lori Van Dusen (No. 63) also made the Top 100.
• Steve Lockshin ranked No. 19 on Barron's list of Top Financial Advisors in the United States.
• Convergent ranked No. 15 by Wealth Manager in its annual survey of the country's Top Wealth Managers.
• Convergent ranked No. 9 in Registered Rep's Top 100 Registered Investment Advisors.
• In February, Convergent hosted its second annual "Convergent 10 Symposium," an exclusive event limited to ten family offices, each with investable assets in excess of $1 billion.  Featured speakers included George Stephanopoulos (ABC News), David Rubenstein (The Carlyle Group), and Paul Singer (Elliott Associates). 

2008

• In August, a group of seasoned investment professionals led by George Dunn and Lori Van Dusen, two well-known and highly respected leaders in the investment advisory industry, joined Convergent, bringing additional institutional-caliber investment and research expertise to our company.
• Firm assets under advisement now exceed $10 billion. 

2007

• Lydian Wealth Management re-capitalizes, increasing management's stake in the corporation and re-brands itself as Convergent Wealth Advisors.
• Firm assets under advisement now exceed $8 billion.
• Los Angeles office is opened in order to better serve our company’s growing national client base.

2006

• Fortigent is spun out as a stand-alone entity to segment the company’s business strategy, improve brand development, and enhance the overall client experience.

2005

• Announces the organization of Fortigent (formerly Lydian Advisor Solutions) as a leading Turn Key Asset Management Program (TAMP) provider to banks, trust companies, and independent investment advisors.
• New York City regional office is opened.
• Assets under advisement reach approximately $6.5 billion.

2004

• The Windermere acquisition brings a particular expertise in researching, constructing, and implementing creative alternative strategies, including private equity and real estate. 

2003

• CMS moves its headquarters to new offices in Washington, DC to coincide with a name change to Lydian Wealth Management. The firm continues to operate as an independent subsidiary.
• Assets under advisement exceed $4 billion.

2002

• Seattle regional office is opened.
• Target client size is raised to $10 million and the firm establishes itself as a recognized competitor in the ultra-high net worth marketplace.
• Retains 100% of its clients in a bear market, and assets under advisement top $3 billion.

2001

• While still retaining its autonomy and independence, CMS sells a majority interest to 1st Virtual Holdings (now Lydian Trust Company) to capitalize on the resources and technological capabilities of the parent company.

2000

• Assets under advisement reach approximately $1.5 billion.

1999

• Less than a decade since the firm began with one client, total assets under management now exceed $1 billion.

1998

• The company becomes an early adopter of Monte Carlo simulation analysis to quantify clients' required risk and return parameters to meet lifestyle and estate planning needs. 
• Pursuing opportunities created by changes in tax law, the firm becomes one of the largest objective intermediaries in equity risk management, helping dozens of clients protect and monetize billions of dollars in concentrated equity positions.  

1997

• Absolute return and hedged equity strategies are employed, providing new avenues for diversification and non-correlation within client portfolios.
• The inclusion of these strategies largely insulates client portfolios from the potentially traumatic performance effects of the subsequent bursting of the technology and telecommunication bubbles.

1996

• The company continues to be an early adopter of new technologies, with its consolidated performance reporting solution standing out as an industry leader.

1995

• Opening its doors to other families in 1995, the firm is again a market leader in an industry trend — the creation of a “Multi-Family Office.”

1994

• CEO Steve Lockshin and a handful of professionals incorporate as CMS to formalize the investment consulting services they had been providing a single high net worth family.

1990

• Championing an open architecture approach to investing and an objective service offering, the company is on the forefront of what later becomes an industry-wide trend for wealth management firms.