Naviter Wealth Research
Firm Overview & Origin
Naviter Wealth is a SEC-registered independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, serving families with significant wealth accumulated through liquidity events such as business sales and divestitures. Founded in January 2021 by a breakaway team from Stephens Inc., a major regional investment bank, Naviter was built on the conviction that post-transaction family advisors need independence from traditional broker-dealer conflicts to serve high-net-worth families effectively. The firm launched with $1.7 billion in assets under management from Stephens' largest Private Client Group and has grown to approximately $1.3 billion in AUM by 2024 (with growth to over $1.3B by late 2024 following the WAGN buyback).
Advisory Approach & Philosophy
Naviter's thesis is centered on a deep understanding of the specific challenges families face after selling a business. Rather than positioning itself as an M&A transaction advisor, Naviter serves as the trusted guide through the post-transaction financial landscape. The firm's name—derived from Latin "navigare" (navigate) and "iter" (journey)—reflects this commitment to guiding families through their wealth transition.
The firm operates with a collaborative model rather than a "quarterback" approach, recognizing that successful families typically work with a diverse team of tax attorneys, M&A advisors, insurance specialists, and trust specialists. Naviter positions itself as the integrator and coordinator of this advisory ecosystem, ensuring all elements work cohesively toward each family's unique objectives.
Key to their approach is that they are true fiduiary advisors, registered with the SEC with no broker-dealer conflicts of interest. This independence allows them to recommend strategies and investments purely in the client's interest rather than products that generate commissions.
Service Platform & Capabilities
Naviter provides a comprehensive wealth management platform spanning:
Core Investment Services: Portfolio management, financial planning, investment strategy development, and ongoing performance management through proprietary technology and reporting infrastructure. The firm invested heavily in best-in-class technology platforms for aggregation, performance reporting, and investment management.
Family Office Services: Tax planning and coordination, trust administration (as representative office of National Advisors Trust Company), estate planning support, insurance planning, and lending coordination. This ecosystem approach enables families to address the multi-dimensional complexity of substantial wealth—not just investment returns, but tax optimization, legacy planning, and intergenerational wealth transfer.
M&A Advisory Support: Recognizing that many clients are in the midst of or contemplating business sales, Naviter provides guidance on selecting M&A advisors, understanding deal structures, negotiating outcomes, and preparing families for post-closing transitions. They have developed materials and frameworks on these topics (e.g., "Framework for Selecting an M&A Advisor") and partner with M&A firms, transaction attorneys, and other advisors as part of client service delivery.
Team Expertise & Credentials
Naviter's team is highly credentialed, drawn from investment banking and wealth management backgrounds:
- Bentley Blackmon, CFA, CFP, CPA (Inactive), CEPA — CEO; led the breakaway from Stephens; known for thought leadership on post-transaction planning
- Phillip Worthen — President; 25+ years of experience including 13+ years in wealth management; former Stephens Senior Vice President
- John Kornet, CFP — Chief Investment Officer; responsible for portfolio construction and investment philosophy
- Jordan Bauer, CFP, CPA — Chief Operating Officer; manages firm operations and compliance
- Christopher Eckert, CPA — Managing Director; joined via Echelon Wealth Advisors merger in 2023
- Rick Dougherty, CFP, AIF — Managing Director (left firm in September 2025 to join Uniting Wealth Partners)
- Alecia Fisher Dougherty, CFP — Managing Director (left firm in September 2025 to join Uniting Wealth Partners)
Team designations include 3 Certified Public Accountants, 6 Certified Financial Planners, 1 Chartered Financial Analyst, 2 MBAs, 1 Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), and 1 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. All advisors are encouraged to develop deep expertise in specific domains (investment management, estate planning, M&A advisory, etc.).
Strategic Growth & Key Transactions
2021 Launch: Founded with support from Wealth Advisor Growth Network (WAGN) as a strategic investor.
2023 Merger: Acquired Echelon Wealth Advisors (Pittsford, New York–based RIA), expanding geographic footprint and team.
2024 Buyback: Repurchased minority equity stake held by WAGN in October 2024, increasing management ownership and establishing full independence. This represented a pivotal milestone, signaling the firm's maturation from startup to established independent firm.
Geographic Presence
With headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, Naviter operates offices across major US markets: Arkansas (Little Rock), New York (Pittsford, Rochester, and plans for NYC), and planned expansion to Nashville, Dallas, and Atlanta. This national footprint allows them to serve clients across geographies while maintaining the collaborative, relationship-intensive approach that defines their service model.
Registration & Compliance
Naviter is SEC-registered as a Registered Investment Advisor (CRD #311508, SEC #801-120077). The firm is not FINRA-registered as a broker-dealer; instead, it operates purely as an independent RIA, reinforcing its fiduciary commitment. The firm custodies client assets through qualified third-party custodians and maintains comprehensive compliance infrastructure appropriate to its size and scope.
Business Model & Fee Structure
As an RIA, Naviter operates on assets-under-management (AUM) fees, typically charged as a percentage of assets managed, with structures that often include:
- Base AUM fees (often tiered based on total assets managed)
- Financial planning fees for advisory work
- Potential for modest transaction-related fees for specific advisory services
The exact fee structure varies by client situation and service scope, but Naviter's fiduciary model ensures fees are transparent and aligned with client outcomes.
Market Position & Competitive Advantages
Naviter operates in a relatively uncrowded niche: independent wealth management exclusively for families post-major liquidity events. Unlike large bank wealth management divisions (which may prioritize product sales over planning) or smaller advisory firms, Naviter combines:
- Deep Banking Heritage — founded by former investment bankers who understand transaction complexity
- True Independence — no broker-dealer conflicts, purely fiduciary
- Comprehensive Services — family office capabilities (tax, legal, trust, insurance) coordinated in-house
- Entrepreneurial Experience — team understands what built-company owners actually need post-exit
- Technology Investment — significant spend on reporting, aggregation, and performance analytics
- Affiliate Relationships — established partnerships with M&A advisors, attorneys, accountants, and other specialists
Target Client Profile
Naviter's sweet spot is families with $5M-$500M+ in liquid wealth, typically from business sales, and seeking sophisticated multi-dimensional wealth management. These clients often have:
- Recently completed or are contemplating business divestitures
- Complex family dynamics and legacy objectives
- Multi-state or international considerations
- Desire for collaborative advisory relationships rather than centralized "quarterback" model
- Need for tax optimization, estate planning, and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies
Outlook & Expansion
The firm has demonstrated strong growth trajectory: from $1.7B at launch (2021) through organic growth and strategic M&A (Echelon 2023), with ongoing national expansion. The WAGN buyback in 2024 positioned leadership for long-term independence and potential for further scale. The firm's focus on an underserved niche—post-liquidity event wealth management—gives it strong positioning in an era when M&A activity remains robust and business owners seek trusted guides for wealth stewardship.