A few years ago, my family and I joined the ranks of newly minted Floridians. Our move to Florida was driven by a number of factors, among them were the appeals of the tax environment and the all-winter outdoor weather. It’s been wonderful calling Florida home.
One thing that stands out here in Southeast Florida—from Jupiter down to Boca Raton—is how wealth has traditionally been managed. For a long time, people have felt most familiar working with big, well-known institutions—the wirehouses. That was the standard, especially for those who moved down to Florida and brought those relationships with them.
In the years I’ve been here, I’ve noticed a shift in the advisor marketplace that’s worth noting.
The Old Guard and a New Reality
In areas like Palm Beach, multi-generational wealth still runs deep. You’ve got the old-line companies, those venerable institutions managing legacy money. While those firms still serve a purpose, we’re seeing something new take root: more entrepreneurial wealth, hedge fund money, and other first-generation wealth.
These individuals are asking different questions. They’re looking for more flexibility, more forward-thinking strategies, and guidance that’s strategically aligned with their needs.
Where Independent Advice Fits In
That’s where independent advisors like Van Leeuwen & Company can offer real value. I know “holistic” gets thrown around a lot, but in the context of legacy investment managers, it means something. We’re firm believers in holistic wealth management, where we look at wealth through over 85 lenses because your financial life is more than a portfolio. We work to connect family, goals, and transitions.
Built for Integrated Wealth
Most of our clients are first-generation wealthy. They’ve worked hard, educated kids or, in some cases, still educating them, supported parents and siblings, and now want to safeguard what they’ve built and pass it on wisely. They care about their money, but more than that, they care about using it well. That’s why we focus on truly knowing our clients and often work with multiple generations of the same family.
It also means they need advice in areas beyond general portfolio management. They want to professionalize their family’s financial management. This planning-centric approach is adaptable.
A Better Fit for a Changing Florida
Florida’s wealth landscape is shifting. We are seeing a growing appetite for comprehensive financial planning among the new generation of Floridian wealth. That brings different needs, different questions, and a need for advice that reflects the whole picture.
And as those needs change, it’s worth making sure the advice is evolving too.
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.