LEAWOOD, Kan., Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Mariner Holdings, an independent financial services firm and the parent company of Mariner Wealth Advisors and Montage Investments, today announced it has acquired Allied Business Group. Allied Business Group specializes in investment banking, valuation advisory, and forensic accounting services for business owners and their advisors.

Led by managing partners Tim Skarda and David Holzman, Allied focuses on unlocking liquidity for clients in order to help them achieve their strategic goals. The addition of Allied to the Mariner family of companies will allow Mariner to better serve the needs of high-net-worth clients and business owners by providing a wide range of services, including the ability to implement a strategic business exit strategy and advise on private investment opportunities. In return, Mariner will support Allied’s growth strategy with leading resources, personnel and technology, ultimately providing Allied’s clients with enhanced planning advice as they transition out of their businesses. As part of this support, Mariner will focus on providing recruiting resources to assist Allied in growing its practice through the hiring of leading professionals with experience in forensic accounting, business valuation, and investment banking.

According to Martin C. Bicknell, chief executive officer of Mariner Holdings, “We have long recognized a need among our clients who own businesses for additional support in the areas of business valuation and exit strategy planning. I am thrilled to bring the Allied team on board to support this need. The professionals at Allied have an impressive record of developing customized solutions for business owners and their advisors. By offering these services through Allied, we are providing our clients with access to industry-leading services and advice.”

A rapidly growing and award-winning independent financial services firm, Mariner Holdings, through its affiliates, provides financial advice and investment management services that are based purely on the needs and interests of clients, a mission shared by Allied. The partnership with Allied is the latest in a series of initiatives Mariner Holdings has undertaken to further its goal of delivering a wide range of solutions to meet diverse client needs. Other recent initiatives include the launch of Mariner Trust Company, which supports clients with a wide range of trust and estate planning solutions, the launch of FirstPoint Financial, a firm dedicated to providing personalized financial advice with no minimum asset requirements, and the growth of Montage Investments’ business through partnerships with boutique asset management firms.

“We are very excited to be part of the Mariner family of companies,” said Tim Skarda, Allied’s founder. “This relationship will provide opportunities for growth for both of our organizations. Most importantly, it will allow both Mariner and Allied to better serve our clients by combining our extensive expertise in developing solutions specifically to meet client needs.”

About Mariner Holdings
Mariner Holdings is a rapidly growing and award-winning independent financial services firm focusing on wealth and asset management through its two subsidiaries: Mariner Wealth Advisors and Montage Investments.

Visit www.mariner-holdings.com for more information.

About Allied Business Group
Allied Business Group was founded in 2002 with a mission of bringing unparalleled investment banking, business valuation and forensic accounting services to middle market companies. Allied’s diverse team of professionals provides solutions to the complex challenges and opportunities faced by business owners throughout the country.

Visit www.alliedbizgroup.com for more information.

About Mariner Wealth Advisors
Mariner Wealth Advisors is an independent, national wealth advisory firm that provides unbiased financial advice focused on meeting client needs. Mariner’s expert wealth advisory teams help clients achieve and maintain financial peace of mind – preserving the wealth they have created and building a legacy for future generations of family and business leaders. The firm’s wealth advisory services include:

• Financial planning
• Investment advisory services
• Multi-generational wealth planning
• Risk management
• Philanthropy
• Executive compensation planning
• Business succession planning
• Family office services
• Retirement planning services
• Insurance consulting

Visit www.marinerwealthadvisors.com for more information.

SOURCE Mariner Holdings, LLC