At a glance
- RedBird set out to find an experienced operator to build a business with rather than acquire an established platform and find someone to run it, according to the podcast.
- The two describe the result as a hybrid: the resources, infrastructure and capital of a large institution with the flexibility, ownership and culture of an independent firm.
- For advisors weighing a move, the pitch is ownership and a hand in shaping the platform.
Arax, the wealth management firm RedBird Capital Partners built with CEO Haig Ariyan, has grown to about $50 billion in assets and 230 financial advisors, according to a WealthManagement.com podcast published Nov. 5, 2026.
RedBird set out to find an experienced operator to build a business with rather than acquire an established platform and find someone to run it, according to the podcast. That search led RedBird partner Mike Zabik to Ariyan, whose career includes leadership roles at Alex. Brown and Raymond James. The two describe the result as a hybrid: the resources, infrastructure and capital of a large institution with the flexibility, ownership and culture of an independent firm. Their stated aim is to be a "partner of choice, not an acquirer of choice."
For advisors weighing a move, the pitch is ownership and a hand in shaping the platform. Ariyan describes a business where advisors help shape the capabilities they use, keep control over how they serve clients and take part in the firm's equity value. The equity terms were not disclosed.
Reported by the Deals & PE desk from WealthManagement.com. Published . Corrections