'Boutique' Marin Firm At Center Of $45B Megamerger

MILL VALLEY, CA — A Marin investment firm that serves some of the community's wealthiest clients has teamed up with a San Francisco financial services company in one of the Bay Area’s first megamergers of the new year.

The union of Mill Valley-based Brouwer & Janachowski and Cerity Partners involves combined assets valued at more than $45 billion, the San Francisco company said in a news release announcing the merger.

Brouwer & Janachowski describes itself on its website as a "boutique" investment firmthat began operations more than 30 years ago and now manages assets were more than $2.3 billion.

The firm will operate as Cerity Partners, the company said.

"We are thrilled to join Cerity Partners and be colleagues of one of the top wealth advisory firms in the country," Brouwer & Janachowski President and CEO Stephen Janachowski said in a statement.

"Our clients will benefit from an expansive service offering and access to many subject matter experts."

Cerity caters to a similar clientele, according to its website, which describes the San Francisco firm as a “national registered financial and wealth advisory firm serving high-net-worth individuals and their families, businesses and their employees, and nonprofit organizations.”

"Serving the needs of clients in the Bay Area requires unique expertise and a culture that attracts talented wealth advisors and clients," Cerity CEO and President Kurt Miscinski said in a statement.

"We share common values, business practices, and a service mindset with our new colleagues from Brouwer & Janachowski."