DFA Alums Unveil Growth, Succession Platform for RIAs   

Parkwoods Wealth Partners, LLC announced its official launch, introducing a new platform designed to support the growth and succession planning of registered investment advisors (RIAs). The firm also announced its first partner, Syracuse, NY-based FMF&E Wealth Management, LLC. 

St. Louis-based Parkwoods was founded by industry veterans Al Sears and Ed Edwin, previously with Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), in partnership with Chris Gardner, an RIA practitioner, to create a platform tailored for advisors and aligned with DFA’s investment philosophy. 

“Many independent advisors today face a difficult choice: sell their practice and lose control or maintain independence at the cost of developing sustainable second-generation talent and diversifying what’s often their largest personal asset,” said Sears, co-founder and CEO. “Our model allows advisors to maintain their well-earned professional autonomy while accessing the benefits and security of a larger organization.” 

Parkwoods centralizes operational tasks such as compliance, trading, human resources, and custodian-related activities, allowing advisors to dedicate more time to client relationships and strategic growth. 

The firm said it is actively seeking partnerships with established RIAs and plans to expand its presence nationally while maintaining its focus on firms that predominantly use Dimensional Fund Advisors’ investment solutions. 

Founded in 2001, FMF&E offers retirement plan consulting services to about $195 million in self-directed retirement account assets and has over $358 million in assets under management, according to its most recent Form ADV, issued in June. 

Sears spent six years with DFA as a senior advisor and consultant before leaving in June. Edwin, currently COO at Parkwoods, worked at DFA for nearly five years, including as a regional director in charge of client relations. He departed the firm in March of 2023.