Focus Financial Partners Inc., a leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management firms and related financial services firms, announced today that the NorthCoast Asset Management business line of Connectus Wealth Advisers, headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, has formally joined fellow Focus firm Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC.

NorthCoast joined Connectus in 2021 and specializes in quantitative research, a systematic investment process and a rigorous approach to the construction of risk-managed portfolios. NorthCoast works with both private and institutional clients and complements its financial planning services with an extensive range of proprietary investment solutions, including investment strategies that focus on capital appreciation with downside risk management, and alternative strategies to hedge downside risk when diversifying concentrated stock positions.

Through this transaction, NorthCoast will gain access to an expanded suite of wealth management services for its clients, including private investments and family office offerings.

“We are excited to join a firm like Kovitz that shares our DNA in portfolio construction and investment research,” said Patrick Jamin, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of NorthCoast. “Joining Kovitz will allow our advisors to continue providing clients with a comprehensive wealth management and planning experience that will be fortified by Kovitz’s resources.”

“We are thrilled to be joined by the NorthCoast team. They have a distinct excellence in offering investment solutions designed for clients with concentrated stock positions, which is an increasingly necessary tool for our clients who are corporate executives,” said Mitchell Kovitz, Founder and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Kovitz and Vice Chairman of Focus.

“The merging of these two firms will be a great next step in each of their evolutions,” said Michael Nathanson, Chief Executive Officer of Focus. “NorthCoast and Kovitz have built complementary businesses, and this transaction enhances the geographic reach of Kovitz while providing the NorthCoast team with additional planning capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.”

About Focus Financial Partners Inc.

Focus is a leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management and related financial services firms. Focus provides access to best practices, resources and continuity planning for its affiliated firms, which serve individuals, families, employers and institutions with comprehensive financial services. Focus firms benefit from the synergies, scale, economics and best practices offered by Focus to achieve their business objectives. For more information about Focus, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com.

About Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC

Kovitz is an investment adviser headquartered in Chicago, IL. Kovitz provides investment and wealth management solutions to high net worth individuals, institutions and private funds. Kovitz has been part of Focus since 2016. For more information about Kovitz, please visit www.kovitz.com.

About NorthCoast Asset Management

NorthCoast is a national investment management specialist that offers customized investment solutions to individuals, families and institutions. For more information about NorthCoast, please visit https://www.northcoastam.com/.

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