Modern Wealth Management, a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm, has completed an asset purchase agreement for El Segundo, California-based Kaye Capital Management (KCM), a fee-only RIA with over $700 million in assets under management (AUM) and an additional $300 million in assets under advisement (AUA), bringing Modern Wealth’s total AUM past $8.5 billion and marking its fourth acquisition of 2025.
KCM offers financial planning and investment management services alongside a dedicated institutional retirement planning business. This strategic move deepens Modern Wealth’s presence in California, a key market for comprehensive wealth and retirement solutions.
Jason Gordo, Co-founder and President of Modern Wealth, stated, “KCM joining Modern Wealth marks another significant milestone as we deepen our reach in California, strengthening our ability to deliver comprehensive wealth and retirement solutions for individuals and corporations in one of the nation’s most sophisticated markets. David and Ken have built an exceptional firm with deep community roots and real expertise across both personal wealth management and institutional retirement planning. Their leadership and local presence sharpens our bench in Los Angeles and contributes to our growing national presence.”
Established in 2000, KCM provides wealth management services to a diverse client base including corporate executives, public servants, physicians, attorneys, entrepreneurs, film directors, writers, and retirees across California and beyond. The firm also specializes in institutional retirement planning for corporations and nonprofit organizations. Led by Ken Watten, CFP®, and David Hilton, AIF®, both of whom now join Modern Wealth as managing directors, KCM manages over $300 million for more than 200 households in its individual advisory business and over $400 million in retirement plan assets for more than 400 companies ranging from 50 to 1,000 employees.
Ken Watten commented on the transition, stating, “As KCM grew, so did the complexity of running the business. David and I found ourselves spending more time managing the firm and less time doing what we’re most passionate about – serving clients. Modern Wealth provides the scale and support we need to help our clients navigate the complexities of their financial lives, within a team that shares our values and is working toward a common goal. Joining Modern Wealth gives us the opportunity to continue growing both personally and professionally.”
Modern Wealth plans to integrate KCM’s specialized retirement plan services across its firm, providing access to institutional-quality consulting and co-fiduciary services for various qualified retirement plans, including 401(k), profit sharing, 403(b), and 529 plans. These capabilities build on Modern Wealth’s expanding retirement plan advisory business, which launched in March 2024 following the asset purchase of Beltz Ianni and is led by Michelle Cannan, CPFA™, QKA®, QKC, Managing Director and Head of Company Retirement Plan Services. The addition of KCM’s experienced retirement services group enhances Modern Wealth’s capacity to serve business owners and corporate clients with specialized solutions.
David Hilton added, “Michelle and the Modern Wealth retirement plan services team bring a distinct level of depth and expertise that elevates our offerings for corporations and nonprofit organizations. Their acumen in plan design, compliance and administration will enable us to better serve the sophisticated needs of this client base, delivering institutional-caliber solutions for employers in Southern California and beyond.”
By joining Modern Wealth, KCM gains access to a robust wealth management platform that expands its ability to deliver integrated services, including financial planning, tax planning and preparation, estate planning, and investment management. The firm will also leverage Modern Wealth’s “Organic Growth Hub,” which provides strategies for lead generation, distribution, client onboarding, and business support resources across marketing, technology, compliance, human resources, and operations. KCM’s team of four has joined Modern Wealth and fully adopted its brand. This acquisition is Modern Wealth’s third in California this year, following the asset purchases of Wade Financial Advisory and Planned Asset Management.
Modern Wealth Management, co-founded by former United Capital executives Gary Roth, Mike Capelle, and Jason Gordo, is a registered investment adviser (RIA) focused on reimagining financial advice delivery. The firm is strategically acquiring high-growth RIAs across the country to establish regional offices in key U.S. locations, offering a full suite of wealth management services including financial planning, tax planning and preparation, and estate planning.
