The fee-based advisory network United Capital Financial Advisers has added Atlanta, GA-based Sanders Financial Management in a step towards the firm's goal of growing in the Southeast.

Sanders Financial Management, founded by Emily Sanders, has some $222 million in assets under management and 160 family relationships. Seven of its employees - including former president, Owen Malcolm - have joined United Capital, which now employs 285 people.

The Newport Beach, CA-headquartered firm said Sanders and Malcolm will continue to serve as partners and managing directors of Sanders Financial Management, which now operates as a division of United Capital.

In July, the advisory network bolstered its management team with the addition of three industry veterans. Sheri Smith joined as vice president of sales and lead generation, while Jim Zahradnick and Brian Church started as director of recruiting and director of East Coast recruiting respectively.

At the time, the firm said it is particularly interested in expanding into these areas: Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, New York, Los Angeles/Orange County, CA, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, St Louis, MO, Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Tampa, FL, Memphis, TN, Minneapolis/St Paul and Cincinnati, OH.

United Capital now has 40 offices in the US. At end-June, the firm and its affiliates had $14 billion in assets under advisement. United Capital has $6 billion in AuM.