Smith Anglin Financial, a Dallas, TX, registered investment advisor, has merged with Rhoads Lucca Capital Management in a deal the firms say will improve succession wealth planning for commercial airline pilots.

The firms said that criteria for the deal included finding a fit for Rhoads Lucca’s traditional RIA active and retired pilot clients as well as for 401(k) accounts it managed.

The combined firms serve commercial pilots from Southwest, United, Delta, US Airways/American and FedEx, among others, in 45 states.

“This merger is a solution for the Rhoads Lucca succession planning because the combined firm has more resources for client solutions and delivery of those solutions,” Steve Anglin, managing partner of Smith Anglin, told Family Wealth Report. 

“The combined firm has a wider range of leadership across the age spectrum. Whenever John Rhoads [Partner at Rhoads Lucca] decides to retire, he can now do so knowing that everything he built is in good hands and that it will continue to operate with the same level of integrity and standard of service that are his hallmarks.” 

He added that the distinct needs of his firm’s clients are help with tax-efficient investment management and planning for a long period of retirement. 

“Another important need during the retirement process is evaluation and explanation of company benefits and planning to maximize the benefits provided by the employer,” Anglin said.

“We help them [pilots] pre-retirement, with planning and leading up to it, then we manage their financial lives when they enter retirement.” 

The deal brings the combined AuM of the RIA to about $500 million.