The Power of Partnership

Three firms come together to better serve their clients.

For more than three decades, Jim Schlager, CFP^®, CTFA, has championed a simple idea in an increasingly complex industry: Financial planning works when clients don’t have to assemble the puzzle themselves. That philosophy has guided every chapter of Jim’s career—from helping build regional wealth management firms to leading Running Point Capital Advisors, the Southern California-based practice he founded to serve high-net-worth families and business owners.

Now, with Running Point’s merger into Cerity Partners, Jim sees an opportunity to take that vision to a larger stage. Founded in 2009 and led by CEO Kurt Miscinski, Cerity Partners has grown into one of the nation’s largest independent registered investment advisory firms, today overseeing more than $180 billion in client assets.

With offices across the country, the firm serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their families, business owners and nonprofit institutions, offering in-house investment, tax, estate and retirement plan expertise under one roof.

“From the beginning, our approach has centered on deeply personal service, multidisciplinary teamwork and sophisticated planning,” Jim said when the merger was announced. “That commitment isn’t changing.”

The transaction brings together two firms that share a belief that wealth management is about far more than investment performance. Increasingly, affluent families face a maze of tax considerations, estate-planning decisions, business succession challenges, philanthropic goals and risk management concerns. Jim and his team encourage families to explore how those issues are best navigated by a coordinated team of specialists rather than a single advisor.

For clients, the appeal of Jim’s client-centered mindset has always been its ability to combine highly personalized advice with advanced planning strategies typically associated with larger institutions. Before launching Running Point, he cofounded Financial Security Group. In 2001, the firm merged with Moss Adams Tax & Consulting, beginning an 18-year period of growth that expanded the wealth advisory business to seven offices across the West Coast. The firms ultimately combined to become Moss Adams Wealth Advisors, giving Jim firsthand experience in building integrated advisory platforms.

This latest merger reflects a similar strategic logic. By joining Cerity Partners, the team gained access to a national network of professionals and expanded resources while preserving the relationship-driven service model that attracted clients in the first place. For Cerity Partners, the partnership strengthens its presence in Southern California and adds specialized expertise in advanced planning strategies.

That expansion continued on May 29, when Allmon DiBernardo & Associates joined Cerity Partners’ El Segundo office, where Jim now serves as partner practice office leader. Founded by Michael Allmon, CPA, and Mike DiBernardo, CPA at PCS, the business served high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families and business owners for decades—a natural fit for a multifamily office built to deliver comprehensive wealth management services with significant expertise.

The combined El Segundo office is led by a team built for that depth of expertise. Joining Jim are Brooke Sigler, CPA, as partner leading the tax group, and Daniel Kerr, CFP^®, as partner leading advisory.

The move also underscores a larger trend reshaping the wealth management industry. As financial lives become more complicated, clients increasingly seek advisory firms capable of coordinating multiple disciplines under one roof. The days of relying on separate professionals operating in isolation are fading, replaced by collaborative teams designed to address the full picture. That evolution aligns closely with the vision Jim has pursued throughout his career.

Outside the office, he has applied the same community-minded approach in Manhattan Beach, where he has served on nonprofit boards, worked as a city planning commissioner and remained active in civic organizations. Those roles reflect a belief that stewardship extends beyond financial assets to the communities where people live and work.

At Cerity Partners, Jim and his team continue their mission to simplify clients’ financial lives. Their guiding principle remains familiar: helping clients build well-planned futures through expertise, collaboration and trusted relationships.

Disclaimer: Cerity Partners LLC (“Cerity Partners”) is an SEC-registered investment adviser with multiple offices throughout the United States. Registration of an Investment Advisor does not imply any level of skill or training. The foregoing is limited to general information about Cerity Partners’ services, which may not be suitable for everyone. The information contained herein should not be construed as personalized investment, tax or legal advice. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed in this brochure will come to pass. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your company’s finances, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. For information pertaining to the registration status of Cerity Partners, please contact us or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). For additional information about Cerity Partners, including fees, conflicts of interest, and services, review our Form CRS and ADV Part 2 at www.ceritypartners.com. Please read the disclosure statement carefully before you invest or send money. ©2026 Cerity Partners LLC. All Rights Reserved.