Former head of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management John W. Thiel announced in November that he was launching an independent RIA, Indivisible Partners, in the first quarter of 2025. The RIA is now live and has recruited its first advisor team, New York-based Woodring I LeRoy Capital Advisors, with about $640 million in client assets.
The four-person team is led by Founder Partners Lee Woodring and Robert LeRoy, who were previously with Merrill Lynch. They’re joined by Margaret Lawler, director of client service, and Stephanie Tozer, associate director of client service. Angelo Ponticello, a former teammate, has remained at Merrill.
“We have seen firsthand from advisors and clients, the need for a new, nimble, and adaptable advisory model has never been more critical,” Thiel, founder and executive chairman of Indivisible Partners, said in a statement. “Advisors are our industry’s greatest asset, and more must be done to support them. Our firm was founded to give advisors the resources and independence they need to provide objective advice that is always in their client’s best interest.”
Advisors who join Indivisible have access to family office services, a technology platform powered by curated capabilities, and operational support. They own 100% of their own practice and have the opportunity to own equity in the RIA.
The firm is designed to be an accelerator for top advisors looking to grow their business.
“Through Indivisible Partners’ unique model that takes a multi-generational approach to advisor talent, the firm supports financial advisors through their full business lifecycle, from transition to growing and scaling their practice and eventual legacy through succession,” according to the RIA’s statement.
Thiel’s co-founders include John Hogarty, former COO of Merrill Lynch; Peter Cieszko, a former head of enterprise strategic relationships at American Century; Paul T. Lambert, a former division executive at Merrill; Bill Lorenz, a former division executive and managing director at Merrill; Tom Corra, former head of corporate financial planning and analysis at Fidelity; Tom Fickinger, a former divisional market executive at Merrill; Michael Adornetto, a former COO of Merrill; Alok Kapoor, a former managing director at Merrill; and Stephen Hostetler, former COO of global wealth and retirement solutions at Merrill.
Thiel spent 27 years at Merrill Lynch, including five years as head of the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management business from 2011 to 2016. He subsequently spent a year as vice chairman of the global wealth management and investment management business at Bank of America.
Thiel currently sits on the board of directors of Franklin Templeton, Cohen & Steers Income Opportunity REIT Inc. and Decker Communications, among other organizations. He did not immediately return requests for comment.
In recent years, several former Merrill Lynch executives have launched their own support platforms for RIA firms, including Sanctuary Wealth and NewEdge Advisors.