Holistic Planning's Colorado Entry Signals Broader RIA Industry Shift

MONTROSE, CO – May 18, 2026 – National wealth management firm Holistic Planning, which oversees $1.25 billion in client assets, has established its first foothold in the Rocky Mountain region, opening a new office in Montrose, Colorado. The move is spearheaded by veteran financial advisor Connor Visser, who joins the firm after a decade building a practice at brokerage giant Edward Jones. This expansion is more than just a new pin on the map; it represents a significant local development for the Western Slope and highlights powerful, transformative trends reshaping the national financial advisory landscape.

A Strategic Shift for the Western Slope

For residents and business owners in Montrose and the surrounding Western Slope communities, Visser's transition to Holistic Planning marks a notable evolution in the local financial services ecosystem. His move from a traditional brokerage model to a fee-only, SEC-registered investment advisory (RIA) firm reflects a growing industry-wide migration towards a fiduciary standard, where advisors are legally bound to act in their clients' best interests.

“Joining Holistic Planning allows me to deliver a more comprehensive experience to the clients and families I serve,” said Connor Visser in the announcement. His tenure at Edward Jones was spent serving a diverse client base of families, retirees, and small business owners, giving him deep roots in the region. His decision to join an independent RIA signals a commitment to an advisory model that prioritizes transparency and a broader suite of planning capabilities over the product-driven sales incentives often found in traditional brokerage environments.

Holistic Planning enters a competitive but growing market for independent advice on the Western Slope. The region is already served by established fee-only RIAs such as ElderAdo Financial and High Country Capital Management, alongside national players like Kingsview Partners. The firm's arrival with a locally established advisor at the helm suggests a strategy focused on leveraging community trust while introducing a differentiated service model.

The Integrated Advantage: Tax and Technology

A key component of that differentiated model is the firm’s emphasis on integrated tax planning. Visser himself highlighted this as a primary motivator for his move. “I’m particularly excited to bring in-house tax expertise to Colorado clients — integrated tax planning and preparation alongside financial planning is something most financial advisors simply cannot offer,” he stated. “It changes the conversation entirely.”

This approach directly addresses a common pain point for investors: the disconnect between financial advice and tax strategy. By combining wealth management with tax preparation through its affiliated practice, Holistic Tax Solutions, the firm aims to provide a cohesive plan that optimizes for tax efficiency in real-time. This structure is designed to prevent costly miscommunications and uncover opportunities that are often missed when clients are forced to coordinate between separate financial and tax professionals. The growing demand for such integrated services reflects a more sophisticated investor base seeking a truly comprehensive view of their financial health.

Further bolstering its modern approach, Visser’s Montrose practice will custody client assets with Altruist, a digital-first custodian built specifically for independent RIAs. The choice of a nimble, tech-focused platform over larger, traditional custodians underscores a commitment to operational efficiency and an enhanced client experience, which are hallmarks of the new wave of advisory firms.

Challenging the Brokerage Model

Holistic Planning’s expansion into Colorado is a case study in the ongoing disruption within the wealth management industry. The RIA channel has seen explosive growth over the past decade, with recent industry data showing a 16.6% increase in assets under management for RIA firms in 2024 alone. This growth is largely fueled by advisors and clients seeking refuge from the conflicts of interest inherent in the traditional brokerage model.

Jason Barber, CEO of Holistic Planning, framed the firm's philosophy around this very trend. “Connor represents exactly the kind of advisor we built Holistic Planning for — experienced, client-focused, and ready to deliver more than what the traditional brokerage model allows,” Barber said. “Colorado has been a priority market for us, and Connor’s roots and reputation in Montrose make him the right person to launch our presence there.”

The firm's model, which now has offices in Texas, Arizona, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Colorado, combines the relationship-driven approach of a local advisor with the robust infrastructure of a national firm. This hybrid structure aims to offer the best of both worlds: the personalized touch of a community-based advisor and the sophisticated technological and planning resources of a larger entity.

The Future is Agentic: A Glimpse into HolisticOS

Perhaps the most forward-looking element of the company’s announcement was the forthcoming release of HolisticOS, an “agentic operating system” for independent financial advisors. This AI-powered platform aims to integrate the disparate functions of a modern advisory practice—including financial planning, compliance, client service, and back-office workflows—into a single, intelligent system.

The concept of an agentic OS, where autonomous AI agents collaborate to execute complex tasks, represents the cutting edge of financial technology. Assets managed by AI-enabled platforms are projected to surge to nearly $6 trillion by 2027 as firms race to automate routine tasks, generate predictive insights, and deliver hyper-personalized advice. By developing its own proprietary AI platform, Holistic Planning is not only aiming to enhance its own advisors' efficiency but is also positioning itself as a technology leader in the independent space.

While details on HolisticOS remain forthcoming, its announcement signals a future where an advisor's time is freed from administrative burdens to focus on high-value strategic counsel and deepening client relationships. For firms like Holistic Planning, the fusion of a strict fiduciary ethos with advanced artificial intelligence may well define the next paradigm of wealth management.