Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money

Is Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) defintely still a top-tier wealth manager when its third-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of just $0.19 missed the analyst consensus? Honestly, you need to look past that short-term blip, because the firm's total Assets Under Management (AUM) actually hit a new high of $37.6 billion as of September 30, 2025, driven largely by market appreciation. This is a classic example of a high-touch, ultra-high net worth business where the real story is in the model-how they generate $31.3 million in quarterly revenue and manage to grow AUM despite net client outflows of $0.6 billion in Q3. Understanding Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s history, unique ownership, and fee-based structure is crucial for any investor or strategist looking to parse the difference between a minor earnings miss and a fundamentally sound business model.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) History

You're looking for the bedrock of Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG), and honestly, it starts with a clear break from the big-bank model. The firm was founded on the principle of providing truly independent, objective wealth management advice, a service that was getting lost in the post-Dodd-Frank consolidation wave.

The founders, veterans from major financial institutions, saw a gap: ultra-high net worth families and institutions needed a fiduciary (a person or organization that acts on behalf of another person or persons, legally bound to act in their best interest) partner, not just a product distributor. So, they built a firm where client interests defintely come first.

Given Company's Founding Timeline

Year established

April 2002

Original location

New York City, New York

Founding team members

• G. Moffett Cochran (Former President of Credit Suisse Asset Management LLC)
• Martin Jaffe (Former CFO of Credit Suisse Asset Management LLC)
• Richard R. Hough III
• Martin D. Gruss

Initial capital/funding

Initial funding came from founder capital and private investments, notably receiving initial financing from an investor group led by Rosemont Investment Partners, LLC.

Given Company's Evolution Milestones

Given Company's Transformative Moments

The firm's trajectory has been shaped by three major, transformative decisions that moved it from a boutique startup to a publicly traded, multi-billion-dollar asset manager.

• The Fiduciary Mandate: The original decision in 2002 to be an independent, employee-owned Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) was critical, setting Silvercrest Asset Management Group apart from wirehouses by legally committing to a fiduciary standard-a true differentiator in the early 2000s.
• The 2013 IPO: Going public was a calculated move to secure permanent capital and boost visibility with institutional investors, but the founders retained control through a dual-class share structure (Class B stockholders held approximately 57.4% of the combined voting power post-IPO), ensuring the original, client-centric culture was preserved.
• The 2025 Strategic Focus: In the first nine months of 2025, the firm made a clear pivot to emphasize organic growth in its core business, with discretionary AUM growing to $24.3 billion by September 30, 2025. Here's the quick math: the firm's Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $16.8 million, showing that this growth focus is translating into profitability, even with heavy investment in the business.
• Capital Management in 2025: In May 2025, the Board authorized a $25 million stock repurchase program for its Class A common stock, signaling management's confidence in the firm's valuation and a commitment to enhancing shareholder value.

To dive deeper into the firm's current market standing and shareholder base, you should read Exploring Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Ownership Structure

If you're looking at Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG), you should know that control is split between major institutional investors and the firm's own employees, which is a common setup for wealth managers. This structure, where the people running the business hold a significant stake, aligns their interests defintely with long-term shareholder value.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Current Status

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. is a publicly traded company, listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker SAMG. This means its shares are freely bought and sold on the open market, giving it access to public capital for growth. The firm maintains a strong financial position, reporting total assets under management (AUM) of $37.6 billion as of September 30, 2025. The company was originally founded in 2002 as an independent, employee-owned registered investment adviser, a heritage that still defines its ownership mix today.

For a deeper dive into how these assets translate into performance, you can check out Breaking Down Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Ownership Breakdown

The ownership structure is a classic two-tier system, featuring a high percentage of institutional holdings alongside a substantial insider stake. Here's the quick math for the breakdown, using the 12,357,452 total shares outstanding (Class A and Class B) from the Q3 2025 filing:

What this estimate hides is the power of the insider stake; those Class B shares often have a disproportionate voting weight, meaning the management team has significant control over strategic decisions despite holding less than half of the total equity. This is a crucial point for governance.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Leadership

The company is steered by a seasoned executive team, with continuity in its top roles, which is a good sign for stable strategy. The key leadership as of late 2025 includes:

• Richard R. Hough III: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and President. He has been with Silvercrest since 2003 and has been instrumental in setting the firm's corporate strategy.
• Scott A. Gerard, CPA: Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Gerard has held the CFO role since 2010, providing long-standing financial oversight.
• David J. Campbell: General Counsel and Secretary. He manages the legal and regulatory landscape, which is essential in the financial advisory space.

This core team, especially with Richard Hough III serving as both Chairman and CEO, ensures a singular vision is executed across the organization, from investment strategy to financial reporting. They are the ones who ultimately decide how that $37.6 billion in AUM is managed.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Mission and Values

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s core purpose centers on building deep, enduring client relationships by delivering bespoke investment and financial solutions, not just generic advice. This client-first approach is the cultural bedrock, reflected in their impressive 98% client retention rate as of late 2025, showing their values translate directly into business success.

Honestly, a firm's mission is its compass, and for Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc., that compass points squarely at the client's long-term financial well-being.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Core Purpose

Official Mission Statement

While Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. doesn't publish a single, concise mission statement, their operating philosophy is clear: build enduring client relationships by prioritizing client values and delivering customized investment solutions and comprehensive financial services.

This commitment means they act as a true fiduciary (a person or organization that acts on behalf of another person or persons to manage assets), focusing on what's best for you, the client, before their own interests.

• Build enduring client relationships.
• Prioritize client values in all investment decisions.
• Deliver customized investment solutions and comprehensive financial services.

Vision Statement

The company's vision is to be the premier independent wealth management firm, a goal they advance through strategic investments and a focus on intellectual capital.

They see market and economic dislocations-like the volatility seen early in 2025-not just as risks, but as meaningful opportunities to apply their deep expertise for clients.

Their guiding principles, which serve as their cultural DNA, drive this vision:

• Encourage innovation and original thought in all strategies.
• Attract and retain talented professionals who shun corporate bureaucracy.
• Always place clients' financial interests ahead of the firm's.
• Nurture an entrepreneurial, collegial, and action-oriented culture.

This vision is backed by scale, managing total Assets Under Management (AUM) of $37.6 billion as of September 30, 2025.

You can read more about their principles here: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG).

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. Slogan/Tagline

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. does not appear to use a widely published, formal slogan or tagline to summarize their brand. Instead, they let their service model and results do the talking.

They focus on communicating their commitment to personalized service and open communication, which is defintely not found at larger, more generic organizations.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) How It Works

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. operates as a full-service wealth management firm, primarily generating revenue by charging management and advisory fees based on the value of the assets under management (AUM) for ultra-high net worth individuals and institutional clients. As of September 30, 2025, the firm managed a total AUM of approximately $37.6 billion, with the majority of its top-line revenue driven by the $24.3 billion in discretionary AUM.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Product/Service Portfolio

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Operational Framework

The operational framework focuses on deep client relationships and a fee structure that aligns interests with asset growth. You see this in how they structure their revenue: the vast majority of their income comes from fees tied directly to the value of the AUM they manage, which means if your portfolio grows, so does their revenue.

Here's the quick math on their recent performance: for the third quarter of 2025, Silvercrest reported a revenue of $31.3 million, which translated to GAAP consolidated net income of $1.1 million. The firm bills most asset management fees quarterly in advance, which helps create predictable revenue streams.

• Retain talent: Invest heavily in new hires and merit-based compensation to drive future growth.
• Prioritize organic growth: Added $564 million in new client accounts through the third quarter of 2025.
• Maintain independence: Structured as an independent, employee-owned registered investment adviser.
• Focus on securities selection: Analysts are encouraged to spend 100% of their time on securities selection for their various strategies.

They are defintely focused on a multi-pronged growth strategy: organic client acquisition, strategic hires, and targeted acquisitions. Check out Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG). to see how this ties into their long-term vision.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Strategic Advantages

Silvercrest's market success hinges on a few core differentiators that are hard for larger, more bureaucratic firms to replicate. They deliver institutional-quality investment management but with the superior, personalized service wealthy individuals expect.

Their client retention is honestly remarkable, averaging around 98% since 2006, which speaks to the high switching costs and the trust built in those long-term relationships. This stickiness is a huge advantage, especially when markets get volatile.

• High client retention: A 98% average retention rate since 2006 limits revenue volatility.
• Strong balance sheet: Reported $36.1 million in cash and cash equivalents with no outstanding debt as of September 30, 2025.
• Independence and employee ownership: This structure helps align the interests of the firm's professionals with client outcomes.
• Customized service model: Portfolio managers work individually with each client to define objectives, risk tolerance, and financial needs.

They also have a robust capital return strategy, having repurchased approximately $16 million worth of shares under a $25 million buyback program in 2025, plus they pay a substantial dividend.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) How It Makes Money

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. primarily generates revenue through advisory fees charged on the assets they manage for wealthy families and institutional clients, a classic fee-based model. This means their top-line revenue is directly tied to the total value of their Assets Under Management (AUM) and the fee rate applied to those assets.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Revenue Breakdown

The company's revenue engine is overwhelmingly driven by investment management services, with a small but important contribution from specialized family office support. The latest quarterly data, as of September 30, 2025, shows a clear concentration in AUM-driven fees.

The Investment Advisory, Management and Administrative Service stream accounts for nearly all of the company's revenue, making it highly sensitive to market performance and client flows. Discretionary Assets Under Management (AUM), which is the most significant driver for this revenue, increased by 8% year-over-year to $24.3 billion at the end of Q3 2025.

Business Economics

The core economic fundamental for Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. is the recurring nature of its fee-based revenue, which provides a high degree of predictability. They bill clients quarterly in advance, which means a rise in AUM today translates directly into realized revenue in the next quarter.

• AUM Leverage: The business model is highly scalable; adding new assets generally costs less than the revenue generated from the new management fees.
• Fee Structure: Fees are typically a percentage of AUM, which is a common practice in wealth management, meaning revenue rises and falls with global equity and fixed-income markets.
• Growth Drivers: In Q3 2025, the increase in Discretionary AUM was primarily due to $1.0 billion in market appreciation, partially offset by $0.4 billion in net client outflows, showing that market tailwinds are currently a stronger driver than organic net flows.
• Strategic Investment Impact: Management is deliberately investing heavily in new talent and business development to secure long-term growth, which is why expenses increased by 15.4% in Q3 2025, compressing near-term profitability. That's a necessary trade-off for future scale.

What this estimate hides is the potential volatility; a sharp market correction would immediately erode the AUM base, regardless of successful client acquisition efforts. To be fair, the firm's focus on ultra-high net-worth individuals and institutional investors provides a more stable client base than retail-focused firms.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.'s Financial Performance

The financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, reflect a company growing its asset base but absorbing the costs of strategic expansion. Total AUM hit a new high of $37.6 billion in Q3 2025, a strong operational signal.

• Total Revenue: For the three months ended September 30, 2025, total revenue was $31.3 million, marking a 2.9% increase year-over-year.
• Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) for Q3 2025 was $4.5 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.5%.
• Profitability Compression: Consolidated net income for Q3 2025 was $1.1 million, a significant drop from the prior year, largely attributed to the planned increase in compensation and strategic hiring expenses.
• Capital Returns: The firm continues to return capital to shareholders, declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share and having repurchased approximately $16 million in shares under a $25.0 million program as of the end of Q3 2025.

Here's the quick math: the $24.3 billion in Discretionary AUM is the key metric to watch, as it is the most direct indicator of future fee revenue. Management is defintely prioritizing AUM growth over short-term earnings. For a deeper dive into the implications of this strategy, you should read Breaking Down Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors. Finance: monitor the Adjusted EBITDA margin trend over the next two quarters to see if the strategic investments start generating commensurate revenue growth.

Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Market Position & Future Outlook

Silvercrest Asset Management Group is positioned as a specialized, high-touch wealth and institutional manager, navigating a competitive landscape by prioritizing organic growth and strategic investments. The firm's total Assets Under Management (AUM) reached a new high of $37.6 billion as of September 30, 2025, with discretionary AUM-the primary revenue driver-at $24.3 billion. This growth is a clear signal that their focus on ultra-high net worth (UHNW) and institutional clients is working, but it comes with near-term pressure on profitability as they invest heavily in future capabilities.

Competitive Landscape

In the wealth management sector, especially for UHNW clients, the competition isn't just about AUM size; it's about service depth and intellectual capital. Silvercrest Asset Management Group competes against massive aggregators and other high-end, independent Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs). The table below illustrates the scale difference, using AUM as a proxy for market presence.

Opportunities & Challenges

You need to see the trade-off here: SAMG is spending money now to capture future growth. Their Q3 2025 results show this tension clearly, with expenses rising to support strategic initiatives that will take time to fully pay off.

Industry Position

Silvercrest Asset Management Group holds a strong position as a boutique, high-end firm, specifically targeting clients with $10 million or more in investable assets. This focus allows them to charge higher fees for customized advice, but it also means they operate in a segment where client retention is defintely paramount.

• Niche Focus: The firm's strength lies in its deep expertise in complex wealth transfer, tax, and family office services, which larger, more commoditized firms struggle to replicate.
• Revenue Quality: Discretionary AUM, which drives the bulk of their revenue, increased by 7.5% year-over-year to $24.3 billion in Q3 2025. This growth in core, high-fee assets is the key metric.
• Capital Strength: The firm's balance sheet is strong, with no outstanding debt on its term loan or revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2025, which supports its ongoing $25 million share repurchase program.

For a deeper dive into who is backing this strategy, you should read Exploring Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?