Build what's next, backed by what lasts
Bison was built by a multi-generational family office, with capital that plans in decades rather than fund cycles. For RIA owners weighing their next chapter, that patience changes what's possible: room to build at your own pace, with a partner who's planning to be there for the next chapter, too.
The real reasons advisors choose bison
These are the six things owners tell us mattered most once they'd actually sat across the table — not boilerplate, the real reasons new partnerships begin.
A culture you'd choose, not just accept
Bison was built by advisors, for advisors who think like owners. Partner firms join Bison where incentives, values, and definitions of "doing right by the client" already match their own — diligence runs both directions.
A structure shaped around your timeline, not a template
Whether you're planning an exit in five months or five years, Bison structures the partnership to fit — not the other way around. Three distinct paths exist precisely because no two firms are solving the same problem.
Capital that plans in generations
Backed by a multi-billion-dollar family office, Bison's capital is built to compound over decades. That long horizon means decisions about your firm's future get made on your timeline, with a partner who measures success the same way you do — over the long run.
Access to strategies once reserved for the ultra-wealthy
Custom interval funds, derivatives-based hedging, sophisticated tax-management strategies — the toolkit built for nine-figure portfolios becomes part of how every partner firm serves clients, regardless of their size.
Your name on the door, your relationships at the center
Joining Bison is less about what changes and more about what becomes possible — for both of us. You bring deep client relationships and local expertise we can't replicate. We bring the infrastructure and backing that lets you grow beyond what you could achieve alone. The goal is the same: build something that outlasts us both.
A long-term view, held in common
Every partner firm is evaluated on more than financials — character, mindset, and how a firm treats clients when no one's watching matter just as much. Shared vision is the filter that makes everything above actually work.
Three ways to work with Bison
Chosen based on your timeline, your plan for growth, and your goals for the remainder of your career.
Affiliated Support
Keep full independence and ownership while plugging into Bison's investment, planning, compliance, and technology infrastructure. Built for firms that want resources, not a transaction.
Strategic Partnership
A meaningful capital and operational partnership — Bison takes a stake, the firm keeps its name and team, and both sides build for the next phase of growth together.
Long-Term Partnership
A transition designed around full alignment with Bison — for owners planning the last stop of their career, who want certainty for clients and staff well before they step away.
The support you can count on
Bison’s infrastructure was built so that partners may better optimize their time to spend on what matters most – these are the tools you deserve behind you.
Investments & OCIO
- Model portfolios & curated strategies
- Private markets & alternatives access
- Tax mitigation strategies
- Investment policy committee
Trading & Implementation
- Model assignment & rebalancing
- Cash raise / invest
- Tax-loss harvesting
- Daily monitoring
Technology
- Client portal & reporting
- Data aggregation & analytics
- CRM & advisor portal
- Vendor management
Legal & Compliance
- Client agreements & registrations
- Regulatory reporting
- Marketing material review
- Code of ethics & insurance
Practice Management
- Branding & marketing
- Coaching & consulting
- Succession planning
- Strategic initiatives
Finance & Operations
- Fee billing & custodian mgmt.
- Corporate accounting
- Account administration
- Account transition support
Affiliated Support firms draw on this platform à la carte through Bison's OCIO and TAMP offering — no equity transfer required.
What makes Bison different
Patient, Long-Term Capital
Unlike many firms, Bison's capital is permanent and family office-backed — meaning we're never forced to sell, never optimizing for a near-term exit, and never making decisions that prioritize liquidity over the firm's long-term health. When we partner with a firm, we're building something together with no artificial deadline on the horizon.
Selectivity
Given Bison's patient investment approach and long-term time horizon, we ensure potential partners are not only teams we feel comfortable with in a long-term partnership, but teams with a collection of individuals Terry Pegula himself would feel comfortable doing business with personally.
Institutional, Yet Agile
Bison brings the capital base, compliance infrastructure, and operational depth of a large platform without the decision-making friction that comes with it — no investment committee layers, no 90-day approval cycles, no corporate mandate overriding what works for your clients. The people you negotiate with are the people who make the decisions.
Lead Generation & Growth
Many RIAs promise help with lead generation — Bison actually delivers. Our SDBA focus lets us refer qualified leads, expand wallet share with your existing clients, and position you to capture next-gen assets by being the first advisor in front of new prospects.
Low Bureaucracy
Post-close, you run your business — we don't install a management layer above you, flood you with reporting requirements, or require committee approval for decisions you've been making independently for decades. Our integration model is designed to add capability without adding overhead, and our management team's doors are always open for new ideas.
Deal Structure Flexibility
We don't apply a one-size-fits-all deal template across every transaction — whether your priority is maximum liquidity at close, a meaningful equity rollover into the platform, a phased transition over several years, or some combination, we structure around what actually matters to you rather than what's easiest for us to model.
Integration is collaborative — not imposed
Joining a platform is a real transition, not just a deal. Here's how Bison approaches the parts that matter most to clients and staff.
Brand, on your timeline
Bison's goal is to preserve the value you've built in your name, while introducing the Bison brand to your clients as a trusted partner.
Leadership continuity
Continuity across leadership and staff is a priority for every partner firm — giving clients and team members stability throughout the transition, not disruption.
Resources, introduced gradually
As integration progresses, partner firms are introduced to shared operations, technology, and investment capabilities at a manageable pace — not all at once.
A roadmap built with you
Rather than a one-size-fits-all timeline, Bison establishes a sequenced roadmap in close coordination with firm leadership, prioritizing continuity at every phase.
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Hayden Ball
Hayden leads the M&A strategy, deal sourcing, and integration for Bison's national platform — backed by the Terry Pegula Family Office and East Asset Management. He spends his time talking with firm owners who are thinking about what's next for themselves and their firm — those conversations are where the right partnerships start.