Focus Financial Partners Names Financial Services Leaders Deborah Doyle McWhinney and William I. Campbell to Its Board of Directors

Business Wire, May 7, 2008

NEW YORK -- Focus Financial Partners, LLC, the largest partnership of independent wealth management firms, today announced that Deborah ("Debby") Doyle McWhinney and William ("Bill") I. Campbell have been appointed to its Board of Directors.

"We are thrilled to have Bill and Debby join us as active Board members," said Rudy Adolf, CEO of Focus Financial Partners. "The response to Focus from independent advisors continues to be tremendous; in fact, our rapid growth demands that we move forward with a strong Board."

There are approximately $1.4 trillion under management across the registered investment advisor (RIA) industry today, according to Cerulli Associates. In fact, RIA assets are expected to increase, on average, at a compounded annual growth rate of 20 percent over the next five years, according to Moss Adams. Adolf noted that as a group, Focus firms will likely increase assets at a clip that is well above the industry's growth rate going forward.

Debby Doyle McWhinney is the former president of Schwab Institutional, the leading custodian of assets for approximately 5,500 registered investment advisors. While at Schwab, she led the RIA industry's largest custodian, helping investment advisors to grow their businesses with increased speed and profitability. McWhinney joined Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. in 2001, and served on its Management Committee, the Board of the Charles Schwab Bank, N.A., the Charles Schwab Foundation Board, and was Chairperson of the Global Risk Committee.

Prior to joining Schwab, McWhinney was an executive vice president at Visa International and served as group president for Engage Media Services. McWhinney spent 17 years with Bank of America Corporation, heading up the consumer electronic banking division and determining product and pricing policies for launching ATMs and debit cards. Today, she is the CEO and President of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, which is part of the Washington Companies, and dedicated to bettering the human condition by supporting programs and services that give people the tools to enhance the quality of their lives and, ultimately, to benefit society as a whole. She was also recently named a Managing Director of the Washington Companies. The Washington Companies is a diversified group of companies focused on core industries including rail transportation, marine transportation, construction and mining, heavy equipment, aviation, and real estate development. Collectively, they make up one of the largest private companies in the US.

In 2002, McWhinney was appointed by President Bush to the board of directors of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). She is a past chairperson of the University of Montana Foundation's Board of Trustees, and current chairperson of the capital campaign for its foundation. McWhinney serves on the White House Fellows regional finalist candidate panel, and was elected to the California Institute of Technology Board of Trustees in 2007.

"Focus' model of partnering with successful RIAs without changing their entrepreneurial cultures is what initially impressed me," said McWhinney. "And now that I have joined, I can see that the partner firms believe that by working together in this network they can leverage their investment in powerful ways - and suddenly two plus two equals six."

Bill Campbell has extensive experience leading some of the nation's most recognized and respected financial services and consumer products companies. Currently a senior advisor for JPMorgan Chase & Co., Campbell previously was chairman of Chase Card Services. He was also chairman of Bank One Card Services, which merged into JPMorgan Chase & Co. in July 2004. From 2005 to 2007, Campbell served as chairman of Visa International, leading up to its IPO in 2008, the largest in U.S. history.

Today, Campbell also serves as president of Sanoch Management, a consulting and investment firm he founded for financial companies, start-ups, and venture capital firms. Early in his career, Campbell spent 28 years at Philip Morris, including five years as chief executive officer of Philip Morris USA. He joined Citicorp in 1995, where he oversaw Citigroup's Global Consumer Business, including global branch banking and credit cards. Campbell became chief executive officer of Global Citibank in 1996 and chief executive officer of Citigroup's Global Consumer Business a year later.

An avid supporter of the arts, he serves as vice chairman of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He is a member of the executive committee of The Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation, and member of the Canadian Advisory Board to the Woodrow Wilson Institute.

"The Baby Boomer generation will transform financial advice - as it has done with every other industry - with the largest generational transfer of wealth in history," said Bill Campbell. "Focus Financial Partners indicates how the financial advisory landscape is changing, and what the future holds for investors and advisors."

"Our new board members will help Focus set a new standard in 2008 for the independent wealth management industry," added Adolf. "Bill's experience in identifying consumer trends, building strong brands, and leading IPOs, along with Debby's deep industry expertise and close relationships with leading RIA firms, match perfectly with the challenges and opportunities we face as we continue our campaign to become the global leader in independent wealth management."