Sowell Management, the Arkansas-based RIA, announced an exclusive partnership with Rayliant, a global asset management firm, to expand its Outsourced Chief Investment Officer platform. Sowell is counting on Rayliant’s award-winning research, global perspective and reputation for innovation to help it create a robust, diversified OCIO structure to deliver institutional-quality solutions to its independent advisors.
“The most successful financial advisors realize that their greatest value to clients is devoting time to financial planning and relationship building, not on the ever-increasing complexities of investment management,” said Bill Sowell, CEO of Sowell Management. “Outsourcing this time-consuming yet vital process has been central to our philosophy since our founding. That is why we’ve invested so heavily in our OCIO platform.”
Rayliant is expected to further operationalize Sowell’s OCIO offering by adding new research capabilities and strategies to complement the firm’s existing portfolios that are managed by Affinity, Goldman Sachs, and other select third-party managers.
When asked about the role artificial intelligence is expected to play in the firm’s OCIO platform in the future, Sowell added, “I expect AI to impact every aspect of our industry, including our OCIO platform. While AI will not be making investment decisions for us, it can certainly help us collect information, data, and monitor human behavior to make more timely decisions and work more efficiently. I believe we’re just starting to realize the benefits and potential that AI brings to the table.”
As part of the new relationship, Jason Hsu, founder and chairman of Rayliant, will serve as Chief Investment Strategist for Sowell Management. His responsibilities include collaborating with Sowell’s OCIO team to create a disciplined, repeatable investment process that improves consistency, compliance, and credibility in portfolio management.
“Our partnership brings together the best of both worlds—Rayliant’s institutional asset allocation strategies using smart beta ETFs delivered through Sowell’s white-glove concierge platform, built as the ‘easy button’ for advisors,” Hsu said.
“Through our exclusive partnership with Rayliant and Jason’s leadership role as Chief Investment Strategist, we are transforming our approach to investment management,” said Daryl Seaton, President of Sowell Management. “Our advisors deserve the best, and with this evolution, they gain access to cutting-edge strategies, world-class research, and a stronger foundation for long-term client success. And we’re not stopping here, we will continue adding tools, technology, and expertise to build on our best-in-class investment resources.”
