The breakaway RIA trend shows no signs of slowing. Veteran advisor Blake Butler has officially launched Canterbury Capital Wealth Management, LLC, an independent registered investment advisor designed to serve entrepreneurs, physicians, and business owners with comprehensive wealth management that blends planning and execution.

Butler, who previously led a seven-member team affiliated with Northwestern Mutual, is bringing that group with him into independence. The new firm pairs financial advisors with specialists across investment management, tax strategy, estate planning, and retirement programs—creating a multidisciplinary shop aimed at handling all aspects of a client’s financial life.

A Shift Toward Integration

“With the launch of our RIA, we can offer our clients true integration and the freedom to choose the strategies that we believe are right for them,” said Butler. “Our goal is to go beyond advice by offering execution, along with the best technology and investment options.”

That positioning reflects a broader industry trend: advisors moving away from broker-dealer affiliations in search of independence, flexibility, and an ability to build holistic solutions.

What Canterbury Brings

Canterbury Capital will provide:

• In-house investment management – including stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, alternatives.
• Proprietary Canterbury Capital Strategies – tax-managed investments for both qualified and non-qualified accounts.
• Integrated financial planning – covering investments, insurance, tax, and estate planning, with in-house legal and accounting expertise.

The firm is targeting entrepreneurs and physicians—two groups with uniquely complex financial situations that straddle both personal wealth and business ownership.

Named for Butler’s family farm in Demopolis, Ala., Canterbury aims to differentiate itself through not just advice, but execution—embedding tax and estate planning directly into the investment process.

Infrastructure and Partnerships

To power its independence, Canterbury selected Charles Schwab as its primary custodian, leaning on Schwab’s RIA-centric platform. The firm also partnered with Fusion Financial Partners for technology and operations support during the transition, while MarketCounsel Consulting and Hamburger Law Firm handled regulatory and legal frameworks.

The Bigger Picture

Butler’s move underscores the continued momentum behind RIAs breaking away from legacy wirehouses and insurers. Advisors increasingly want autonomy over investment menus, fee structures, and technology—especially when serving entrepreneurs, physicians, and other high-net-worth clients who demand custom solutions.

For Canterbury, the bet is that independence plus integration will win out. In a crowded market where many firms promise “comprehensive planning,” Butler’s team is pitching a model where the investment strategy, tax plan, and estate structure aren’t siloed—they’re executed under one roof.