Modern Wealth acquires Public Safety Financial/Galloway
Modern Wealth Management, a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm founded to meet the evolving needs of today’s financial professionals and their clients, today announced an asset purchase agreement of Mesa, Arizona-based Public Safety Financial/Galloway (“PSF/Galloway”), an RIA with $1.1 billion in assets under management (“AUM”). This acquisition marks the official launch of Public Safety Financial, a division of Modern Wealth serving police officers, fire fighters, government employees, military veterans and their families. It also establishes a new “Organic Growth Hub” and advisor support center that will serve as the centerpiece of its national expansion.
Founded in 2006 by Mike Galloway, a Marine Corps veteran and former Police Lieutenant, PSF/Galloway serves more than 3,000 public safety households across 100+ police and fire departments. The firm provides specialized expertise in financial wellness training, pensions, 457(b), 401(a), Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROPs) and survivor assistance, alongside comprehensive retirement and investment planning services. Additionally, the firm delivers more than 250 webinars and seminars annually, giving first responders in Phoenix and across the country access to ongoing education, guidance and resources tailored to their unique financial needs.
“Our philosophy has always been to ‘commit to serving others,’ and we’re honored to serve first responders,” said Galloway, who now joins Modern Wealth as Managing Director of the Public Safety Financial Division. “By combining our services with Modern Wealth’s national scale, we can expand our mission to serve public safety families nationwide.”
PSF/Galloway’s 42-member team – many with first responder backgrounds – will leverage Modern Wealth’s robust wealth management platform to broaden client services across financial planning, investment management, tax planning and preparation, estate planning and more. PSF/Galloway will also benefit from Modern Wealth’s “Organic Growth Hub,” which provides comprehensive strategies for lead generation, distribution and client onboarding, alongside business support in functions such as marketing and technology.
The greater Phoenix area will also become home to Modern Wealth’s largest employee footprint and serve as its second “Organic Growth Hub,” joining the original hub in the Kansas City area and providing increased support for outreach to the first-responder community. By combining PSF/Galloway’s deep focus on public safety members with Modern Wealth’s infrastructure, the acquisition creates a powerful engine to deliver and expand specialized financial services for first responders across the nation.
“It’s a privilege to serve the people who serve us, and launching a dedicated first responder division is a meaningful milestone for Modern Wealth. Mike and his team have built an incredible culture and business around supporting public safety members,” said Jason Gordo, Co‑founder and President of Modern Wealth. “At Modern Wealth, we’ve been rapidly but thoughtfully expanding our national footprint and presence in key regions. PSF/Galloway represents our first office in Arizona, our entry into the Southwest and an important step in our growth as we begin building a significant hub in the Phoenix area.”
In just over two years since its inception, Modern Wealth has surpassed $10 billion in AUM, underscoring the success of its strategic acquisition strategy. The asset purchase of PSF/Galloway marks the firm’s fifth acquisition in 2025 and its 18th overall, following recent West Coast expansions through the additions of Kaye Capital Management, Planned Asset Management and Wade Financial.
Derek Bruton of Gladstone Associates, LLC advised on the transaction between Modern Wealth and PSF/Galloway.
Edward Y. Gao joins Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A.
The law firm of Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A., announced that Edward Y. Gao has joined the Firm as associate. He will focus his practice on civil litigation.
Gao joins Burch & Cracchiolo after a clerkship with the Honorable Jennifer M. Perkins at the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One.
Gao earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Southern California. He then spent six years working as a project manager for a health and safety receiver in California. While working full-time in that role, he completed an MBA with an emphasis in finance at Loyola Marymount University.
In May 2024, Gao earned his J.D., cum laude, from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, where he was a Dean’s Award recipient, Pedrick Scholar, and Executive Managing Editor of the Corporate and Business Law Journal. While in law school, Gao published An Unreasonable Expectation: Defining “Sufficient Notice” in Amending Declarations of Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, 5 Corp. & Bus. L. J. 1 (2024).
Jennifer Kaplan honored among 2025 PRNEWS People of the Year
Jennifer Kaplan, president and CEO of Evolve PR & Marketing, is among the distinguished honorees of the 2025 PRNEWS People of the Year, a national recognition celebrating the industry’s most influential communicators. The annual awards shine a spotlight on visionary leaders who push boundaries, drive meaningful change, and redefine the future of public relations with creativity and strategic brilliance.
Kaplan will be celebrated live on stage during the biggest night in PR, the 2025 Platinum Awards Gala, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Pier Sixty in New York City. The high-profile event, known as the “Oscars of PR,” brings together more than 500 of the industry’s brightest minds for a glamorous evening featuring a red-carpet networking reception, step-and-repeat, gourmet dinner, live awards ceremony, and sparkling after party.
“This recognition is an incredible honor, but it’s truly a reflection of the powerhouse team at Evolve PR & Marketing and the valued clients we are privileged to represent,” said Kaplan. “I’m thrilled to stand among such inspiring leaders who are shaping the future of our industry, and proud to showcase the innovative work happening here in Arizona on a national stage.”
Under Kaplan’s leadership, Evolve PR & Marketing has grown into the largest public relations firm in Arizona, with an elite client roster that spans retail, real estate, nonprofit, lifestyle, and consumer brands nationwide. Known for its strategic media relations, creative storytelling, and people-first culture, Evolve is celebrating its 15th anniversary in September.
This honor follows Kaplan’s recognition earlier this year on the PRNEWS 2025 Top Women in PR list, further cementing her reputation as one of the industry’s most influential voices.
For more information about Evolve PR & Marketing, visit evolveprandmarketing.com/.
