Christian Habitz and Sarah Damsgaard, a sibling team that oversaw $1 billion in assets under advisement at former employer J.P. Morgan, launched their own registered investment advisory firm with Dynasty Financial Partners, according to an announcement.
Habitz and Damsgaard launched The Invictus Collective, with offices in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Miami. The firm’s approach is based on Habitz's experience in early-stage private placements, combined with upgraded technology.
"We have paired a bespoke private banking approach with the most forward-looking technology; bringing the best of both worlds," Habitz said in a statement. “We look forward to offering our clients proprietary private investment opportunities through our global network of business owners and leaders.”
Habitz's experience includes tenure at private client groups of Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley in addition to J.P. Morgan. He's a former hedge fund manager who started his career in the family office of former LaSalle Bank Chairman Harrison Steans.
In a statement, Damsgaard credited her and her brother’s perspective from being a family-owned business for the “specific insight, empathy and experience” required for family-office level of client services.
In addition to the more recent experience in private client groups at J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse, Damsgaard is the former head of institutional business at Reinhart Partners, and prior to that she was with MFS Investment Management, where she educated financial advisors on offshore investments.
Shirl Penney, CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners, said Invictus Collective’s “unique position to offer their clients proprietary deals” makes him confident in the firm’s ability to thrive as an independent business.
Invictus Collective is Dynasty’s second recruit year to date. In March, Dynasty recruited the principals of Merrill Lynch’s Liebman Marks Group, which managed $1.2 billion, and in April it subrecruited top-producing advisor Lisa Quadrini from Wells Fargo.