Arkansas-based RIA Sowell Management appointed Scott Dooley as Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and head of its newly created Office of the CIO. Dooley joined the firm in 2025 as Managing Director of Investment Management.
The office combines investment leadership, research, due diligence, portfolio construction, implementation and advisor consulting through internal staff and specialized investment partners. Sowell said advisors can draw on research and consultation or delegate investment management without building their own investment departments. The office also addresses tax-aware portfolios, concentrated positions, income and liquidity planning, alternative investments and multi-manager strategies.
“Independent advisors are increasingly competing against wirehouses, large RIAs and private banks that have deep investment benches behind them,” said Daryl Seaton, President and CEO of Sowell. “Advisors shouldn’t have to choose between independence and institutional investment resources. As part of our growth strategy, we are expanding the expertise and support behind our advisors’ investment decisions, and Scott is the right person to lead that effort.”
Dooley has 20 years of asset management experience. He previously held roles at Fusion Investment Group, Blue Vase Holdings, Rayliant Global Advisors and Columbus Macro.
He said, “Our role is to come alongside our advisors, understand what each situation requires and draw on the appropriate strategies and specialists. That might mean building a tax-sensitive transition plan, evaluating an alternative investment or bringing in a specialist manager for a specific need. Our solution-neutral approach gives advisors the expertise and support to take on complex client situations with confidence and pursue more sophisticated outcomes.”
“The Office of the CIO is about raising the ceiling on what an independent advisor can offer,” Seaton added. “Advisors can remain actively involved in portfolio decisions or delegate certain responsibilities. Either way, they gain a stronger investment value proposition, more freedom to focus on client relationships and the capabilities to take their business to its next stage.”
In August, Sowell launched its Advanced Planning Group, an estate, tax and advanced planning resource for advisors serving high net worth families, affluent individuals and small-business owners.
Sowell’s advisor network had over $6.8 billion in client assets as of October, including assets under management and assets under administration.
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