The Story Behind PSF Galloway Joining Modern Wealth
Business relationships often begin with a simple phone call. What they evolve into, however, depends on shared values, trust and purpose.
Such was the case when Gladstone Group’s Steven Clark first connected with Public Safety Financial/Galloway, a registered investment advisor based in Mesa, Ariz., a few years ago. What began as a routine introduction quickly revealed a deeper alignment, one rooted in shared service backgrounds and a commitment to a mission bigger than business.
As the relationship matured, Steven brought me in to work directly with PSF’s founder, Mike Galloway, as his lead investment banker. That’s when Gladstone Group was formally engaged to guide Mike through his strategic options, and also when I began to fully appreciate the power and purpose behind what Mike and his team had built.
What followed was a collaboration that culminated in what we consider one of the most purpose-driven wealth management transactions of 2025—the joining of PSF with Modern Wealth Management to scale its first responder-focused model nationwide.
Built for a Niche That Deserves Better
Mike Galloway built his business to serve those who often fall through the cracks of traditional financial planning. With more than $1.1 billion in assets under management and over 3,000 client households, PSF doesn’t cater to high-net-worth clients. Instead, they’ve built a thriving, high-impact business by serving the mass affluent—specifically, first responders.
That success didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of three intentional factors:
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Deep understanding of the niche: Mike and his team know their clients’ world intimately—pension plans, early retirement windows, disability and death benefits, fluctuating schedules and financial stress from on-the-job trauma.
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Serving only one type of client: PSF doesn’t try to be all things to all people. Their singular focus on first responders means every system, conversation and service is purpose-built.
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Institutionalized planning and investing: Rather than offering generic financial plans, PSF has institutionalized a repeatable model that delivers meaningful outcomes for clients, while driving scalable business success.
This is exactly the combination that attracted a wide range of potential buyers when PSF went to market in early 2025, and why Modern Wealth ultimately became the right partner.
Why Modern Wealth Was the Right Fit
Modern Wealth stood out due to its deep passion for the mission, and its unwavering commitment to preserving and expanding what Mike had built at PSF—not simply because of their team or capital.
Jason Gordo, co-founder and president of Modern Wealth, and his team provided the operational infrastructure to scale PSF’s “playbook” nationally, as well as a shared conviction around the importance of catering to those who serve our communities.
“Mike has built something truly unique,” Jason said. “Modern Wealth has completed many successful acquisitions of great businesses, but this partnership stands apart. It’s about taking a deeply intentional service model built on trust, relevance and lived experience, and bringing it to as many first responder households in America as possible. Our team is passionate about this space. We see a real opportunity to become the market leader in delivering financial guidance to those who dedicate their lives to protecting others, with Mike’s model as the foundation.
Mike echoed the sentiment and the strategic fit: “The team at Modern Wealth understood our business and, more importantly, why we built it, to serve the unique needs of first responders who traditional advisors too often overlook. Modern Wealth has extensive experience in the wealth management space, and, combined with our knowledge of serving first responder families, our combined strengths will deliver the highest impact possible on the lives of those who keep our communities safe. I couldn’t think of a better partner for this next chapter.”
Beyond a Deal—The Start of a Movement
This transaction wasn’t the end of a process. It’s the beginning of a national movement to better serve first responders, who are often underrepresented in the financial services world.
With Modern Wealth’s backing, Mike’s model can scale to cities and towns across America, helping more public servants get the quality advice they deserve from people who genuinely understand their lives.
“In a profession so heavy with stress, sacrifice and pressure, we take great satisfaction in giving first responder families something they don’t often have—peace of mind around their financial futures,” said Galloway. While EBITDA multiples and deal terms still matter in our industry, this outcome was about far more than numbers. It was about aligning values, building trust over time and uniting behind a shared purpose.
A Final Thought
As I reflect on what made this partnership possible, it comes down to three things: shared service backgrounds, a commitment to a deeply underserved niche and a belief that financial advice should feel personal, especially for those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.
Mike Galloway didn’t build his firm to get acquired. He built it to serve. But by doing that, and doing it extraordinarily well, he created something truly worth scaling.
This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s the story of what happens when mission, model and market all meet.