Wealth-management experts form institute

NEW YORK — Financial advisers and other wealth-management experts announced this past week that they were forming a trade group for professionals who deal with affluent and high net-worth clients.

The group, to be called the Wealth Advisor Institute, will be headquartered in Washington and seek membership from financial planners, accountants, insurance agents, estate planners, attorneys and others who advise wealthy Americans.

Keith Gregg, chief sales officer with Dunham & Associates investment managers in San Diego, will serve as chairman of the new group.

He said that the goal was to create "a place to network and collaborate" on serving clients with investable assets of $250,000 and up.

Memberships will cost $300 a year, and the group will accept funding from corporate sponsors, Gregg said. Among the target groups are registered representatives licensed to sell securities, he added.