San Diego, California-based Lucia Capital Group has acquired the managed equity and fixed income accounts of West Coast Asset Management, an RIA firm with $170 million in assets.

San Diego, California-based Lucia Capital Group has acquired the managed equity and fixed income accounts of West Coast Asset Management, an RIA firm with $170 million in assets.

As part of the deal, Lance Helfert, president of WCAM, will join Lucia Capital as a senior vice president, while WCAM's chief investment officer, Atticus Lowe, will join Lucia Capital's research and investment management group, Lucia Capital said in a statement.

Derek Bruton, chief executive officer of Lucia Capital, said that the West Coast Asset Management deal was just the beginning of a “focused acquisition strategy” for Lucia Capital.

“Going forward, we will continue to aggressively explore acquisition opportunities with other independent firms that can benefit from Lucia Capital's years of experience, strategic vision and industry-leading financial planning and investment offerings," said Bruton.

With the addition of the WCAM's offices in the Santa Barbara area in California, Lucia Capital Group now has 17 offices nationwide with over 70 employees and $2.4 billion in client assets.

Montecito, CA-based West Coast Asset Management was co-founded in 2000 by president Lance Helfert and Paul Orfalea and provides exclusive equity, fixed income, and alternative asset management services to more than 100 investors consisting of high net worth individuals, institutions, retirement plans and charitable foundations.