Our History

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Alden Investment Group, also known as J. Alden Associates, Inc., is an independent broker dealer founded in 1995 to provide clients with unbiased, high-quality investments and financial advice.

Since then, the firm evolved into a full-service broker dealer with many lines of business for institutional and individual clients. Alden Investment Group has a correspondent relationship with Raymond James & Associates, which acts as our clearing firm and a custodian for our registered investment advisor.

1995
2025

Founding

J. Alden Associates, Inc. was founded in 1995 by Peter Alden Engelbach to provide independent brokerage advice, trading, and account management for individual investors. Over the next several years the firm grew to over 12 licensed representatives.

2008
2025

Expansion

In 2008, the firm added over 10 licensed representatives affiliated with Meyer Chatfield, Inc., a leading provider of benefits and insurance solutions to hundreds of financial services companies.

2010
2025

Progress

J. Alden grew to over 25 licensed individuals in the years following the 2008 financial crisis.

2017
2025

New Management

During 2017, Peter Engelbach and Lee Calfo explored a transition to enhance the capabilities of the firm and add new business lines by combining teams. In early 2018, an agreement was reached to purchase the broker dealer. Lee Calfo was added as CEO and Kenneth Smith as Chief Compliance Officer; Peter Engelbach was named the firm’s President. Several other key personnel were added and the firm began doing business as Alden Securities.

2018
2025

Major Growth

In mid-2018, Alden Securities completed a successful continuing membership application with FINRA that added a number of additional business lines to the firm’s membership agreement and significantly expanded the number of representatives the firm may have. In addition, Alden added an investment advisor affiliate to provide fee-based asset management services to individuals and institutional investors.

2018
2018

Broadened Personnel

Alden added additional licensed representatives during 2018, taking the total number to over 30. These included research representatives, equity sales personnel and representatives offering private placements to both individual and institutional investors.

2018
2025

Launched Retirement Plan

Alden established a retirement plan business in mid-2018 with two key personnel additions and through year-end, grew the firm’s retirement plan assets to nearly $150 million.

2019
2019

New Brand Rollout

In the first quarter of 2019 Alden significantly enhanced its web presence with the rollout of a brand new website and a new online marketing campaign to attract more representatives and clients to the firm.

2020
2020

Opening of Springhouse Office

As part of Alden’s continued growth plan, the firm opened another office in Collegeville, PA in June, for the Springhouse Wealth Partners division.

2020
2020

Growth in Reps & Managed Assets

By the end of 2020, Alden more than doubled the total number of registered financial representatives since 2018, for a total of 65. Additionally, Alden increased 401k assets under management to $250 million, over a $100 million increase in two years.

2020
2020

Financial Planning IBD Elite

For the second year in a row, Alden Investment Group ranks in the 35th annual Financial Planning IBD Elite, achieving second place for Revenue Growth and third place for Highest Growth in Producing Reps.

2021
2021

Doylestown, PA Branch Office Opening

2021
2021

ADIFO Partnership

Alden Investment Group announces their latest partnership with the Adi Dassler International Family Office (ADIFO), an affiliate of Apollon Wealth Management, a $1.6 billion RIA.

2021
2021

Alden Investment Advisors

Alden launches its newest Registered Investment Advisor, Alden Investment Advisors (AIA). AIA is focused on empowering independent financial advisors to provide exceptional client outcomes through modern technology, high-quality client service, and operational support.

2021
2021

Galbreath Group Affiliation

The Galbreath Group announces its affiliation with Alden Securities. The Galbreath Group’s consultants and advisors specialize in Bank-Owned Life Insurance (BOLI) and Corporate-Owned Life Insurance (COLI).

2022
2022

Coursemark Affiliates with Alden

CourseMark, LLC, joins as an affiliate of Alden Investment Group. Located in Frisco, TX, a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, CourseMark is the only 100% credit union-owned credit union service organization (CUSO) offering pre-funded employee benefit investments and executive benefits.

2022
2022

Alden COVE Launch

Aaron Williams joins as Managing Director to launch Alden Cove, a turnkey asset management platform (TAMP) with concierge services and diverse investments, rapidly adding $300M in assets.

2022
2022

Endowment and Endowment PLUS

Alden makes its Endowment and Endowment PLUS models accessible through Alden COVE. The Endowment models are designed to provide enhanced risk-adjusted returns to institutions and clients. The portfolios invest in low-cost, passively managed equities, actively managed asset managers or securities, and alternative asset classes.

2023
2023

The Sharp Financial Group Partnership

Sharp Financial Group, based in Horsham, PA, joins Alden Investment Group as a strategic partner. It offers clients investment banking and family office services.

2023
2023

Red Bank Branch Office Opening

Alden Investment Group announces its latest branch expansion by opening the Alden Red Bank office in Red Bank, NJ.

2023
2023

Launchpad Funding

Alden Investment Group Receives a Strategic Investment from the Castle Creek Launchpad Fund. This strategic initiative from a community-bank-backed fintech venture fund aims to expand the reach of Alden’s Turnkey Asset Management Platform and retail investment advisor firm and transform investment solutions offered for financial advisors, banks, and other participants with high-value comprehensive wealth offerings and low-cost digital delivery.

2023
2023

COVE Investment Committee, Institutional, and ALPS Investment Model Expansion

Alden creates an advisor-facing investment committee designed to assist with institutional asset manager due diligence, selection, and portfolio construction. This expansion allows Alden to provide institutions and HNW clients with open architecture, institutional quality solutions, held-away account management, and technology such as client portals and reporting. ALPS is our hedge fund focused on risk-adjusted returns by coupling our go-anywhere best-ideas approach with hedging.

2024
2024

Advisor Equity Model

The first partner advisors were awarded equity, symbolizing Alden’s shift to a more hands-on, boutique partnership model.

2024
2024

CAP Northwest Partnership

Alden Investment Group proudly announces a strategic partnership with Columbia Advisory Partners (CAP), a boutique, tech-driven SEC-registered RIA based in Spokane, WA. This move is part of Alden’s broader strategy to expand its turnkey asset management platform (TAMP), Alden COVE, by adding $225 million in assets, with a roadmap towards a full acquisition.

2024
2024

Record Growth

Alden doubles advisor headcount in two years to over 140 financial representatives nationwide and over $2 billion of client assets.

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