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
2024

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
2024

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
2024

Progress

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

2017
2024

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
2024

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
2024

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 Sparta Office

In May, Alden opened a satellite location in Charlotte, NC, with Sparta Wealth Partners, specializing in family office services.

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.

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