How This Young UBS Advisor Built A $1 Billion Book With A High-Touch Client Approach

Forbes

6 days ago

Kayvon Sarmadi Courtesy of UBS
Name: Kayvon Sarmadi
Firm: UBS Wealth Management
Location: Washington, D.C.
Team Assets (Custodied): $974 million
Background: Kayvon Sarmadi launched his career as a solo advisor at just 23 years old—an unusually young age in a post-financial crisis industry. 'I had to beg the firm for an exception,' he says. 'I didn't want to be on a team—I wanted to do this myself.' Raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Sarmadi grew up in his family's car dealership business, attending sales meetings as a kid and developing a strong foundation in sales and client service. He started trading stocks at age 9 and was hooked. After graduating from Roanoke College, he convinced his firm to let him start building his book by himself. Today, Sarmadi co-leads a six-person team which also includes his younger brother and cousin. 'Our team is made up of younger advisors who have built the business,' he says. 'Clients appreciate that we're here for the long term and can work with multiple generations.'
Building Relationships: Sarmadi's approach to client relationships is hands-on and highly personal. 'I probably deal directly with about 40 families and travel constantly to see them,' he says. 'Referrals don't happen if you're not in person.' He hosts regular social events, including an exclusive Art Basel party for clients in Miami and private dinners for clients' adult children in New York. 'Parents love it—it's a way of helping the whole family,' he says, citing his team's multigenerational focus. 'We can navigate family dynamics in a way a lot of other teams can't.'
Investment Philosophy: The team follows a core-and-satellite strategy focused on tax efficiency and diversification. Core holdings include municipal bonds and actively managed equities, paired with direct indexing for daily tax-loss harvesting. Satellite positions include direct private equity, real estate, and infrastructure deals. 'We read every deal—we don't just rely on platforms,' says Sarmadi. They were early adopters of alternative investments and continue to prioritize opportunities that are niche, high-quality, and hard to access. 'There's never been a bigger disparity within asset classes between what's going to work and what won't,' he says. 'Diversification matters more than ever right now.'
Market Outlook: Sarmadi describes the current environment as reactive and headline-driven. 'We're in a really unique time where so much volatility can come from what Trump says,' he says. 'We've been taking gains on the names that have run up and reallocating to more defensive, dividend-paying stocks.' While he anticipates rate cuts ahead, he expects they'll be fewer and slower than the market hopes. 'Rates will probably stay a little higher than people think.'
Best Advice: 'Discipline is everything,' Sarmadi says. He advises young advisors to be intentional about their environment. 'If you're building a business, you need to be in rooms where high-caliber people spend their time. You never know who you're going to run into, so dressing well still matters.'
Off the Clock: Sarmadi blends business and life seamlessly. 'My life is the business, but I have fun doing it,' he says. A soccer fanatic, he coaches his son, cheers for Arsenal, and holds VIP season tickets to Inter Miami. His kids—ages 5 and 7—have already visited nearly 20 countries. 'Travel gives you perspective,' he says. 'And that's important in this business.'