Southpac Group Expanded Services to Los Angeles
The New Zealand firm is targeting legal and financial advisers representing elite athletes in California.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Financial Planning
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Southpac Group, which manages over $6.8 billion in assets, has officially expanded its international wealth structuring operations into Los Angeles. The firm is specifically looking to partner with local legal and financial advisers who manage assets for professional athletes and high-net-worth entertainment figures.
Why it matters
The move targets a growing market of high-earning athletes who increasingly rely on complex offshore trust and fiduciary arrangements to manage wealth. Southpac identified California as a priority because of its dense concentration of private wealth and highly sophisticated legal advisory sector.
Southpac Group oversees $6.8 billion in assets and specializes in fiduciary services within jurisdictions like the Cook Islands and Nevis. The expansion follows a 2026 report showing top athletes earned $4.1 billion, with $1.1 billion coming from non-sporting activities.
The players
Southpac Group
A New Zealand-based firm that has provided international trust and fiduciary services since 1982.
Cristiano Ronaldo
A prominent professional athlete who earned an estimated $300 million in 2026.
The details
The firm, which has operated since 1982, provides international wealth structuring to protect assets for clients in professional sports, including baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. US-based legal advisers reportedly initiated the contact, seeking specialized offshore arrangements for their wealthy clients.
Timeline
Southpac Group began its operations in the trust and fiduciary sector in 1982.
The world's top 50 sporting earners generated $4.1 billion throughout 2026.
Southpac Group formally announced its California expansion in October 2026.
Market Dynamics
This move reflects a broader trend of financial firms pivoting to capture the ballooning off-field earnings of global sports icons. The entry into California capitalizes on the massive wealth accumulation in the US entertainment sector, which surpassed $1.1 billion in non-sporting income for the top 50 athletes in 2026 alone.
For high-net-worth clients, the firm's arrival in Los Angeles provides direct access to offshore trust structures previously managed from afar. Residents should consult with their legal advisers to determine if such international fiduciary arrangements align with their tax and asset protection strategies.
The takeaway
The expansion signals a strategic focus on the high-end wealth management sector where complex, cross-border asset protection is highly sought after. Investors should prioritize vetting the jurisdiction and legal requirements of offshore trusts before committing to specialized fiduciary services.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit our Financial Planning section.
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