About
Ancora is a wealth management and advisory firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio that began as aboutique family wealth and investment management firm in 2003. The firm has evolved into a comprehensive financial services organization with over 100 employees managing approximately $9.5 billion in assets. Ancora is known for its shareholder activism through its Ancora Alternatives division, which manages approximately $1.3 billion in assets and has become a respected and feared force in activist investing.Ancora has established itself as a prominent player in shareholder activism, having seated over 45 directors on portfolio company boards since 2014. The firm has targeted major companies including Norfolk Southern Railroad, RB Global, Berry Global, C.H. Robinson, Kohls, CSX Transportation, US Steel, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Element Fleet Management. In 2021, Ancora was acquired by Focus Financial Partners in an arrangement that retained the firms name and management.
Investment Focus
Ancora uses a multi-strategy approach that blends wealth management with active shareholder engagement. Through Ancora Alternatives, it invests in 10–12 fundamentally sound but mispriced companies, seeking value via constructive activism. The firm emphasizes private (and when needed, public) engagement to drive governance improvements, operational changes, and long-term value—often including proxy contests and board representation.