Our Founder

David Lockey has 24 years of experience in working with business owners, and as a business owner himself. 

For the first 18 years of his career, David was a successful Financial Advisor, initially working as an Advisor with a couple of investment brokerage firms.  In 2012, David founded Lockey Wealth Management, as a pathway to true business ownership and escaping the large corporate environment and constraints of working for larger firms.  By starting his own firm, he was able to deliver his advice and services to his clients free from the influences and constraints mandated by corporations that served their interest, not necessarily the clients’. 

In 2018, David took a slight pivot in his career, and began working in the Mergers & Acquisitions arena – joining Dallas firm The Vant Group, as a contracted Managing Director.  Since 2018, David has advised business owners and entrepreneurs, both buyers and sellers, in multiple industries.  On sell-side engagements, he has an incredibly high success rate of closing transactions – over 90%, compared to an industry average of around 35%.  He’s worked on deals ranging from around $100,000 in EBTIDA to over $5,000,000 in EBITDA, $300,000 in revenue to over $30,000,000.  He’s advised on multiple buy-side engagements – and helped early-stage entrepreneurs become entrepreneurs through acquisition, as well as engaged with strategic buyers that have sought to grow through acquisition. 

In 2023, David launched Next Mergers & Acquisitions, returning to his true entrepreneurial spirit.  David is looking forward to what lies ahead for the newly formed firm.

David received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where he also was a 4-year starter on the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) football team.

David is married to his wife of 20-years, Kylene.  They live in North Dallas and have 3 children - 2 sons and 1 daughter.  His 3 children are active in sports – football, basketball, track & field, softball…and David was active in coaching youth sports when they were younger, though now is enjoying watching them compete from the stands, now that they’re competing for their school teams.