In 2017, CFO4Life, the Coppell, Texas-based RIA founded by McMellien and Chastain, joined Focus, becoming its first partner firm headquartered in Texas. At the time, McMellian claimed they were joining Focus due to its “M&A resources and value-add services,” according to the 2017 statement. The duo claimed Focus had paid the fee as expected for years, but beginning last November, Focus began withholding it (the two claim that as of late June, the total unpaid fees exceed $1.09 million). The parties agreed to mediation, but according to McMellian and Chastain, “Focus turned the dispute extra-contractual and began scorching the earth with its self-help bullying tactics.” First, they claimed Focus issued a “litigation-hold notice” on all CFO4Life employees, while threatening to fire a worker who maintained the company’s books and records.