It was service growth by way of acquisition this week for 2 registered funding advisors. First, Prime Capital Monetary introduced the acquisition of a Texas-based tax advisory agency to launch a Prime Capital Tax Advisory division. Then, VestGen Wealth Companions launched a retirement plan recommendation division bolstered by buying a former Osaic group specializing within the area.
For others, the offers have been based mostly on the extra conventional focus of increasing footprints. AlphaCore Wealth Advisory introduced the acquisition of a $1.5 billion RIA in Rockville, Md., and 1099 affiliation platform Concurrent introduced on a $1.3 billion group from Raymond James based mostly in Savannah and Sea Island, Ga.
Within the meantime, WealthManagement.com revealed some contributor recommendation on each the execution of buying a agency, in addition to methods to gauge non-public fairness backing that drives high quality progress, not simply pumped up AUM. You’ll be able to learn a bit on the primary subject associated to blind M&A auctions from Mariner’s Kevin Corbett, and an article on the second by OneDigital’s Christian Mango.
However earlier than you do this, make sure to compensate for different related offers and strikes from the week under.
$866M Merrill Workforce Breaks Away to Kestra
Kestra Non-public Wealth Companies, the hybrid registered funding advisor based mostly in Austin, Texas, has poached a big group from Financial institution of America’s Merrill to hitch its platform.
David Barnett and Ashley Ament lead the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based group of 4 launching Ascend Non-public Wealth Companions, which can proceed to supply wealth providers starting from funding administration to tax planning.
Barnett had been a managing director and wealth supervisor at Merrill for about 25 years, and Ament had been with the wirehouse for about 21 years.
“We attempt to make sure each determination we make displays our shoppers’ greatest pursuits,” co-founder Ament mentioned in a press release. “Becoming a member of Kestra PWS offers us the liberty and adaptability to supply high-quality options for our shoppers with out being tied to particular merchandise. That independence, paired with Kestra’s hands-on assist, empowers us to serve our shoppers even higher.”
Kestra has constructed up its advisor base on the thesis of transitioning wirehouse advisors to W-2 roles. It additionally owns Bluespring Wealth Companions, its RIA acquisition arm.
Cetera Poaches $126M Advisor From LPL
Cetera Monetary Group has introduced on advisor Frank Mezzanotte and his $126 million FDM Wealth Administration follow to its Cetera Monetary Establishments division.
Mezzanotte, based mostly in Lengthy Island, N.Y., joins Cetera after about 12 years with LPL Monetary. Within the announcement, he cited Cetera’s assist for unbiased advisors, its transition bundle and the constructive experiences of different former LPL advisors as components within the transfer.
“There have been no massive onboarding disconnects—all my property came visiting in 30 days, and that’s a testomony to Cetera’s onboarding course of,” Mezzanotte mentioned in a press release.
As of June 30, 2025, Cetera corporations handle greater than $590 billion in property beneath administration and $263 billion in property beneath administration.
Former Commonwealth Advisors Be a part of Osaic
Hinck Non-public Wealth Administration, a Florida-based advisory group previously with LPL Monetary’s Commonwealth Monetary Community, has jumped to Osaic’s unbiased advisor channel.
The Englewood-based group, based in 1978, is led by CEO and founder John Hinck and managing companions Thomas and James Hinck. Based on the announcement, the group joined Osaic for entry to its know-how and capabilities and the flexibility to remain on Constancy Investments’ Nationwide Monetary Companies custodial platform.
“Osaic stood out for its open-architecture know-how and expansive wealth administration platform, whereas additionally permitting us to proceed utilizing NFS—a significant benefit for our group,” Thomas Hinck mentioned in a press release.
The necessity to swap to LPL’s self-custody platform in 2026 has been cited by different advisors who’ve left LPL because it closed the deal to amass Commonwealth. Most lately, advisors becoming a member of dealer/seller Cetera have famous that as a part of their determination making. Cetera lately made NFS accessible to all advisors in its community.
Osaic didn’t instantly reply to a request for the agency’s prior property beneath administration with Commonwealth.
The deal exhibits additional success for the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Osaic in drawing Commonwealth groups after seeing advisor attrition to LPL in recent times whereas it went by means of its personal consolidation. In September, Osaic recruited Virtus Wealth Options, a Morgantown, W.Va.-based agency beforehand affiliated with Commonwealth to hitch Osaic’s supported independence channel.
New Rent to Increase Certuity’s Institutional Wealth Platform
Certuity, a multi-family workplace serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth people and households, has expanded its institutional wealth follow by hiring Giuliano Celle as managing director and head of institutional wealth.
Celle, who can be based mostly in New York, can be tasked with broadening the agency’s institutional wealth capabilities, strengthening entry to non-public market and direct deal alternatives, and deepening relationships with shopper households.
“We see robust alternative with household enterprises, foundations and endowments that function with institutional rigor however search personalized, boutique options,” Celle mentioned by way of electronic mail. “Certuity is dedicated to deepening its institutional relationships to satisfy this rising demand.”
Previous to becoming a member of Certuity, Celle served as managing director of worldwide household and institutional wealth LatAm/Worldwide at UBS. He beforehand held senior roles at J.P. Morgan Non-public Financial institution, the place he led the International Funding Alternatives Group for Latin America and choose worldwide household workplaces, establishments and UHNW shoppers.
Celle can be an investor and advisor in enterprise capital and personal fairness.
Artistic Planning Acquires $275M Pennsylvania-Primarily based RIA
Artistic Planning, the Overland Park, Kan.-based registered funding advisor with greater than $390 billion in mixed shopper property, has acquired Monetary Abundance, a Pennsylvania-based RIA with over $275 million in AUM.
Monetary Abundance, led by founder and President Paul Nichols, has provided monetary planning to people and households for over 20 years. Nichols is a frequent speaker on monetary training and planning and has spoken alongside folks comparable to former President Ronald Reagan and Gens. Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf.
“Artistic Planning’s assets and nationwide footprint, together with their in depth in-house authorized, property and tax providers, will allow us to proceed our mission of offering peace of thoughts to our shoppers,” Nichols mentioned in a press release.
The deal is Artistic Planning’s 14th acquisition in two years.
Raymond James Brings 4 Commonwealth Advisors to Company RIA Mannequin
Raymond James has introduced on 4 monetary advisors from LPL Monetary’s Commonwealth Monetary Community over to its company RIA mannequin, including to prior strikes by Commonwealth advisors to the nationwide advisory agency.
Brian Keister, Jody Chiapelli, Sara Hinthorne and Joshua Keister be a part of Raymond James after managing about $357 million in shopper property with Commonwealth. They’ll stay based mostly in Bethalto, In poor health., working as KCH Monetary, together with 4 assist employees.
“Raymond James’ client-first tradition and in depth assets grant us the pliability to proceed doing what’s greatest for our shoppers whereas positioning us for future progress,” Keister mentioned in a press release.
Joshua Keister and Sara Hinthorne are Brian Keister’s youngsters. He had been with Commonwealth for about 15 years after spending about 14 with American Categorical Monetary Advisors.
Raymond James launched its company RIA channel in 2022, wherein fee-only IARs work as unbiased contractors.
