In this week’s roundup, Beacon Pointe acquired three RIAs; Modern Wealth acquired 4thGEN; Wealthspire acquired Atlantic Swiss; Latigo Peak launched an independent firm; Truing launched with Elevation Point backing; Osaic recruited ICG next and Freehold; Janney opened a Houston office with four advisors; Ameriprise recruited RBC teams and entered an AmeriServ investment-services partnership; Kintra recruited Great Scott; Sowell appointed Scott Dooley as CIO; Ballentine named Jeffrey Potter Board Chairman; and Cerulli examined confusion over advisor fees.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Beacon Pointe Acquires Three RIAs With $1.35 Billion In AUM
RIA Beacon Pointe Advisors acquired WorthPointe Financial Planners, Silver Lake Capital Partners and R Meier Wealth Management, which together managed approximately $1.35 billion in client assets under management (AUM). WorthPointe accounted for about $1 billion, Silver Lake for about $200 million and R Meier for about $150 million. The acquisitions added offices in Texas, California and Wisconsin.
The WorthPointe transaction closed Oct. 15, while Silver Lake closed Sept. 15 and R Meier closed July 1. Jack Cooper, Senior Director, Mergers and Acquisitions at Beacon Pointe Advisors, said all three businesses adopted the Beacon Pointe name after closing. The acquisitions brought Beacon Pointe’s total for 2026 to nine, compared with 16 in 2025. Turkey Hill Management advised WorthPointe on its transaction and Dalphia Partners advised R Meier. The additions brought Beacon Pointe to approximately $70 billion in assets under advisement.
Cooper said, “Our priorities are to partner with firms that strengthen Beacon Pointe and give our existing advisory teams the resources and capacity to deepen client relationships and serve more individuals and families.”
Modern Wealth Acquires 4thGEN With $330 Million In AUM
RIA Modern Wealth Management acquired 4thGEN Wealth Management, a wealth management practice in Lodi, California, overseeing approximately $330 million in AUM. The transaction extends Modern Wealth’s presence in Northern California and adds a practice serving business owners, agricultural families, retirees and investors planning for the transfer of wealth between generations. The firms described succession planning as a principal reason for the combination.
4thGEN Co-Founder and Partner Kenneth Levy, along with fellow Co-Founders and Partners Corey Daniel and Dudley McGee, will join Modern Wealth, alongside Senior Client Associate DeAnn Murray and Business Development Specialist Chris Taylor. The practice’s advisors share responsibility for client relationships, providing continuity beyond a single lead advisor. Levy and his colleagues plan to remain involved in their clients’ financial planning and investment management.
Levy said, “As we thought about succession, we weren’t looking for a way to step away. We wanted to find a partner that would allow us to keep doing what we do well while creating a stronger long-term foundation for our clients and our team. Modern Wealth gives us that continuity while adding tax, estate, risk-management and other planning resources that can deepen the advice we provide.”
Wealthspire Acquires London Wealth Manager Atlantic Swiss
Wealthspire’s Ground Control Business Management division acquired Atlantic Swiss, a London-based private wealth manager that had more than $1 billion, or approximately £800 million, in combined assets under management and administration as of Dec. 30, 2025. The completed deal expands Ground Control’s wealth management operations in the United Kingdom and adds clients in Western Europe. Atlantic Swiss advises professionals in entertainment, sports, music and fashion.
Atlantic Swiss founder Craig Bell will remain President and lead a team of more than 20 employees, including eight advisors. Bell will work alongside Nick Parkinson, President of Ground Control’s U.K. division. The acquired business provides financial planning, investment management and family financial coordination. The transaction also adds to Wealthspire’s newly established sports and entertainment business. Berkshire Global Advisors served as exclusive advisor to Wealthspire in the transaction.
“Craig and his team have built lasting relationships by paying close attention to each client. As part of Wealthspire, they will serve their clients directly, with added depth and support behind them as the business grows,” Mike LaMena, CEO of Wealthspire, said.
Advisor Transactions
Latigo Peak Launches Independent Firm With $18.6 Billion In AUM
Latigo Peak Partners launched as an independent, founder-owned wealth management firm with approximately $18.6 billion in AUM and 48 professionals. The firm’s Co-Founders, Phil Scott and Jim Atwood, previously led large advisory practices at J.P. Morgan Advisors. The Co-Founders funded the business themselves rather than taking outside private equity capital. Its clients include ultra-high net worth families, entrepreneurs and business owners.
Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Latigo Peak has operational hubs in Bellevue, Washington, and Boston, plus an office in Los Angeles. It selected Charles Schwab and BNY Pershing for custody and lending services. Fusion Financial Partners advised the founders on the design and launch of the independent RIA. Scott and Atwood said their former practices grew combined annual revenue from $34 million to more than $130 million over six years.
Scott said, “Our goal here is to build a firm geared principally towards investment performance and a distinctive client experience. We believe strong outcomes come from a financial model designed around families. Independence gives us the ability to take responsibility for the future of our business and make decisions based on what we believe is right for our clients over the long term.”
Truing Launches Independent Practice With Elevation Point Investment
Truing Capital Advisors launched in Las Vegas with a minority investment from Elevation Point. Founding Partners Russell Price and Salvatore “Sam” Mineo previously operated as MPI Wealth Management at UBS, where their team oversaw approximately $750 million in assets under supervision. The practice serves business owners, entrepreneurs and families with significant real estate, concentrated assets or other complex wealth-planning needs.
The advisors specialize in investment management, tax-aware planning and estate-planning coordination for clients facing business sales, concentrated holdings and other transitions. The firm selected Goldman Sachs Custody Solutions as custodian. Elevation Point provides minority capital and business support to practices.
Price said, “Our new structure gives us greater control over how we serve clients and the flexibility to build solutions around their needs, supported by the resources and capabilities of leading financial institutions. The discipline, integrity and experience our clients have come to expect from us will not change. What changes is our ability to deliver more for them.”
Osaic Adds ICG Next And Freehold Wealth Management
Osaic announced the addition of two wealth management firms: ICG next, a New Jersey-based advisory practice that reported approximately $2.3 billion in client AUM, and Freehold Wealth Management, a South Carolina practice overseeing approximately $576 million in client assets. ICG next joined from LPL Financial, while Freehold was previously affiliated with Stifel Independent Advisors.
ICG next is based in Wall Township, New Jersey, has an office in Melville, New York, and includes approximately 21 financial advisors led by Managing Partner James Costabile. The firm will retain its name and plans to expand through recruiting and acquisitions. Freehold, headquartered in Landrum, South Carolina, is led by Cindy Boyle, John Boyle and Mary Steele. Freehold initially affiliated with Osaic in April 2026, with additional financial professionals joining subsequently.
“Osaic has seen meaningful recruiting momentum this year, but we do not measure success by the number of firms we add,” Shannon Reid, President and Head of Advisor Growth and Engagement at Osaic, said. “Our focus is on attracting high-quality advisors and teams that are the right fit for Osaic and where our platform, capabilities and partnership can help them grow.”
Janney Adds Four Advisors And Opens Houston Office
Janney Montgomery Scott opened a Houston office with four financial advisors who collectively manage nearly $3.5 billion in client assets. The advisors moved from Raymond James, establishing an additional Texas office for Janney after its 2025 entry into Dallas. The Edwards Fitzpatrick Group is led by Sean Fitzpatrick and Jim Edwards, with Christin Simon also joining the group. Lance Murphy also joined the Houston office as an advisor.
Fitzpatrick and Edwards joined as Managing Directors/Investments, Simon as Vice President/Investments and Murphy as Senior Vice President/Wealth Management. Senior Registered Private Client Associate Allison Spinelli also joined the Edwards Fitzpatrick Group.
“Texas presents tremendous opportunity for Janney, and opening an office in Houston with this group of experienced advisors gives us an outstanding foundation in the market,” Frank Amigo, Gulf Regional Director at Janney, said. “They bring deep experience, strong client relationships, and established practices that align extremely well with Janney. We see significant opportunity to build on this presence and continue attracting experienced advisors across Texas.”
Ameriprise Recruits RBC Teams And Adds AmeriServ Program
Ameriprise Financial recruited three advisor teams from RBC Capital Markets that managed nearly $1.2 billion in combined client assets. It also became the investment-services partner for AmeriServ Bank, whose affiliated financial advisors served clients with approximately $525 million in assets in Pennsylvania and western Maryland.
The RBC recruits included the GEN Group in Vienna, Virginia, led by Private Wealth Advisor Matt Lanham and Financial Advisor Amanda Catalina, with more than $750 million in client assets; Vantage Axia Wealth in Denver, led by Andy Krantz and Corben Gailey, with more than $280 million; and Financial Advisor Chad Lewis in West Des Moines, Iowa, with $160 million. Under the separate bank arrangement, AmeriServ clients gain access to Ameriprise planning, investment offerings and digital tools.
“Ameriprise offers a unique combination of sophisticated technology, comprehensive planning resources and a leadership team that is invested in advisor success,” Lanham said. “We believe the firm’s platform will help us operate more efficiently, deepen client relationships and continue growing our practice.”
Kintra Adds Great Scott With $355 Million In Client Assets
Great Scott Financial Services joined Kintra Wealth, with a practice that serviced approximately $355 million in client assets. Its leader, Scott Seymour, became a Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor at Kintra, an advisor-owned wealth management firm with more than $4 billion in client assets across its affiliated teams. Seymour has nearly three decades of experience working with families and advising clients across generations.
Seymour entered the business in 1998 at an advisory practice established by his father in Morristown, New Jersey. He took over leadership through a succession completed when his father retired in 2010. Under the new affiliation, Seymour will continue to lead the practice while using Kintra’s investment, compliance, technology and operating resources. Kintra reported a network of 75 professionals.
Seymour said, “Kintra stood out because it had built the kind of community I had been looking for — one where experienced advisors and specialized teams genuinely collaborate to help each other better serve clients. I’ll be surrounded by people I can learn from, lean on, and collaborate with every day. That ultimately allows me to deliver an even better experience for the families who have placed their trust in me.”
Promotions & People Moves
Sowell Names Scott Dooley Chief Investment Officer
Arkansas-based RIA Sowell Management appointed Scott Dooley as Chief Investment Officer and head of its new Office of the CIO. Dooley had joined the firm in 2025 as Managing Director of Investment Management. He has approximately 20 years of asset management experience and will oversee an expanded range of investment support for Sowell’s advisor network.
The Office of the CIO consolidates research, due diligence, portfolio construction, implementation and advisor consulting. Advisors can obtain support for managing investments or delegate portions of portfolio work. The group also draws on specialists for tax-aware investments, concentrated positions, income planning and alternative strategies. Before joining Sowell, Dooley held positions at Fusion Investment Group, Blue Vase Holdings, Rayliant Global Advisors and Columbus Macro.
Dooley said, “Our role is to come alongside our advisors, understand what each situation requires and draw on the appropriate strategies and specialists. That might mean building a tax-sensitive transition plan, evaluating an alternative investment or bringing in a specialist manager for a specific need. Our solution-neutral approach gives advisors the expertise and support to take on complex client situations with confidence and pursue more sophisticated outcomes.”
Ballentine Appoints Jeffrey Potter Board Chairman
Ballentine Partners appointed Jeffrey Potter Chairman of its Board of Managers following a series of leadership roles at the wealth management and family office firm. Potter retired from his day-to-day responsibilities on June 30 and is serving as a consultant through the end of the year. Ballentine serves ultra-high net worth families.
Potter joined Ballentine in 2014 as Senior Client Advisor, became a Partner in 2018 and was named Chief Financial Officer in 2021. He previously worked in private equity, corporate development, investment banking and commercial lending. His past responsibilities at Ballentine included financial management, capital planning, risk oversight and investment policy.
Potter said, “I am honored to serve as Chairman of Ballentine Partners. The firm has built a strong reputation for providing independent, thoughtful advice to families navigating increasingly complex financial lives. I look forward to working alongside the Board and leadership team to support the firm’s long-term strategy and its commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients.”
Research
Cerulli Research Finds Investor Confusion About Advisor Fees
New research by Cerulli, produced in partnership with RIA Credent Wealth Management, found that the number of RIAs overseeing at least $5 billion in assets rose to 343 in 2025 from 194 in 2020. Despite that growth, investors faced difficulties comparing compensation arrangements and standards of care. The white paper examined the expanding range of wealth management providers and the different business models through which they serve clients.
Among the $5 billion-plus RIAs studied, fee-only independent firms’ share of assets fell to 34% at year-end 2025 from 42% in 2020. Of surveyed investors who said their advisor must always act in their best interest, 73% were satisfied and not looking for a new provider, compared with 48% of those who said an advisor could recommend products favoring the advisor’s or provider’s interests.
“Today’s investors have more access to advice than ever before, but understanding the differences between wealth management providers has become increasingly challenging,” Brendan Powers, Senior Director, Product Development and Institutional at Cerulli, said.
Wealth Solutions Report can be reached at info@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
