In this week’s roundup, Willow Tree invested in VestGen; CohnReznick agreed to acquire Aldrich; Annex agreed to acquire Marietta Investment Partners; Carson acquired Foran Financial; CAPTRUST added Hoge‑Barrett; Rosenwald Private Wealth joined Indivisible Partners; LPL added Prince Financial Services and Economos Private Wealth; Perennial Wealth Partners launched within Integrated Partners; Sammons introduced the Criterion brand; the Foundation for Financial Planning (FFP) launched pro bono training; Rothschild Financial Partners launched as an RIA; and Choreo appointed Gabriel Rodriguez as Chief Technology Officer.
Mergers & Acquisitions
VestGen Secures Growth Capital From Willow Tree
VestGen Wealth Partners secured growth capital from Willow Tree Credit Partners to support additional succession‑focused M&A. The Chicago‑based firm said it now oversees $8.5 billion in assets, after integrating 19 firms representing $7.5 billion in assets since its 2024 launch. The financing follows a 2025 expansion in which VestGen added nine practices representing approximately $2.2 billion in client assets.
The firm said the capital will support continued acquisitions as it builds on a succession model that has combined practices primarily across the Midwest. Raymond James & Associates served as financial advisor to VestGen. White & Case served as legal counsel to Willow Tree, while Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff represented VestGen.
“After launching only two years ago and successfully integrating 19 firms representing $7.5 billion in assets primarily in the Midwest, access to institutional capital will allow us to continue our aggressive growth strategy,” Jason Hanavan, CEO of VestGen, said. “Willow Tree is the right partner to help us fulfill our vision and continue our momentum in the quickly consolidating and evolving independent wealth management space.”
CohnReznick Agrees To Acquire Aldrich
CohnReznick agreed to acquire the Aldrich group, including Aldrich Wealth, an RIA that had more than $8 billion in assets under advisement in August. The transaction is expected to close in mid‑December and also includes Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, extending CohnReznick’s presence on the West Coast through Aldrich offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah and Colorado.
Aldrich Wealth is expected to become the platform for CohnReznick’s wealth management business. The combination will place the RIA alongside CohnReznick’s tax, assurance and advisory businesses while Aldrich Wealth continues serving individuals, families, business owners and retirement plan sponsors.
“Our clients have always been at the center of how we make decisions, and that was an important consideration throughout this process,” Heather Wonderly, President and CEO of Aldrich Wealth, said. “Joining CohnReznick gives us the opportunity to build on the highly personal, fiduciary approach our clients value while expanding the resources and capabilities we can bring to individuals, families, business owners, and retirement plan sponsors.”
Annex To Acquire Marietta With $765 Million In AUM
Annex Wealth Management agreed to acquire Marietta Investment Partners, an employee‑owned RIA in downtown Milwaukee with approximately $765 million in assets under management (AUM). The transaction is expected to close in the first week of November and would bring Annex to more than $9 billion in AUM. All seven Marietta team members are expected to join Annex.
The acquisition would be Annex’s third since 2021 and add another branch in downtown Milwaukee. Marietta clients would retain their existing advisor relationships and gain access to Annex’s technology, in‑house investment management, tax and estate planning resources. Founded in 2000, Marietta serves individuals, families, trusts and institutions.
“John Evans and his partners built Marietta successfully trusting the same standard Annex holds: the client’s interest comes first, every time. We’re excited to add their investment and institutional expertise, and look forward to bringing our teams together, which will provide enhanced expertise and capabilities to all our clients,” said Dave Spano, Founder and CEO of Annex.
Carson Acquires Foran Financial Group With $410 Million In AUM
Carson Group acquired Foran Financial Group, a Somerville, New Jersey, practice with approximately $410 million in AUM that joined Carson’s integrated advisor channel from LPL Financial. Foran became a Carson Wealth location, while its advisors and team members will remain in the Somerville office and the Foran family will continue leading the practice.
Foran serves executives, small business owners and multigenerational families in Somerset County and has a longstanding relationship with Carson through its coaching business. Turkey Hill served as exclusive M&A advisor to Foran Financial Group. Carson manages more than $65 billion in AUM across its advisory network, including more than 50 Carson Wealth locations.
“We started Foran Financial Group because we believed families deserved real advice, and that belief has shaped every client relationship since,” Dan Foran, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor at Foran Financial Group, said. “As we considered what our clients and team need for the next chapter, Carson Group emerged as the right partner. The depth of talent, planning solutions and resources available to us would have taken years to build on our own.”
Advisor Transactions
CAPTRUST Adds Hoge‑Barrett Group With $3 Billion In Client Assets
CAPTRUST added the Hoge‑Barrett Group, a 13‑person wealth management team in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, that serves individuals and families representing more than $3 billion in client assets. Led by Principal and Financial Advisor Brett Hoge, the team traces its roots to 1999.
The Hoge‑Barrett Group will operate from its Winston‑Salem office, which becomes CAPTRUST’s seventh North Carolina location. CAPTRUST has more than 580 employees in North Carolina, including 111 advisors.
“Our clients’ needs have evolved significantly over the years, and we wanted to make sure our team was evolving with them,” Hoge said. “We chose CAPTRUST because it gives us greater flexibility in how we serve clients, while adding a more in‑depth technology stack, deeper investment research, and more wealth planning capabilities.”
Rosenwald Private Wealth Joins Indivisible Partners
Rosenwald Private Wealth, a Baltimore‑based $1.1 billion advisory team serving high and ultra‑high net worth clients, joined Indivisible Partners from RBC Wealth Management. The team, led by Private Wealth Advisor and Founding Partner Beth Rosenwald, has served affluent clients for nearly three decades.
Rosenwald serves individuals and multigenerational families with wealth planning, investment management, retirement planning, estate and legacy planning strategies and family‑focused guidance.
“As we evaluated the future of our business, we wanted a model that allowed us to own what we’ve built while expanding what would be possible for our clients,” Beth Rosenwald said. “Indivisible offered the combination of independence, flexibility, and active support that was the best fit for how we want to continue to serve our clients and grow the business in the years ahead.”
LPL Adds Prince Financial And Economos Private Wealth
LPL Financial added Prince Financial Services, a Seattle practice that joined its broker‑dealer, RIA and custodial platforms from Northwestern Mutual. The team reported serving approximately $1 billion in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets as of the end of 2025.
LPL also added Economos Private Wealth through its Independent Advisor Network. Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor Nick Economos launched the Danville, California, practice after leaving Merrill Lynch, where he had worked since 2000. Economos reported serving approximately $580 million in advisory and brokerage assets as of the end of 2025.
“Moving to independence gives us the flexibility to tailor our approach around each family’s unique needs and goals. What attracted us to LPL was the ability to combine that independence with the scale, resources and support of a leading wealth management firm. It truly offers the best of both worlds, allowing us to remain personal and relationship‑driven while enhancing our ability to serve clients for generations to come,” Nick Economos said.
Perennial Launches Within Integrated Partners
Perennial Wealth Partners launched its Chicago‑based wealth management practice within Integrated Partners. Its eight founding partners include six financial advisors who collectively managed more than $500 million in client assets at Hightower Advisors, their previous firm. Founded in July, the practice provides investment management, financial planning, tax coordination and estate strategy.
Perennial serves high net worth individuals and families, including women who want an active role in their finances, as well as business owners, executives, professionals and retirees.
“Perennial’s team brings decades of shared experience, longstanding client relationships and a deep commitment to service,” Michael Im, Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Perennial Wealth Partners, said. “Our relationship as a team is an incredible asset for our clients and we’re thrilled to be moving forward to find new ways to deliver incredible service to them.”
Strategic Initiatives
Sammons Introduces Criterion Wealth Advisory Brand
Sammons Financial Group introduced Criterion as the new name for its wealth advisory holding company, which includes Beacon Capital Management, NorthRock Partners and Wealthcare. The three firms collectively have more than $27 billion in AUM or assets under advisement and will retain their existing brands and operational independence under Criterion.
Criterion plans additional acquisitions and investments in technology, personnel and other capabilities across its firms. Over the past 18 months, it closed 14 full acquisitions across its three brands representing an aggregate $7.7 billion in AUM, excluding the Wealthcare platform acquisition, and said it has additional prospects in its pipeline.
“The acquisition last year of Wealthcare was the final piece of building out our initial wealth management platform,” Michael Mock, President of Criterion, said. “Effective in January, the wealth management business was stood up as a new, separate business within the broader Sammons Enterprise system.”
Foundation For Financial Planning Launches Enhanced Pro Bono Training
Foundation for Financial Planning launched Pro Bono Financial Planning Volunteer Training, a free, one‑hour interactive course designed to prepare CFP professionals for pro bono service. CFP Board approved the course for one hour of continuing education credit. The program is designed for both new and experienced volunteers.
Developed with CeriFi and sponsored by Capital Group, the training covers clients’ financial realities, communications and emotional intelligence, practice scenarios and resources for volunteer engagements. The foundation said people who complete the course may also qualify for its errors and omissions insurance when volunteering through ProBonoPlannerMatch.Org or an FFP grantee partner.
“Millions of Americans are navigating financial stress and difficult decisions without access to the expert guidance that can help them find a path forward,” Jon Dauphiné, CEO of FFP, said. “The financial planning profession has an extraordinary opportunity to help close that gap. Expanding pro bono financial planning means making it easy for planners to get involved and ensuring they are prepared to serve clients well.”
Rothschild And Singularity Launch Partner‑Owned RIA
Rothschild Wealth Partners and Singularity Financial Partners launched Rothschild Financial Partners, a new RIA owned by its partners. The firm has no private equity capital and combines Rothschild’s wealth management business with operating and technology infrastructure built by Singularity.
Three partner firms have joined since September, with client assets across those firms expected to reach approximately $750 million by year‑end. Rothschild Wealth Partners’ enterprise‑wide assets grew from $2.5 billion to more than $10 billion over the past four years. Each advisor who joins Rothschild Financial Partners becomes a partner in the firm.
“Every advisor who built a practice wears two hats, practitioner and owner, and most firms serve one at the expense of the other,” Michael Roth, CEO of Rothschild Financial Partners, said. “We built this firm to augment the first and maximize the second. The practitioner gets an operating company behind the practice. The owner gets paid for what they built and equity in what we build next.”
Promotions & People Moves
Choreo Appoints Gabriel Rodriguez As Chief Technology Officer
RIA Choreo appointed Gabriel Rodriguez as Chief Technology Officer. Rodriguez joined the firm’s executive leadership team, reports to CEO Jason Van de Loo and is based in Choreo’s Charlotte, North Carolina, office. He will lead technology strategy, platform development and AI work supporting advisors and the firm’s tax and wealth planning model.
Rodriguez has more than 20 years of industry experience and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Technology at LPL Financial, where he was responsible for ClientWorks, the firm’s advisor workstation. He previously spent six years at Vanguard and held technology roles at Wellington Management and Bain Capital.
“Gabriel has spent his career translating the needs of wealth management professionals into technology that helps them do their jobs more effectively,” Van de Loo said. “He brings the technical depth to lead our strategy and the discipline to deliver on it. He understands the role technology plays in supporting advisors and delivering better client experience.”
Wealth Solutions Report can be reached at info@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
