Overland Park, Kansas-based Mariner announced Thursday that it is acquiring two RIAs: Rochester, New York-based Forté Capital and Scottsdale, Arizona-based Ultra Financial Partners, adding a combined approximately $1.7 billion in assets under advisement (AUA).
The purchase of Forté Capital will close on Aug. 31 and the purchase of Ultra Financial will close on Sept. 30, Mariner said.
Both firms will drop their brand names and adopt the Mariner name and branding, Mariner noted.
The acquisitions will enable Mariner to further expand its capabilities in advising individual and complex family client relationships, it said.
Forté Capital
The addition of Forté Capital will establish a presence in a new city for Mariner and represents its second location in upstate New York and fifth in the state, Mariner pointed out.
Founded in 1996, Forté Capital is led by Managing Directors David Henion, Adil Masood and Edmond Sheidlower.
The Rochester firm provides comprehensive portfolio management and wealth planning services to families, individuals, institutions and nonprofits, in more than 20 states, according to Mariner.
With the transaction, Mariner will gain a team of 13 advisors and 16 total associates.
“For more than 20 years, we’ve built Forté Capital around the idea that sound financial guidance should evolve with our clients through every stage of life,” Henion said in a news release.
“As our firm continued to grow, we recognized the opportunity to expand our offerings in a way that better serves our clients and allows us to attract new ones. Joining with Mariner allows us to do exactly that while leveraging the scale of its programs to drive long-term growth.”
Ultra Financial Partners
Ultra Financial Partners was established in 2021 after spinning off from a larger RIA. The firm’s approach integrates private and public investments. The full-service retirement and financial planning firm specializes in advising business owners, federal employees and physicians, as well as families and individuals.
The team of four will integrate with one of Mariner’s two existing offices in Scottsdale, maintaining its four offices in Arizona, Mariner said.
“Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional value, a philosophy that has guided our client-centric practice and reinforced the deep commitment we bring to innovation and personalized service,” said Logan Varela, President of Ultra Financial Partners.
He added, “We look forward to collaborating with Mariner’s team of industry-leading professionals to further enhance our clients’ financial success.”
“The firms that stand out are the ones that anticipate how client needs will evolve over time,” according to Marty Bicknell, CEO and President of Mariner.
“David is a highly respected leader who has built a business that delivers real value to his clients,” Bicknell said. “The Forté Capital team will continue to thrive under the Mariner name and contribute immediately to the growth of our organization.”
Bicknell added, “Likewise, Ultra Financial’s expertise in blending private and public investment strategies, paired with its niche of servicing federal employees, introduces a distinctive edge to Mariner’s suite of capabilities. We are honored to welcome each of these passionate and dedicated teams to the Mariner family.”
Mariner Institutional To Buy Atlanta Firm
Separately, Mariner Institutional said Thursday it is set to acquire Southeastern Advisory Services in Atlanta at the end of September.
The purchase will add about $5 billion in AUA to Mariner’s institutional division, the firm said.
"Mariner Institutional has entered into an agreement to acquire Southeastern Advisory Services, with the transaction expected to close in late September,” Mike Welker, National Managing Director and Head of Mariner Institutional, told WSR.
Southeastern will bring a “talented four-person team led by Jeff Swanson, along with long-standing relationships with around 35 institutional clients across Florida, Georgia, and Texas,” Welker said by email.
“This acquisition expands our presence in key markets and strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional service and outcomes to institutional clients nationwide. The Southeastern team brings expertise and dedication to a client-first service model that aligns perfectly with our own approach, setting the stage for immediate momentum once they join our team.”
He added, “While this is a significant transaction on its own, it’s also part of a larger trajectory of growth for Mariner Institutional. We’re committed to scaling strategically, building our capabilities and reach in ways that deliver more value for our clients. We look forward to joining forces with Jeff and his team to build on their strong legacy and create new opportunities to serve clients together.”
Southeastern will adopt the Mariner Institutional brand when the deal is completed, according to Welker.
Since being founded in February 2024, Mariner Institutional has grown to serve more than 1,200 clients and employ about 150 associates, according to Welker.
As of June 30, Mariner advised on a total of $577 billion in AUA, including Mariner Institutional, according to the firm. Mariner acquired seven firms so far in 2025 after buying seven firms last year.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
