In this third quarter our focus on M&A primarily revolves around M&A for RIAs and other firms within the wealth management industry. However, many of the same lessons we learn for ourselves also apply to clients. A business owner client needs a long runway to prepare for succession and exit just like an advisor. This week, Mike Ryan of Triton Wealth addresses exit planning for clients and the role advisors should play.
Rethinking Modern Asset Allocation With Structured Notes
Halo Investing’s Head of Investment Solutions, Dennis Monohan, joined WSR’s Editor in Chief, Julius Buchanan, on July 16 for the webinar “Rethinking Modern Asset Allocation with Structured Notes.”
This webinar addressed how structured notes are being incorporated by advisors into modern asset allocation strategies and the role they can play across a range of market environments.
The Broker-Dealer Relationship At The Center Of Hybrid RIAs
We discuss what makes hybrid RIAs successful, how broker-dealer relationships support product access, compliance, recruiting, growth and client service, and where added complexity creates challenges.
Ed Swenson of RFG Advisory, Thomas Goodson of The AmeriFlex Group, Dale Brown of the Financial Services Institute, Jodi Johnston of Artisancap, Craig Gould of Binah Capital Group and Sander Ressler of Essential Edge discuss the relationship between hybrid RIAs and BDs with us.
What RIAs Get Wrong When Serving Business Owners: The Timing Gap No One Talks About
Mike Ryan of Triton Wealth makes the case for advisors to help business owners prepare years in advance for an exit. He reviews why advanced preparation is needed, scenarios for different timeframes and the mindset shift advisors and clients need.
“The best advisors don’t become investment managers after a liquidity event. They become strategic partners years before one,” says Ryan.
Your Barista Knows More About Your Client Than Your Newest Advisor Does
Jack Martin of Amplify Platform discusses the implementation of enterprise data platforms at Starbucks and Disney that yielded success for these firms as an example for advisors.
Martin makes the case that advisors should have one unified data record and a configurable experience based on that record.
Regtech Surge: The Greatest AI Risk May Be The Usage Firms Cannot See
In his latest monthly Regtech Surge column, Sid Yenamandra of SurgeONE.ai discusses the causes, problems and solutions to shadow AI – the unauthorized use of AI – including the use of unapproved AI tools by employees, advisors, contractors or representatives for firm business outside the firm’s governance framework.
Yenamandra advocates for a multi-pronged approach to detect and prevent shadow AI.
How Technology Can Help Advisors Guide Clients With IPO Wealth
To learn more about how advisors can guide clients through challenges created by the rising number of IPOs that are leaving many employees suddenly wealthy with company stock and other forms of equity compensation, we speak with Raj Doshi of April, Toby Wade of DeepVest and Mitchell Bratina of FinTurk.
We discuss how advisors can advise clients through the complexities of concentrated stock, equity compensation, tax planning and related issues.
Study: Most Advisors Are Including Alts In Clients’ Portfolios
More than half of advisors are looking to increase their use of alternative investments and 95% of them are already using alts in their clients’ portfolios, according to a research paper by CION Investments. The survey was conducted by CION, YCharts and Compound Insights, a Ritholtz Wealth Management affiliate.
Liquidity concerns were cited by 61% of respondents as the top barrier to wider alts implementation.
Cerulli: Tax Optimization Becoming New ‘Battleground’ For Wealth Manager Differentiation
“Tax optimization is quickly becoming the new battleground for wealth manager differentiation,” Cerulli said while announcing findings from the latest edition of The Cerulli Report — U.S. Managed Accounts 2026.
For the second year in a row, “improving tax management capabilities” was cited as the top priority of platform sponsors by a large margin, Cerulli said.
What The Client Never Tells You, But Tells Everyone Else
Dan Daum of Wealthstream makes the case for the “advice gap” between seasoned senior advisors and the next generation, and how the gap is bridged through infrastructure assisted by AI.
Daum says that recent AI advancements make “encoding a firm’s best judgment into a system something firms can now actually do,” providing a solution to the inefficiencies of more traditional ways of passing down client knowledge.
In-House Vs. Outsourced Tax Planning In Wealth Management
We discuss whether wealth management firms should provide tax planning in-house or engage outside specialists with Dallas Mock of Caprock and Sam Diarbakerly of Generation Capital Advisors.
We examine how evolving client expectations, increasing tax complexity and the Great Wealth Transfer are shaping that decision.
Leadership As A Differentiator In Wealth Management
We discuss leadership with Sowell Management’s Daryl Seaton, including how leadership has evolved over the course of his career, the qualities modern RIA leaders need to cultivate, the lessons he’s learned since becoming CEO and why he believes patience, character and culture are the foundations of enduring firms.
“Leading with a bit of humility can bring out the best ideas in the room,” said Seaton.
DeVoe: RIA Buyers Predict Valuations Won’t Increase In Second Half Of 2026
Despite the strongest first half of any year for RIA M&A transactions, activity cooled off in the second quarter of 2026 from the first quarter, and RIA buyers don’t expect valuations to increase in the second half of this year, according to DeVoe & Company’s Q2 RIA Deal Book.
The RIA industry announced 167 transactions in the first half of 2026, 13% above the prior high set in 2025, according to the firm.
Investments Roundup
This month’s roundup brings you news featuring Morningstar, Gridline, Flexstone, iCapital, Jade, State Street, SEI, BetaNXT, Voya, HFR, MSCI And AssetMark.
Morningstar research shows a decline in private credit demand, but the broader private markets category takes the spotlight again this month in multiple announcements.
Deals & Recruiting Roundup
This week’s roundup covers acquisitions by Caprock, Wealth Enhancement, CRC-Oyster and OneDigital; recruiting by Raymond James, Baird, LPL and Ameriprise; Vanilla’s service offering launch; appointments by Choreo and Cresset; and DeVoe’s first half M&A report.
In a time of increased AI, Vanilla announced increased human contact and service with its latest professional services offering that gives advisory firms direct access to the company’s trust and estate professionals.
Feathery Raises $30 Million For AI And Innovation
Feathery announced it raised $30 million in total funding, a figure that includes funds from its recently completed Series A, from Portage Ventures, Index Ventures, Allstate Strategic Ventures, Clocktower Ventures, Erie Strategic Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures.
Feathery says it will use the funds to scale its AI Operating and Decisioning System for financial services.
Sanctuary Wealth Reports Record Recruiting As Wirehouse Breakaways Continue
Sanctuary Wealth said its growth over the past 12 months hit record levels as advisors continue to exit wirehouses to launch their own practices.
It recruited advisors representing $12.7 billion in client assets, the most ever for the company over a trailing 12-month period, with over $5.9 billion in assets joining its platform in the first half of the year.
Caprock Acquires $4 Billion Texas-Based Venturi Private Wealth
Caprock announced the acquisition of Venturi Private Wealth, an Austin, Texas-based RIA that oversees $4 billion in assets under management (AUM).
The deal enhances Caprock’s services for high net worth clients.
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Wealth Solutions Report
