RIA & Broker-Dealer Roundup: October '26 Moves, M&A Deals & New Launches

• LPL Adds $1.1B Georgia Practice From Wells Fargo FiNet
• Merit Adds $1.1B Ex-Commonwealth Team Near Buffalo
• Wells Fargo Snags $410M UBS Team
• Indivisible Partners Lands $1.1B RBC Team in Baltimore
• LPL Lands $1B Northwestern Mutual Team in Seattle
• Janney Lands $3.5B Raymond James Team, Opens First Houston Office
• Captrust Lands $3B Truist Team in North Carolina
• Rockefeller Adds Kellam Group From Truist in Naples
• Osaic Recruits $2.3B New Jersey Team From LPL
• NewEdge Adds Former MassMutual Duo in Atlanta
• Kintra Wealth Adds $355M Great Scott Financial Practice
• Rockefeller Adds $1.05B in Teams From J.P. Morgan and UBS

M&A Activity

• Focus Partners Wealth to Acquire $19.5B Affiliate BFSG
• Cresset to Acquire $7.7B National Advisors Trust
• Harbourfront Wealth Surpasses $23B AUA With Galliant Acquisition
• Aspen Standard Wealth Acquires $1B Cullen Investment Group
• Bluespring Wealth Creates $1B Practice Through RIA Merger
• Trilogy Acquires $1B Colorado RIA With Aviation Niche
• Cerity Partners Adds $2.1B Through Three RIA Mergers

New Firm Launches

• $18.6B J.P. Morgan Teams Launch Independent RIA

• 30-Year Wells Fargo Veteran Launches $320M RIA

Advisor & Team Movements

LPL Adds $1.1Bn Georgia Practice from Wells Fargo FiNet

LPL Financial has recruited Praxis Financial Partners, an Alpharetta, Georgia-based advisory practice managing approximately $1.1 billion in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets. Led by Scott Christian, Cecil Loyd, Jay Gentry, and Matt Dion, the team joins LPL's broker-dealer and corporate RIA platform after 13 years with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet). The transition includes six support staff and expands LPL's network of independent advisory practices.

• Praxis Financial Partners spent 13 years affiliated with Wells Fargo FiNet before transitioning to LPL's broker-dealer and corporate RIA platform.
• Founding partners Scott Christian and Cecil Loyd established the practice in 2013 after lengthy careers at Merrill Lynch and other wirehouse firms.
• The team serves business owners, corporate retirees, executives, and families across 24 states.
• Led by CEO Rich Steinmeier, LPL supports approximately 32,000 advisors and the wealth management practices of 1,100 financial institutions.

Merit Adds $1.1Bn Ex-Commonwealth Team Near Buffalo

Merit Financial Advisors has acquired Moldenhauer & Associates, a wealth management practice based in Orchard Park, New York, overseeing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets. Led by Brett Moldenhauer, the 12-person team serves approximately 1,900 client families and establishes Merit's first office in the greater Buffalo region. The transaction marks Merit's tenth addition from Commonwealth Financial Network following its $2.7 billion acquisition by LPL Financial.

• Moldenhauer & Associates joined Merit, bringing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets and establishing the firm's first presence in Western New York.

• Founded by Richard Moldenhauer, the practice affiliated with Commonwealth in 2016, when it managed approximately $150 million in client assets.
• The team expects to generate approximately $100 million in net new assets during 2026.
• Merit oversees approximately $33 billion in assets across more than 70 offices and has completed 12 acquisitions in 2026, bringing its historical total to 63.
  

Wells Fargo Advisors Recruits $410 Million Firm Strong Wealth Management

Strong Wealth Management Group, a multigenerational advisory team managing approximately $410 million in client assets, has joined Wells Fargo Advisors from UBS. Based in Naples, Florida, with an additional office in Birmingham, Michigan, the practice is led by brothers Andrew and Jonathan Strong alongside Andrew's son, Christian Strong. The team generated approximately $3.5 million in annual revenue at UBS and specializes in investment management, retirement planning, and multigenerational wealth strategies.

• The practice generated approximately $3.5 million in annual revenue at UBS before transitioning to Wells Fargo Advisors.

• Andrew Strong serves as Managing Director – Investments, while Jonathan Strong serves as Senior Vice President – Investments.

• The recruitment was one of two recent additions to Wells Fargo Advisors, with the teams collectively overseeing approximately $990 million in client assets.

Indivisible Partners Lands $1.1 Billion RBC Team in Baltimore

Indivisible Partners has recruited Rosenwald Private Wealth, a Baltimore-area advisory team overseeing approximately $1.1 billion in client assets, from RBC Wealth Management. Led by Beth C. Rosenwald, Aleksandra “Leksi” Kovalerchik, and Matthew D. Kunkel, the team includes four additional professionals and joins the independent RIA platform founded by former Merrill Lynch executives. The advisors cited greater independence and flexibility in serving clients as key reasons for the transition.

• Rosenwald Private Wealth's advisors previously worked together at Legg Mason before joining RBC Wealth Management in 2008.

• The seven-member team joins an independent RIA platform established by former Merrill Lynch executives.
  

• Led by former Merrill Lynch Wealth Management executive John Thiel, Indivisible Partners has added at least nine advisory practices since launching in early 2025.

LPL Draws $1B Northwestern Mutual Team to RIA Channel

LPL Financial has recruited Seattle-based Prince Financial Services from Northwestern Mutual, adding approximately $1 billion in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets to its RIA channel. Founded by longtime Northwestern Mutual advisors Julie Prince and Dave Burnett, the practice spent nearly a year evaluating potential partners before selecting LPL for its technology capabilities, advisor support model, and investment in innovation. The addition expands LPL's presence in the Pacific Northwest.

• Founded by Julie Prince and Dave Burnett, the team includes partners Cade Mossman, Conner Gehring, and David DeYoung, alongside 10 support staff.
• The practice serves retirees, business owners, high-net-worth families, and technology professionals throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• LPL reported $25 billion in recruited assets during Q2 2026, up 35% year over year.

Janney Adds $3.5B Houston-Based Team From Raymond James

Janney Montgomery Scott has recruited approximately $3.5 billion in client assets from Raymond James, establishing its first office in Houston, Texas. The expansion brings together the Edward Fitzpatrick Group, led by Sean Fitzpatrick and James “Jim” Edwards, and financial advisor Lance Murphy. The new location marks Janney's second Texas office following its entry into Dallas in 2025.

• Fitzpatrick and Edwards spent roughly 23 years at Raymond James, where their group managed approximately $3.3 billion. Murphy contributes an additional $200 million.
• The team cited Janney's accessible leadership, personalized support, and institutional resources as key factors in its decision.
• Janney supports approximately 900 financial advisors overseeing nearly $200 billion in assets, with recent expansion activity in Dallas and Chicago.

Captrust Adds $3B Hoge-Barrett Group from Truist

Captrust Financial Advisors has recruited the Hoge-Barrett Group, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based wealth management team overseeing more than $3 billion in client assets, from Truist Investment Services. Led by Brett Hoge and Alex Barrett, the 13-person team joins Captrust's independent RIA platform, citing greater flexibility, enhanced technology, and expanded investment research and wealth planning capabilities as key factors in the transition. The addition establishes Captrust's seventh office in North Carolina and marks its seventh acquisition of 2026.

• Led by Brett Hoge, the practice traces its roots to 1999 and specializes in comprehensive wealth management for families with complex, multigenerational financial needs.
• Hoge has worked as a financial advisor since 1999, while partner Alex Barrett began his advisory career in 2012. Both previously worked at BB&T Securities before joining Truist.
• The team will operate through Captrust's broker-dealer, Capfinancial Securities, gaining access to expanded technology, investment research, and financial planning resources.
• Captrust oversees approximately $1.3 trillion in assets under management and advisement, including roughly $320 billion in discretionary AUM. The firm has more than 580 employees and 111 advisors across North Carolina.

Rockefeller Global Family Office Welcomes The Kellam Group

Rockefeller Global Family Office has recruited the Kellam Group from Truist, expanding its presence in Naples, Florida. Led by Managing Director and Private Advisor Gordon Kellam, a wealth management veteran with more than 25 years of experience, the team serves high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and multigenerational families. The addition follows Rockefeller's recent opening of its first office on Florida's west coast.

• The seven-member Kellam Group joins Rockefeller from Truist, led by Gordon Kellam alongside Private Advisors and Managing Directors Matt Caras and Owen Wilson.
• Additional members include Senior Wealth Strategist Brad Cherkin, Senior Client Associates Erica Solas and Sumera Yousaf, and Financial Analyst Trey Outlaw.
• The team will report to Kristen Sario, Southeast Regional President of Rockefeller Global Family Office.
• Rockefeller Capital Management oversaw approximately $237 billion in client assets as of August 2026, with operations across 35 U.S. markets and London. 
  

Osaic Adds $2.3Bn New Jersey Team from LPL

Osaic has recruited ICG Next, a New Jersey-based wealth management practice overseeing approximately $2.3 billion in client assets, from LPL Financial. Led by Managing Partner James Costabile, the firm includes 21 financial advisors and 10 support staff across offices in Wall Township, New Jersey, and Melville, New York. After seven years with LPL, during which the practice tripled in size, ICG Next transitioned to Osaic to support its next phase of advisor development, recruitment, and succession planning.

• ICG Next joined Osaic from LPL Financial, bringing approximately $2.3 billion in assets and a team of 21 advisors and 10 support staff.
• The practice was previously affiliated with Ameriprise Financial before joining LPL in 2019, where it tripled its assets over seven years.
• Osaic's completed “Journey to One” initiative, which consolidated eight legacy broker-dealers, was a key factor in the team's decision.
• ICG Next is investing in advisor development through an internship program and financial planning scholarship while leveraging Osaic's capital solutions for succession planning. 
  

$34Bn NewEdge Advisors Adds Duo from Atlanta MassMutual Practice

NewEdge Advisors has expanded its Atlanta-based Full Scope Wealth Group with the addition of financial advisors Mark Lerner and Ryan Rouille from MassMutual's MML Investors Services. The advisors join as managing partners, reuniting with former MassMutual colleagues at Full Scope, which was affiliated with NewEdge in late 2025. The addition expands the firm's advisory capabilities for physicians and other healthcare professionals.

• Mark Lerner and Ryan Rouille join Full Scope Wealth Group as managing partners after spending 23 and 10 years, respectively, with MML Investors Services.
• The duo previously operated under the WealthMade brand, established in January 2026.
• Founded by former MassMutual advisors Scott Veron and Scott Woodward, Full Scope has nine employees, including four financial advisors.
• Led by CEO Alex Goss, NewEdge Advisors supports more than 450 advisors overseeing approximately $34 billion in assets. Parent company NewEdge Capital Group oversees more than $100 billion.

Kintra Wealth Adds $355M Great Scott Financial Practice

Kintra Wealth has recruited Great Scott Financial Services, a New Jersey-based advisory practice overseeing approximately $355 million in client assets. Led by Scott Seymour, who joins as Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor, the practice previously operated under Commonwealth Financial Network. The addition brings Kintra's total client assets to more than $4 billion following its April 2026 launch by six former Commonwealth advisory teams.

• Scott Seymour began his career in 1998 at his father's New Jersey practice, assuming leadership in 2010. His team focuses on multigenerational wealth management.
• Led by CEO Andy Harris, Kintra supports 75 professionals nationwide through its advisor-owned model.
• The transition follows continued Commonwealth departures after LPL's $2.7 billion acquisition, with 653 advisors leaving between April and December 2025.

Rockefeller Lands $4.8M J.P. Morgan Team in Houston, UBS Duo in Ohio

Rockefeller Global Family Office has recruited two advisory practices overseeing approximately $1.05 billion in combined client assets from J.P. Morgan Wealth Management and UBS Wealth Management USA. Houston-based Sage Wealth Partners, led by Christopher Sheets and Forrest Green, brings approximately $700 million, while Andrea and Martin Shea join Rockefeller's Columbus, Ohio, operations with a $350 million practice. The additions expand Rockefeller's advisory presence in both markets.

• Sage Wealth Partners joins Rockefeller from J.P. Morgan, bringing approximately $700 million in client assets and $4.8 million in annual revenue.
• Nine members of Sage Wealth Partners made the transition, while former partner T. Scott Holstead remained at J.P. Morgan.
• Andrea and Martin Shea bring approximately $350 million in client assets and $2.5 million in annual revenue from UBS, where Andrea spent 17 years, and Martin joined in 2022.
• Rockefeller established its Columbus office in August 2026 and previously recruited a Houston-based Merrill Lynch team generating $14 million in annual revenue.

M&A Activity

Focus Partners Wealth to Buy Out $19.5B Affiliate BFSG

Focus Financial Partners has reached an agreement to acquire Benefit Financial Services Group (BFSG), a $19.5 billion investment consultancy and wealth management firm, which will join its largest hub, Focus Partners Wealth. Founded in the early 1990s, BFSG has been affiliated with Focus Financial since 2007. The transaction, expected to close in Q4 2026, is part of Focus Financial's ongoing consolidation of its affiliated RIAs under a centralized operating structure.

• BFSG oversees approximately $1.5 billion in discretionary assets, $546 million in nondiscretionary assets, and nearly $18 billion in institutional retirement assets under advisement.
• Founded by John Campbell, Patrick Powers, and Grace Lau, BFSG operates separate wealth management and institutional consulting divisions.
• Focus Partners Wealth, led by CEO Adam Birenbaum, managed approximately $182 billion in assets as of January 2026.
• The transaction follows Focus Financial's broader consolidation strategy since its 2023 take-private acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

Cresset to Acquire National Advisors Trust

Cresset has reached an agreement to acquire National Advisors Trust (NAT), an independent trust company based in Leawood, Kansas, overseeing approximately $7.7 billion in trust assets under administration. The acquisition will expand Cresset's national trust capabilities and strengthen its services for independent RIAs and family offices. Expected to close in late 2026, the transaction will allow NAT to retain its existing brand, leadership, and operations under Cresset's ownership.

• Founded in 2001, NAT serves more than 340 wealth management firms and approximately 13,000 advisors, providing trust administration, corporate trustee, reporting, and recordkeeping services.
• NAT will continue operating independently under CEO James Combs, with no expected changes for its existing RIA clients.
• The firm offers a white-labeled service, Brand Advantage, allowing RIAs to establish trust representative offices under their own branding.
• Led by CEO Susie Cranston, Cresset oversees approximately $250 billion in total client assets and raised $300 million in preferred equity funding earlier in 2026 at a $3.3 billion valuation.

Harbourfront Wealth Group Surpasses $23B AUA with Acquisition of Galliant Advisors

Harbourfront Wealth Group has acquired Montreal-based Galliant Advisors LP, bringing its total assets under administration to more than $23 billion. Founded in 2007, Galliant serves high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients and will join Harbourfront Wealth Counsel, the firm's investment counsel portfolio management division. The transaction marks Harbourfront's sixth acquisition in three years as it continues expanding its national wealth management platform.

• Galliant Advisors will join Harbourfront Wealth Counsel, gaining access to additional infrastructure and resources while maintaining its established investment approach and client relationships.
• Led by President and CIO Ian Shaffer, Galliant provides investment management solutions to high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors.
• Founded in 2013, Harbourfront operates more than 60 locations across Canada, offering wealth advisory, investment management, insurance, and asset management services.
• Harbourfront's platform includes a Canadian investment dealer, portfolio management and insurance businesses, and a U.S. SEC-registered RIA.

Aspen Standard Wealth Acquires $1 Billion AUM Cullen Investment Group

Aspen Standard Wealth has acquired Cullen Investment Group, a Lafayette, Louisiana-based RIA managing more than $1 billion in assets. Founded in 1986, Cullen specializes in value-oriented investment management and customized portfolios. The acquisition expands Aspen's wealth management platform while providing Cullen with additional resources to support its continued growth and client services.

• Established in 1986, Cullen began as Lafayette's only locally owned and operated full-service brokerage firm before evolving into an independent RIA.

• Cullen Principal Stephen Nickel emphasized the importance of maintaining the firm's investment philosophy and longstanding client relationships following the acquisition.

• Led by CEO Aly Kassim-Lakha, Aspen acquires independent RIAs through a long-term ownership model designed to preserve each firm's identity, leadership, and operational independence.

Bluespring Wealth Acquires Family Wealth Counseling and Creates $1 Billion Combined Practice

Bluespring Wealth has acquired Family Wealth Counseling and merged it with existing partner firm KDI Wealth Management, creating a combined practice overseeing more than $1 billion in client assets. Operating under the Bluespring Wealth name, the combined team includes 16 professionals, including eight financial advisors, with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Georgetown, Texas. The merger expands the firm's expertise in business succession, exit planning, and multigenerational wealth management.

• Family Wealth Counseling President Anne Trinh joins KDI Wealth Management President and Wealth Advisor Carrie Dick in leading the combined practice.
• Trinh brings more than 25 years of experience advising individuals, families, and business owners.
• The merger creates a majority woman-led advisory team with expanded capabilities in estate planning, charitable strategies, and risk management.
• Existing clients will retain their primary advisors while gaining access to broader investment research, planning resources, and operational and compliance support.

Hybrid RIA Trilogy Nabs $1Bn Colorado Shop with Aviation Niche

Trilogy Financial Services has acquired Mountain Capital Investment Advisors, a Westminster, Colorado-based wealth management firm overseeing approximately $1 billion in client assets. Specializing in financial planning and tax services for pilots and aviation professionals, Mountain Capital will become Trilogy's eleventh office and second Colorado location. The transaction marks Trilogy's largest acquisition of 2026.

• Founded in 2011, Mountain Capital is led by CEO Brandt Burns and Vice President Michelle Burns, who established the firm alongside Founder Emeritus Robert Loesch.
• Brandt Burns previously worked as a commercial airline pilot and spent more than a decade at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, while Michelle Burns spent 14 years with United Airlines.
• Mountain Capital will retain its brand, leadership, advisors, and staff following the acquisition.
• Led by CEO Jeff Motske, Trilogy manages approximately $5 billion in client assets, operates its own RIA, and uses LPL Financial for brokerage services. The firm received a minority investment from Peloton Capital Management in 2024.

Cerity Adds $2.1B Through Three RIA Mergers

Cerity Partners has completed three RIA mergers, adding approximately $2.1 billion in assets under management across Silicon Valley, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. The transactions involve Cornerstone Capital, Compass Wealth Management, and Echo Wealth Management, all of which will operate under the Cerity Partners name. The additions expand the firm's national presence, including its first entry into Minnesota.

• Founded in 1978, Palo Alto-based Cornerstone Capital manages approximately $1.4 billion and serves high-net-worth individuals, families, charitable foundations, and endowments.
• Atlanta-based Compass Wealth Management was founded in 2011 by Robert Amato and contributes approximately $340 million in AUM, serving corporate executives, business owners, and retirees.
• Founded in 2015 by Echo Huang, Minneapolis-area Echo Wealth Management adds approximately $337 million in AUM, specializing in integrated tax, estate, insurance, and investment planning.
• Cerity now oversees more than $206 billion in AUM, following additional 2026 mergers with Gilbert & Cook in Iowa and Cordant Wealth Partners in Oregon.

New Firm Launches

$18.6 Billion J.P. Morgan Teams Led by Phil Scott, Atwood Launch RIA

Two top-producing J.P. Morgan Advisors teams led by Phil Scott and Jim Atwood have launched Latigo Peak Partners, an independent RIA headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The teams previously oversaw a combined $18.6 billion in client assets and generated approximately $130 million in annual revenue. The self-funded firm launches with 48 employees and additional offices in Bellevue, Washington, Boston, and Los Angeles, marking one of the largest advisor breakaways of 2026.

• Scott and Atwood are the firm's primary owners through ASO Meridian Holdings, having financed the launch without outside investors.
• Both advisors began their careers at Merrill Lynch in 1984 before joining First Republic Wealth Management, which was acquired by J.P. Morgan in 2023.
• The teams nearly quadrupled their combined annual revenue over six years, growing from $34 million to $130 million.
• Latigo Peak will use Charles Schwab and BNY Pershing for custody and lending services and offers nine in-house investment strategies, including separately managed accounts available to outside RIAs and family offices.

30-Year Wirehouse Vet Exits Wells Fargo to Launch $320M RIA

Michael Dechiario, a 30-year wealth management veteran, has left Wells Fargo Advisors to launch Goalpost Wealth Management, an independent RIA based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. The firm manages approximately $320 million in client assets, representing Dechiario's entire book of business from Wells Fargo. The launch marks his transition to independence after three decades at major wirehouses, driven in part by advancements in technology and greater flexibility in serving clients.

• Dechiario previously spent a decade as managing director of investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, more than 16 years at Morgan Stanley, and three years at Merrill Lynch.
• Goalpost serves high-net-worth clients, including Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs, with an average client net worth of approximately $15 million.
• The firm's name reflects Dechiario's financial planning process, Portfolio of Goals, which he developed over his 30-year career.
• Dechiario cited advancements in AI and advisor technology as key factors in making independence viable, particularly for financial planning and coordinating discussions with clients' tax professionals.

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