Core Insights - Merit Financial Advisors has completed its acquisition of Obsidian Planning Solutions, marking its 50th acquisition and adding $476 million in assets [1] - The acquisition establishes Merit's first two offices in Maryland, specifically in Rockville and Columbia [1] - Obsidian specializes in business succession planning, providing tailored financial planning services for business owners [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The partnership with Obsidian enhances Merit's operational scale and marketing resources [2] - This acquisition strengthens Merit's expertise in business succession planning, addressing an underserved market [2][3] - The acquisition aligns with the anticipated generational wealth transfer from Baby Boomers, particularly those owning private companies [3] Group 2: Company Background - As of June 30, 2025, Merit managed $19.94 billion in assets across various categories, including advisory, brokerage, and retirement assets [4] - Earlier in the year, Merit acquired Global Wealth Advisors, adding an additional $860 million in client assets [4] - The acquisition of Obsidian allows for optimized staffing and enhanced operational support, facilitating growth in service offerings [4][3] Group 3: Expansion Plans - The acquisition will lead to the establishment of new offices in multiple locations, including Texas and Florida [5]

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Core Insights - Alkami Technology, Inc. is participating in a webinar aimed at helping financial institutions navigate the generational transfer of business ownership, which presents both challenges and opportunities [1][3]. Group 1: Webinar Details - The webinar titled "Don't Fumble the Handoff: Win with the Business, the Owner, and the Successor" is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET [2]. - The discussion will be led by Taylor Adkins from Alkami and Teri Wagner from First Fidelity Bank, focusing on the expectations of modern business owners and their successors [5]. Group 2: Industry Context - Approximately 2.3 million businesses owned by baby boomers are expected to change hands in the coming years, representing trillions of dollars in business value [3]. - Financial institutions must adapt to the consumerization of technology to meet the evolving expectations of business owners across generations [4]. Group 3: Strategic Focus - Alkami emphasizes the importance of providing intuitive, integrated business banking solutions that enhance customer relationships throughout the ownership lifecycle [4][6]. - The company aims to help financial institutions streamline treasury onboarding processes, ensuring that successors receive clarity, control, and responsiveness from day one [7]. Group 4: Alkami's Offerings - Alkami's digital sales and service platform integrates onboarding, digital banking, and data marketing, designed to help institutions engage and grow their business relationships [8]. - The platform has been recognized by J.D. Power for providing an outstanding mobile banking platform experience in 2024 and 2025 [8][10].