You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. It was a busy week for RIA aggregators. There were a few large moves, including $235 billion multi-family office Cresset bringing on Heather Pelant from Baker Street Advisors, where she had previously managed about $2 billion in client assets. Retirement, wealth and benefits firm OneDigital, in the meantime, announced two RIA acquisitions, bringing its total client assets to over $1.73 billion.& ...

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. When Repp Lambert started at Northwestern Mutual about 28 years ago, he focused on insurance and was only “dabbling a little bit in the investment world.” Fast forward to the start of this year, and he is the co-founder of a planning-centric, multi-generational registered investment advisor with $260 million in client assets custodied with Charles Schwab. The journey to forming Virginia Beach, ...

Beacon Pointe Advisors Adds $1.2 Billion Massachusetts Advisory Firm - Barron'sSkip to Main ContentThis copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.---# Beacon Pointe Advisors Adds $1.2 Billion Massachusetts Advisory Firm## The firm, called the Financial Advisors, has two ...

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. NorthRock Partners, a Minneapolis-headquartered registered investment advisor with more than $11 billion in client assets, has seen the departure of three executives who were part owners of the firm. Robert Bradot, CFO, Emily Vennerstrom, COO, and Sean Berrigan, managing director and head of corporate development, have all recently departed, according to filings and the RIA. The three leaders h ...

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. The top 20 registered investment advisor acquirers are accounting for a smaller share of the total M&A market as complex transactions and new entrants erode their dominance, according to Fidelity Investments’ most recent RIA deals report. The report, which tracks publicly available deal data on a quarterly basis, noted that the largest 20 acquirers accounted for 57% of deals in 2025, down from ...

Financial Performance - U.S. Global Investors reported total assets under management (AUM) of approximately $1.5 billion at the end of Q2 fiscal 2026, marking a 12% increase from the prior quarter and a 5% increase year-over-year [1] - Operating revenue rose by $259,000, or 11.5%, compared to the previous quarter, and by $279,000 compared to the same quarter in the previous year [1] - The company's income before taxes was $535,000, a significant improvement from a loss of $116,000 in the same quarter of the previous year [1] Tax and Accounting - The company recorded a tax expense of approximately $1.3 million related to HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. convertible securities, with an expected offsetting tax benefit of $1.3 million in the following quarter [2] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was elevated due to a non-cash valuation allowance of approximately $471,000 against deferred tax assets [2] Shareholder Initiatives - The company's shareholder yield as of December 31, 2025, was 9.89%, significantly higher than the yields on five-year and ten-year Treasury bonds [3] - A monthly dividend of $0.0075 per share was approved by the Board, starting in January 2026 through March 2026 [3] - The company has a share repurchase program allowing for the annual purchase of up to $5 million of its outstanding common shares, with 262,195 shares repurchased during the last quarter [4] Industry Insights - Air travel demand remained strong in 2025, with a 5.3% increase in passenger demand compared to 2024, despite ongoing capacity constraints [5] - The global passenger load factor reached a record 83.6%, with international demand rising by 7.1% [5][6] - Consumers continue to prioritize experiences, indicating a positive long-term growth potential for the airlines and travel ecosystem [7] Gold Market Trends - Gold demand exceeded 5,000 metric tons for the first time in 2025, with an annual value of approximately $555 billion, up 45% year-over-year [8][9] - Central bank purchases totaled 863 tons in 2025, contributing to gold's record-setting prices [9] - Analysts expect continued support for gold prices due to macroeconomic uncertainty, with Goldman Sachs raising its year-end 2026 gold forecast to $5,400 per ounce [12]

Group 1 - The registered investment advisor (RIA) sector is expected to see continued private equity investment in 2026, with a focus on creative structures such as minority stakes and recapitalizations [2][3] - RIAs in the mid-market asset range of $1 billion to $10 billion may begin to merge to enhance their valuations and avoid being acquired [2][3] - There is a growing trend of large wirehouse breakaway teams transitioning directly to the RIA space, supported by numerous platforms and backers [2] Group 2 - Private equity firms are anticipated to take new stakes in RIAs and recapitalize existing investments, driven by increasing interest from private equity sponsors [3][4] - Approximately 50 to 60 private equity-backed RIA platforms currently exist, with a similar number of firms seeking entry into the market, indicating strong industry fundamentals [4] - Independent firms are opting to leverage their existing platforms rather than sell to strategic buyers, leading to an increase in capital raises for growth through acquisitions [5] Group 3 - Private equity investors are becoming more comfortable collaborating with peers on RIA capital tables to gain exposure in the sector [5][6] - Successful past investments in wealth management have prompted sponsors to seek additional opportunities that do not overlap with their current holdings, focusing on different client types or geographic areas [6]

Core Insights - MAI Capital Management is acquiring LOC Investment Advisors, which has $759 million in assets under management (AUM) and is West Virginia's longest-running registered investment advisor (RIA) [1][4] - The acquisition marks MAI's 20th acquisition since the beginning of 2024, enhancing its presence in West Virginia and Florida [4] Company Overview - LOC Investment Advisors was founded in 1981 by Robert O'Dell and David Lanham, who are among the first Certified Financial Planners in West Virginia [1] - The firm operates offices in Hurricane, W.Va., and Jupiter, Fla., serving over 800 households across 30 states, primarily professionals and energy executives [2] Management Transition - O'Dell and Lanham will remain involved in the business during a succession plan, with LOC Managing Director Sean Mayberry becoming Senior Wealth Advisor & Team Leader [3] MAI Capital Management Details - MAI Capital Management, founded in 1973, is owned by Galway Holdings and has a minority investment from Wealth Partners Capital Group [7] - The firm manages or advises $72.6 billion in assets, which includes $50.9 billion in AUM and $5.6 billion in assets under administration (AUA) [4][5] - MAI has 40 offices nationwide and employs over 675 staff [4] Recent Acquisitions - The acquisition of Evoke Advisors last August nearly doubled MAI's managed assets, adding $16.1 billion in AUM [5] - Evoke Advisors focuses on investment advice, family office services, and financial planning for clients in private equity, venture capital, real estate, and technology [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and the risks associated with following dubious financial advice from social media influencers, advocating for a more traditional, passive investment approach as promoted by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger [3][4][6]. Financial Literacy and Advice - A significant portion of young Americans, specifically 42% of those aged 18 to 29, seek financial advice on social media, highlighting a concerning trend in financial literacy [4]. - Only 48% of adults could correctly answer more than half of the financial questions in the 2025 TIAA Institute-GFLEC Personal Finance Index, indicating a widespread lack of financial knowledge [3]. Investment Strategies - Buffett and Munger argue that most investors struggle to outperform the market, making index funds a suitable choice for average investors, with the S&P 500 delivering an average annual return of over 14% in the past decade [6][7]. - From 2003 to 2023, 98.6% of actively managed domestic equity funds underperformed the S&P 500 Equal Weight Index, reinforcing the case for passive investing [7]. Real Estate Investment - Berkshire Hathaway has invested nearly $1 billion in homebuilding companies, indicating a belief in the growing demand for U.S. housing [13]. - Platforms like Arrived allow investors to buy shares in rental properties without the responsibilities of homeownership, making real estate investment more accessible [14][15]. - Lightstone DIRECT offers accredited investors direct access to multifamily real estate opportunities, with a historical net IRR of 27.6% and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple since 2004 [21].

Core Viewpoint - Cerity Partners is merging with Verus Investments to enhance its institutional capabilities, significantly expanding its presence in the institutional advisory space [1]. Company Overview - Cerity Partners is a large registered investment advisory firm based in New York City [1]. - Verus Investments is an institutional advisor that oversees $1.2 trillion in assets [1]. Strategic Implications - The merger indicates Cerity's strategic move to strengthen its institutional advisory services [1]. - This deal positions Cerity to better serve institutional clients by leveraging Verus's extensive asset management experience [1].