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 ...

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (NASDAQ: GROW) (the “Company”), a registered investment advisory firm1 with longstanding experience in global markets and specialized sectors, today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 ended December 31, 2025. Total assets under management (AUM) were approximately $1.5 billion at quarter-end, representing a 12% increase from the prior quarter and 5% higher than AUM at the end of the year-ago quarter. This ...

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]

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters. MAI Capital Management is acquiring LOC Investment Advisors, West Virginia’s longest-running RIA and a $759 million AUM fee-only firm. LOC was founded in 1981 by Robert O’Dell and David Lanham, two of the first Certified Financial Planners in West Virginia.  The firm now has offices in Hurricane, W.Va., and Jupiter, Fla., and works with more than 800 households across 30 states, serving prof ...

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].

Core Insights - Sodali & Co has appointed Brett Miller as the Global Head of Data Analytics, based in New York [1] - Miller previously held the position of Head of Data Analytics for the Investment Stewardship team at BlackRock [1] - In his new role, Miller will lead the global AI and data analytics strategy for Sodali and integrate data-driven insights across the firm's services [1]

Core Insights - Cerity Partners, a registered investment advisor with $156 billion in assets, is merging with Verus Investments, which manages approximately $1.2 trillion in client assets, pending regulatory approvals [1][2] - The merger aims to integrate wealth management and institutional investment consulting services, with the deal expected to close by the end of Q1 this year [1][3] Company Overview - Verus, based in Seattle, provides consulting and outsourced chief investment officer services to various institutions, including nonprofits and retirement plans, and is employee-owned with less than 5% of the stake held by senior leadership [2] - Cerity is majority-owned by private equity firm Genstar Capital and has been actively acquiring firms in the wealth management sector, having closed deals with RIAs managing a total of $4.6 billion in client assets in 2026 [4] Strategic Implications - The merger will allow Verus to adopt the Cerity name and enhance its capabilities by integrating national RIA research, technology, and data, along with a team of nearly 100 employees to serve institutional clients [3] - The partnership is expected to expand Cerity's leadership in the institutional space and improve its service offerings for clients of varying sizes and complexities [3] Market Positioning - Cerity's focus on retirement plans has grown to about $18 billion in nondiscretionary assets, partly through acquisitions, including a notable deal for Blue Prairie in 2019 [5] - The merger is anticipated to create efficiencies by leveraging Verus' investment consulting team for Cerity's investment research and decisions, potentially enhancing Cerity's capabilities in private market and alternative investments for high-net-worth retail clients [6][7]