4Q25 EARNINGS PRESENTATION IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE IN REVIEWING THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESENTATION, YOU ARE AGREEING TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS OF THIS DISCLAIMER. THIS INFORMATION IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE TO EACH RECIPIENT SOLELY FOR ITS INFORMATION AND IS SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT. This presentation is prepared by XP Inc. (the "Company," "we" or "our"), is solely for informational purposes. This presentation does not constitute a prospectus and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an ...

Captrust Financial Advisors has incorporated Meritage Portfolio Management, a Kansas City-based wealth management firm, into its operations. Financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed. Meritage serves high-net-worth clients and institutions such as retirement plans, endowments, and foundations. It manages client assets of $2.4bn. The firm officially joined Captrust in December 2025 and has adopted the Captrust brand. Leadership at Meritage includes president and co-chief investment officer Mark Ev ...

Core Insights - Ameriprise Financial, Inc. reported strong fourth-quarter earnings with adjusted earnings per share of $10.83, surpassing market expectations of $10.30 due to robust asset growth and effective expense management [1] - The company's revenue for the quarter reached $4.96 billion, exceeding the average forecast of $4.77 billion, marking a 10% year-over-year growth [1] Financial Performance - The Advice & Wealth Management division achieved pretax adjusted operating earnings of $926 million, reflecting a 13% increase and an overall margin of 29.3% [2] - Total client assets increased by 13% to a record high of $1.2 trillion, supported by strong client inflows of $13.3 billion [2] - The company enhanced its capacity to generate free cash flow, returning $1.1 billion to shareholders, which is 101% of adjusted operating earnings [2] Company Overview - Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a diversified financial services firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 1894, providing wealth and asset management, financial planning, insurance, and annuity services globally [3]

Group 1: United Capital Acquisition - United Capital Financial Advisors, a subsidiary of Creative Planning, has acquired Groebl Brothers, a wealth manager with $240 million in assets [2][3] - Groebl Brothers was founded by Joe Groebl and Tim Groebl, who previously worked with LPL Financial and Triad Advisors before establishing their own firm [3][4] - Joe Groebl emphasizes the importance of fiduciary responsibility in financial advising, aiming for this model to become the industry standard [4] Group 2: Maridea Expansion - Maridea Wealth Management has launched a tax and business services division through the acquisition of Hyperion Accounting Group [5][6] - Hyperion Accounting, led by David Papotta, will provide tax preparation, planning, bookkeeping, and outsourced CFO services [6] - The acquisition aligns with Maridea's goal of offering integrated financial services to clients [7] Group 3: Wealth Enhancement Acquisition - Wealth Enhancement has announced the acquisition of Dent Wealth Advisors, marking its first office in Louisiana [8][9] - Dent Wealth Advisors, founded in 1997, manages over $340 million in client assets and offers financial planning and investment management services [9]

Group 1 - Wealth Enhancement is acquiring AEGIS Financial, an independent registered investment adviser (RIA) managing over $468 million in client assets [1][2] - AEGIS Financial offers services such as financial planning, retirement, estate planning, wealth transfer, tax mitigation, and investment strategy [1] - The acquisition is expected to close on December 31, 2025, and is aimed at expanding capabilities and opportunities for clients [2] Group 2 - Wealth Enhancement has been growing in Wisconsin since entering the market in 2018 and aims to build on this momentum with the acquisition of AEGIS Financial [3] - The company operates 162 offices across the US and continues to expand its reach [3] - In a separate transaction, Wealth Enhancement acquired Spectrum Wealth Management, adding oversight of more than $182 million in client assets [4]

Core Insights - Wealth Enhancement has acquired Spectrum Wealth Management and its affiliated accounting firm Putman Group, enhancing its team and client asset management capabilities [1][2] - The acquisition increases Wealth Enhancement's total assets under management to over $131.2 billion [2][5] - Spectrum Wealth Management specializes in comprehensive financial planning and tax planning, which aligns with Wealth Enhancement's integrated wealth management model [3][4] Company Overview - Spectrum Wealth Management, founded in 2002, focuses on financial and tax planning, risk management, and investment management for business clients and high-net-worth individuals [3] - Putman Group, established in 1991, is associated with Spectrum Wealth Management and enhances the firm's tax planning services [3] Strategic Implications - The acquisition is Wealth Enhancement's 100th, following the recent purchase of Wise Wealth, which added $464 million in client assets [5] - The integration of Spectrum Wealth Management is expected to provide clients with greater resources and support, fulfilling the firm's promise to help clients prosper [4]

Core Insights - Apollon Wealth Management, based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., is set to acquire The Motley Fool's wealth management division, with the deal expected to close in 2026. Apollon currently manages over $8.65 billion in assets [1] - Motley Fool Wealth Management manages approximately $1.5 billion in client assets and has eight financial advisors along with 15 other employees. The firm was established in 2014 to leverage Motley Fool's retail investor base [2] - Post-acquisition, Apollon will enhance its offerings in financial planning, investments, and related wealth services, including estate planning. The division initially started as a robo-advisor but transitioned to providing human advisors for clients with assets of $300,000 or more [3] Company Details - The current leadership of Motley Fool Wealth Management includes Interim President Megan Brinsfield, who has been with the firm since 2014. The future role of Brinsfield post-acquisition remains unclear [4] - Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. served as the financial advisor for the acquisition, while Dechert LLP acted as legal counsel for Motley Fool Wealth Management. Merchant Investment Management holds a minority stake in Apollon [5]

Core Insights - Forvis Mazars has appointed ten new partners in its UK offices, reflecting an investment in workforce and talent development [1][6] - The new partners bring diverse expertise in audit, tax, and financial planning, enhancing the firm's service offerings [1][2] - The appointments are part of a strategy to strengthen various sectors, including Infrastructure, Energy, and Technology Assurance [1][4] Partner Appointments - Karishma Merchant will oversee the Infrastructure and Energy sector, bringing over 20 years of experience [1] - Josh Thorneycroft leads Debt Advisory, focusing on service expansion through recruitment and collaboration [2] - Paul Simmons is tasked with leading the financial planning team, specifically for the Private Client business in London [2] Sector Focus - Mark Saldua will lead regulatory liaison and internal quality monitoring, enhancing audit impairment services [2][3] - Robbie White heads the Data Analytics Hub, focusing on custom analytics and automation solutions [3] - Richard Tidball will lead corporate tax services with a national focus on restructuring and insolvency [3] Regional Developments - Tommy Cooke aims to grow the Milton Keynes audit practice, focusing on large and listed audits [4] - Simon Withington will spearhead Technology Assurance within the Consulting practice in Newcastle [4] - Sean Cockburn is set to expand the International Private Client business in Scotland, focusing on cross-border taxation [5] Leadership Statements - CEO James Gilbey emphasized the firm's commitment to talent development and delivering an unparalleled client experience [6]

Group 1 - The article discusses the considerations for individuals deciding whether to use a financial advisor or opt for less expensive alternatives like Vanguard, especially in the context of changing market conditions [1][2] - It emphasizes the importance of assessing the type of service needed, whether it is solely investment management or broader financial planning, which can influence the choice of advisor [3][4] - Financial planners offer a range of services beyond just investment management, including retirement income planning and tax planning, which can help clients achieve their financial goals [5][6][7] Group 2 - Retirement income planning involves strategies for managing withdrawals from various accounts to ensure reliable income streams during retirement [6] - Tax planning is highlighted as a critical service, where financial planners can assist clients in understanding tax implications and optimizing tax liabilities throughout their lives [7]