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]