Core Insights - Cerity Partners and Carson Group have initiated their first deals of the year, indicating a strong start for wealth managers in 2026 [1] - Cerity Partners has acquired Austin Private Wealth, adding $1.4 billion in assets under management [1][2] - Carson Group has fully acquired a partner firm in Minneapolis, which manages approximately $395 million in advisory and brokerage assets [5] Group 1: Cerity Partners - The acquisition of Austin Private Wealth will allow Cerity to expand its presence in Austin, a key growth market for the firm [3] - Following a busy 2025, Cerity added two RIAs, one based in Albany with $4.5 billion and another in Boston with $4.1 billion in client assets [4] - Cerity now manages over $140 billion in client assets across various wealth and retirement plan assets [3] Group 2: Carson Group - Carson Group's acquisition of the Minneapolis firm follows a record 19 transactions in 2025 [5] - The firm has integrated the acquired practice into a full W-2 employee model, a trend among its partner firms [6] - Burt White, CEO of Carson Group, highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of the acquired firm's leader, Jeremy Willner, who has been part of the Carson community for over two decades [7]

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]