Wealth Management Acquisitions in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Wealth Firm Deal Trends

Massachusetts wealth management acquisitions in 2020–2026 center on firms adding advisors, teams, and office locations across the Boston metro and nearby markets like Cape Cod. Recent transactions include purchases of registered investment advisers and wealth planning platforms, with many deals explicitly framed around expanding presence in New England.

Across the deals, buyers such as Bluespring Wealth Partners, Beacon Pointe Advisors, Aspen Standard Wealth, and CAPTRUST Financial Advisors pursue growth through AUM adds (often in the $1B+ range), integration of established advisor teams, and strengthening of consulting, retirement, or institutional-investment capabilities. Several transactions also emphasize retaining acquired teams and identities while scaling a broader platform.

This page highlights how Massachusetts-based acquisitions connect to broader wealth-management themes—platform rollups, retirement and investment consulting expansion, and capability-building in private markets and OCIO-style institutional solutions—while keeping leadership continuity as a recurring focus.

What Stands Out

  • Platform-and-presence expansion: Many buyers use acquisitions to deepen coverage in Massachusetts and the broader New England footprint.
  • AUM scale as a common acquisition goal: Several deals target RIA or wealth management firms with meaningful assets under management (e.g., ~$1.1B, ~$1.2B, ~$4.1B added through merger).
  • Team retention and continuity: Multiple transactions note acquired leadership staying involved, with founder or executive transitions handled on deal close (e.g., planned retirement in one CAPTRUST transaction).
  • Capability broadening: Buyers add retirement plan and investment consulting (e.g., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquiring Agilis Partners LLC) and institutional-investment or OCIO capabilities (e.g., Hightower Holding with NEPC).
Buyer (examples) What the deal adds (examples) Massachusetts footprint signal
Bluespring Wealth Partners Advisor team + offices via SHP Financial Plymouth, MA to New England coverage
Beacon Pointe Advisors allWEALTH services platform + New England expansion via The Financial Advisors Andover/Newburyport, MA
CAPTRUST Financial Advisors large AUM and staff via Boston Financial Management Boston + Cape Cod (MA)
Hightower Holding institutional consulting/OCIO capabilities via NEPC Built to expand across Hightower’s advisor network
  • Buyer
    Bluespring Wealth Partners
    Target
    SHP Financial
    Type
    Addon

    Bluespring Wealth Partners has acquired Plymouth, Massachusetts-based financial planning firm SHP Financial, which oversees approximately $2.3 billion in assets. The deal brings SHP's ~50-person team and three Massachusetts offices into Bluespring's advisor platform, expanding the buyer's presence in New England.

  • Buyer
    Beacon Pointe Advisors
    Target
    The Financial Advisors
    Seller
    The Financial Advisors
    Type
    Buyout

    Beacon Pointe Advisors has acquired The Financial Advisors, a $1.2 billion AUM registered investment adviser based in Andover and Newburyport, Massachusetts, closing on January 15, 2026. The 11-person, employee‑owned firm will expand Beacon Pointe’s New England footprint and broaden delivery of its allWEALTH services platform as Beacon Pointe grows its national AUA to roughly $62 billion.

  • Buyer
    Aspen Standard Wealth
    Target
    MG Financial
    Type
    Addon

    Aspen Standard Wealth has acquired MG Financial, a Braintree, Massachusetts–based registered investment advisor with $1.1 billion in assets under management. The deal is the fourth acquisition for Aspen since launching in late 2024 and expands its permanent-platform model that preserves acquired RIAs’ identities while supporting growth.

  • Buyer
    Forge Global Holdings, Inc.
    Target
    Accuidity Capital Management
    Type
    Buyout

    Forge Global Holdings, Inc. completed its acquisition of Accuidity Capital Management in a simultaneous sign-and-close transaction. The deal (approximately $10.0 million cash plus 1.15 million newly issued Forge shares, with potential earn-out shares) expands Forge's investment management and wealth capabilities by integrating Accuidity's private-market strategies, funds and sourcing ecosystem into Forge's platform.

  • Buyer
    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
    Target
    Agilis Partners LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Waltham, Massachusetts-based Agilis Partners LLC, a retirement plan and investment consulting firm with offices in greater Boston, New York and Denver. The acquisition will enhance Gallagher's retirement plan and investment consulting capabilities; terms were not disclosed and Agilis leadership will remain in place.

  • Buyer
    CW Advisors
    Target
    Aspire Wealth Management, Inc., Fernwood Investment Management, LLC
    Type
    Addon

    CW Advisors (CWA) acquired Aspire Wealth Management (Waltham, MA) and Fernwood Investment Management (Quincy, MA), adding more than $800 million of AUM to the CWA platform. The deals closed in January 2025 and expand CWA's Boston-area footprint; terms were not disclosed and Fernwood was represented by Surfside Capital.

  • Buyer
    Cerity Partners
    Target
    Prio Wealth
    Type
    Buyout

    Cerity Partners, an independent U.S. wealth management firm, is merging with Boston-based Prio Wealth; Prio will operate under the Cerity Partners name and add $4.1 billion in AUM. The deal expands Cerity Partners' wealth advisory capabilities and strengthens its presence in the Boston metropolitan market.

  • Buyer
    CAPTRUST Financial Advisors
    Target
    Boston Financial Management
    Seller
    Richard H. Morse
    Type
    Buyout

    CAPTRUST Financial Advisors has acquired Boston Financial Management, adding nearly $5 billion of client assets and 45 colleagues across Boston, Cape Cod (Massachusetts) and Portland (Maine). As part of the transaction BFM founder Richard H. Morse will retire; Berkshire Global Advisors served as BFM's financial advisor.

  • Buyer
    Hightower Holding
    Target
    NEPC, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Hightower Holding will acquire a majority interest in NEPC, LLC, combining NEPC's institutional investment consulting and OCIO capabilities with Hightower Advisors to expand services for private wealth clients. NEPC will retain its culture and executive team while the combined organization aims to broaden access to institutional-quality investment solutions across Hightower's advisor network.

  • Buyer
    Dakota Wealth Management
    Target
    C2C Wealth Management, LLC
    Seller
    Louis Delle Valle
    Type
    Buyout

    Dakota Wealth Management has acquired C2C Wealth Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser based in Mansfield, Massachusetts that manages approximately $350 million in client assets (and advises on an additional $550 million). Founder Louis Delle Valle and client services associate Carol Donnelly will join Dakota; the deal creates Dakota's third Massachusetts office and expands the firm's national footprint to 14 offices across nine states.

  • Buyer
    Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin Templeton)
    Target
    Putnam Investments
    Seller
    Great-West Lifeco, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Franklin Resources, Inc. (operating as Franklin Templeton) completed its acquisition of Putnam Investments from Great-West Lifeco on January 1, 2024. The deal brings complementary asset-management capabilities and increases Franklin Templeton's retirement and insurance-related AUM, while Great-West becomes a long-term shareholder in Franklin Resources.

  • Buyer
    Carson Group
    Target
    Northface Capital Holdings, LLC
    Seller
    The Northface team (owners of Northface Capital Holdings)
    Type
    Buyout

    Carson Group has acquired Northface Capital Holdings, LLC, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based financial planning and wealth management firm with $200 million in assets under management. The Northface team — now led by Chris Tobey — sold its ownership to Carson and the office will transition to a wholly owned Carson Wealth location to provide continuity, succession planning and support for future growth.

  • Buyer
    Creative Planning LLC
    Target
    Ferris Capital, LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    Creative Planning LLC has acquired Ferris Capital, LLC, a Massachusetts-based registered investment adviser with $755 million in assets under management. The deal expands Creative Planning's footprint into the Massachusetts market and brings Ferris Capital's advisory team and wealth-planning capabilities into Creative's platform, which manages or advises on over $225 billion in assets.

  • Buyer
    Integrity Marketing Group
    Target
    First American Insurance Underwriters
    Type
    Buyout

    Integrity Marketing Group, an omnichannel insurtech leader based in Dallas, acquired First American Insurance Underwriters, a Boston-area insurance services and wealth management advisory firm that serves high-net-worth clients. The deal brings First American's advisory expertise and carrier relationships into Integrity's insurtech platform to expand capabilities and support accelerated growth; financial terms were not disclosed.

  • Buyer
    Cerity Partners
    Target
    Daintree Advisors
    Type
    Buyout

    Cerity Partners has merged with Boston-based Daintree Advisors, combining Daintree’s New England wealth management practice into Cerity’s national platform and operating under the Cerity Partners name. The transaction deepens Cerity’s East Coast presence and expands its wealth management, tax and financial planning capabilities.

  • Buyer
    HUB International Limited
    Target
    Epstein Financial Services LLC, Epstein Financial Group LLC
    Type
    Buyout

    HUB International Limited acquired the assets of Epstein Financial Services LLC and Epstein Financial Group LLC, an East Longmeadow, Massachusetts-based independent Registered Investment Advisor. Terms were not disclosed; Charlie Epstein, Principal and Founder, will join Hub Retirement and Private Wealth as the deal expands HUB's retirement and wealth management capabilities.

  • Buyer
    Cerity Partners
    Target
    Bainco International Investors
    Type
    Buyout

    Cerity Partners announced it has welcomed Boston-based Bainco International Investors into its firm, expanding Cerity's presence in New England and adding approximately $1.1 billion in assets under management. The move brings Bainco's team and capabilities into Cerity's national independent financial advisory platform to enhance service offerings for high-net-worth clients.

  • Buyer
    Hub International Limited
    Target
    Alpha Pension Group, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Hub International Limited has acquired Alpha Pension Group, Inc., a Boston-based retirement consulting firm. The transaction (terms undisclosed) brings Alpha's investment analytics and fiduciary governance capabilities into Hub New England to strengthen Hub's retirement and wealth management services in the region; Alpha's President & CEO Rich Cawthorne and CFO Mark Salamone will join Hub New England.

  • Buyer
    Hub International Limited
    Target
    Baystate Fiduciary Advisors, Inc.
    Type
    Buyout

    Hub International Limited acquired the assets of Baystate Fiduciary Advisors, Inc., a Boston-based fiduciary advisory firm that manages approximately $2.9 billion in client assets. The deal strengthens Hub’s Retirement and Private Wealth capabilities in New England by adding Baystate’s talent and retirement plan advisory services; Baystate’s Managing Partner Gregg Andonian will join Hub RPW in the region.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Massachusetts locations show up most often in these wealth management deals?

Recent activity is concentrated in the Massachusetts market, including the Boston metropolitan area and specific cites such as Plymouth, Andover, Newburyport, Braintree, Waltham, Quincy, and Mansfield (plus Cape Cod in one CAPTRUST transaction).

What kinds of acquisition targets are most common?

The deals frequently involve registered investment advisers and financial planning/wealth management firms, including platform or capability additions such as retirement plan and investment consulting, and institutional investment/OCIO capabilities.

Do buyers typically keep the acquired team or leadership involved?

Several transactions explicitly state continuity, including leadership remaining in place for Agilis Partners LLC, and planned founder retirement tied to the Boston Financial Management acquisition.

Are these acquisitions only about adding AUM?

AUM growth is a recurring theme, but deals also emphasize adding advisor teams, expanding services (e.g., retirement/investment consulting and institutional-quality solutions), and broadening geographic coverage across Massachusetts and nearby areas.

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