Wealth Management Acquisitions in Washington
Washington Wealth Management Deal Themes
Washington wealth management acquisitions from 2019–2026 highlight how firms expand across the Pacific Northwest through RIA and advisory purchases, team integrations, and capability add-ons. The deals span independent registered investment advisors, PE-backed platforms, and larger advisory networks extending their local presence.
Across announced transactions, buyers frequently describe adding assets under management (AUM), broadening planning capabilities (such as tax, estate, retirement plan governance, or trust services), and strengthening adviser capacity by bringing in existing teams. Several transactions also reflect subsector focus—retirement planning, medical/technology professional client service, and even crypto portfolio management.
Looking at the most recent examples in Washington, United States, the pattern is consistent: established firms in the state attract acquirers seeking scale and specialized wealth management expertise, while founders and teams often remain with the combined platform after closing or joining the buyer’s practice.
What Stands Out
- Creative Planning acquired Seattle-based Duncan & Haley, Ltd., adding about $660 million in AUM and expanding tax/estate planning and retirement plan governance capabilities.
- Waverly Advisors acquired Pacific Portfolio Consulting, LLC and Pacific Portfolio Trust Company to add trust capabilities and expand into the broader Pacific Northwest.
- Corient acquired Bristlecone Advisors (Bellevue), adding approximately $2 billion in AUM and multi-family office plus tax/estate services to its private partnership platform.
- Multiple buyers build scale through succession and team integration, including PE-backed Pure Financial Advisors, LLC and Mercer’s acquisition of Miller Advisors, Inc.
- Deal focus is not limited to traditional advisory: Betterment acquired Makara (Argonaut Asset Management) to bring SEC-registered crypto portfolio management into its platform.
-
October 31, 2025
- Buyer
- Waverly Advisors, LLC
- Target
- Pacific Portfolio Consulting, LLC, Pacific Portfolio Trust Company
- Seller
- Pacific Portfolio founders / Larry Hood
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Addon
Waverly Advisors has acquired Pacific Portfolio Consulting, LLC and Pacific Portfolio Trust Company to expand into the Pacific Northwest and add trust capabilities. The deal brings roughly $5 billion of AUM to Waverly, increasing the firm's total AUM to about $25.1 billion; financial terms were not disclosed and the transactions closed in late September and October 2025.
-
October 2, 2025
- Buyer
- Corient
- Target
- Bristlecone Advisors
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Corient has acquired Bristlecone Advisors, a Bellevue, Washington-based registered investment advisory firm managing approximately $2 billion in assets. The deal expands Corient’s Pacific Northwest presence and adds Bristlecone’s multi-family office capabilities and tax/estate services to Corient’s fee-only private partnership platform.
-
January 31, 2025
- Buyer
- Focus Partners Wealth (Focus Financial Partners)
- Target
- Merriman Wealth Management
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Addon
Focus Partners Wealth, part of Focus Financial Partners, entered into a definitive agreement under which Seattle-based Merriman Wealth Management will join Focus Partners Wealth. The transaction is expected to close on February 1, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, and would add approximately $4.16 billion in regulatory assets under management.
-
- Buyer
- Edelman Financial Engines
- Target
- Soundmark Wealth Management
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Edelman Financial Engines has acquired Soundmark Wealth Management, a Kirkland, Washington-based registered investment advisory firm managing approximately $453 million in client assets. The deal expands Edelman’s planner capacity and presence in the Pacific Northwest while integrating Soundmark’s team and expertise serving medical and technology professionals and small business owners.
-
December 7, 2023
- Buyer
- Hub International Limited
- Target
- Longbow Financial Services, LLC
- Seller
- Longbow Financial Services, LLC, Michael Furrer
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
Hub International Limited acquired the assets of Longbow Financial Services, LLC, a Spokane-based financial consulting firm specializing in corporate retirement planning and individual wealth. The Longbow team, led by founder Michael Furrer, will join Hub Northwest as part of Hub's strategy to expand its retirement and private wealth capabilities in the Pacific Northwest; terms were not disclosed.
-
- Buyer
- B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions and Advisors
- Target
- Becker Retirement Group
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions and Advisors has merged with Bellevue-based Becker Retirement Group, with the Becker team — including founder Randy Becker — joining the B.O.S.S. firm. The deal expands B.O.S.S.'s advisory footprint in the Pacific Northwest and adds retirement-planning capabilities such as Social Security maximization and female-focused programming.
-
February 8, 2022
- Buyer
- Betterment LLC, Betterment Holdings, Inc.
- Target
- Argonaut Asset Management Inc. (d/b/a Makara)
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Betterment agreed to acquire Argonaut Asset Management Inc., d/b/a Makara, bringing Makara’s SEC-registered crypto portfolio management capabilities and team into Betterment’s platform. The acquisition lets Betterment offer expert-built, diversified cryptocurrency portfolios to retail customers and financial advisors, accelerating the firm’s entry into digital assets.
-
November 15, 2021
- Buyer
- Pure Financial Advisors, LLC, Lee Equity Partners, Emigrant Partners
- Target
- Kaufman Kampe Advisors LLC
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Addon
Pure Financial Advisors has agreed to acquire Seattle-area RIA Kaufman Kampe Advisors LLC. The deal expands Pure Financial’s presence in the Pacific Northwest; Kaufman Kampe founders Lori Kaufman and Valerie Kampe will join Pure Financial and continue serving their clients. Pure Financial is PE-backed following an investment from Lee Equity Partners and is also backed by Emigrant Partners.
-
October 21, 2021
- Buyer
- CI Financial Corp.
- Target
- McCutchen Group LLC
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
CI Financial Corp. announced an agreement to acquire McCutchen Group LLC, a Seattle-based, ultra-high-net-worth focused wealth management firm with US$3.4 billion in assets under management. The deal is expected to close later in 2021, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, and financial terms were not disclosed.
-
September 27, 2021
- Buyer
- Mercer Global Advisors, Inc.
- Target
- Miller Advisors, Inc.
- Seller
- Miller Advisors, Inc. (owners Kathleen Miller and Nicole Miller)
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Addon
Mercer Global Advisors, a Denver-based RIA majority owned by Oak Hill Capital and Genstar Capital, has acquired Miller Advisors, Inc., a Kirkland, Washington wealth management firm with approximately $240 million AUM serving ~200 clients. The acquisition expands Mercer’s Pacific Northwest presence and supports succession and career development for Miller’s founders and team, who will join Mercer.
-
July 30, 2020
- Buyer
- Pathstone
- Target
- Cornerstone Advisors Inc.
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Pathstone, a partner-owned multigenerational family office, has acquired Cornerstone Advisors Inc., a Bellevue, Washington-based wealth and lifestyle management firm. The combination adds Cornerstone's ~$4 billion AUM and ~65 employees to Pathstone, expanding capabilities, scale and partner ownership across the combined firm (roughly 200 employees across nine offices and ~$20 billion in advisory assets).
-
December 31, 2019
- Buyer
- Alera Group
- Target
- Muench Financial, Inc.
- Industry
- Wealth Management
- Location
- Washington, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Alera Group acquired Seattle-based Muench Financial, Inc., effective December 31, 2019. The deal brings Jon Muench and his team into Alera Group's wealth management and retirement services practice, expanding Alera's capabilities and presence in the Pacific Northwest.
Track M&A activity that matters to you
Get real-time deal alerts, build buyer lists with AI, and access our full acquisition database. Start your free trial today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of acquisitions appear most often in Washington wealth management?
Most deals focus on registered investment advisors (RIAs) and wealth management firms, with acquirers often emphasizing AUM growth and integrating existing adviser teams.
Which companies are recurring buyers for Washington acquisitions?
Recurring names in Washington include Focus Partners Wealth (Focus Financial Partners), Creative Planning, Betterment LLC / Betterment Holdings, Inc., Pathstone, Mercer Global Advisors, Inc., and others listed on the page.
Do these deals typically add specific planning or advisory capabilities?
Yes. Examples include expanded tax and estate planning, retirement plan governance, trust capabilities, multi-family office services, and (in Betterment’s case) crypto portfolio management.
Are financial terms publicly disclosed?
Not consistently. Some transactions disclose additional details such as AUM added, while others note that financial terms were not disclosed.