Advisory M&A News – 8/26/2026

Mercer Advisors Acquires NorthAvenue Financial Advocates

Mercer Global Advisors Inc., a registered investment adviser, acquired NorthAvenue Financial Advocates, a Columbus, Ohio-based wealth management firm with more than $220 million in assets under management as of February 28.

NorthAvenue provides wealth planning and implementation services, including investment management, tax planning and preparation. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Mercer Advisors’ presence in Ohio; the firm has expanded its Ohio Valley business from $100 million in client assets to more than $2.2 billion today.

The transaction also expands Mercer Advisors’ “Women & Wealth” practice through the addition of NorthAvenue’s predominantly woman-led team.

Mercer Advisors reported having $111 billion in client assets as of June 30, with more than 1,700 employees.

LPL Adds Conte Wealth Advisors

LPL Financial LLC added the Conte Wealth Advisors LLC team to LPL Financial’s broker/dealer and registered investment adviser platform. The firm reported serving $1.6 billion in advisory brokerage and retirement plan assets, as of year-end 2025, and joins LPL from Cambridge Investment Research.

Headquartered in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, Conte Wealth Advisors is a third-generation, family-owned firm led by Financial Adviser Tony Conte. CWA serves business owners, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. supports more than 32,000 financial advisers and approximately $2.3 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets.

Carson Group Taps 2 New Advisers for Independent Channel

Carson Group, a leading wealth advisory firm with more than $62 billion in assets under management, announced that Yari Capital joined the firm’s independent adviser channel. Led by Founder and Senior Wealth Adviser Kurt Mattson, the firm serves approximately $405 million in AUM and joins Carson from Northwestern Mutual.

Based in Atlanta, the Yari Capital team also includes Olivia Payne, director of financial planning, and a three-person support team. The group serves executives, physicians, attorneys, business owners and other high-earning professionals.

Mattson launched the practice in 1995 with a focus on helping clients navigate cash flow, taxes, retirement, investment management and estate planning.

IronGate Joins Osaic From Ameriprise

Osaic Inc. added IronGate Services through Carlson Advisor Networks, an Osaic office of supervisory jurisdiction. IronGate is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based advisory firm overseeing $367 million in client assets and joins Osaic from Ameriprise Financial Services.

Led by Financial Adviser Chad Sarsfield, IronGate also includes Coy Sarsfield, Brennan Dorighi and Jeff Netolicky, and the team primarily serves business owners. Through its affiliation with Carlson Advisor Networks and Osaic, the team stated it expects to create greater efficiency within the practice while maintaining freedom to continue serving clients.