Advisory M&A News – 5/27/2026

LPL Acquires Soundview Wealth Management, Emerald Wealth Management

Soundview Wealth Management LLC joined LPL Financial LLC’s broker/dealer and registered investment adviser platform from financial services company D.A. Davidson & Co. The advisers making up Soundview—Michael Stevenson, David Johnson and Nikko Gronhovd—reported serving $600 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets as of year-end 2025.

In a separate transaction, LPL stated that advisers from Emerald Wealth Management joined its broker/dealer and RIA platform from Northwestern Mutual. The team reported serving $815 million in advisory, brokerage, insurance and retirement plan assets as of year-end 2025.

Emerald Wealth is led by Darren Trautmann, founder and private wealth adviser, and Brendan Foor, private wealth adviser. The advisory team also includes Carson Hill, Ben Pawlak and Ben Chen. Based in Seattle, the team serves a client base that includes professionals in the technology sector, as well as individuals and families nearing or entering retirement.

LPL Financial Holdings Inc. supports more than 32,000 financial advisers and the wealth management practices of approximately 1,100 financial institutions, servicing and custodying approximately $2.3 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets. 

Moneco Advisors Taps 3 Advisory Teams

Moneco Advisors LLC, an independent registered investment advisory firm, announced the integration of three advisory teams: Keith Kolinsky of Complete Financial Planning Inc.; David Karachuk; and Tim Tymniak and Joe Tatusko of CFO Capital Management.

The three teams represent $250 million in collective assets, bringing Moneco Advisors’ total assets to  more than $3 billion. The teams will operate from Moneco Advisors’ offices in Fairfield, Connecticut, and Harrison, New York, and will have access to the firm’s full range of custodial relationships, including LPL Financial, Fidelity, Schwab and Pershing.

Cetera Adds Former Commonwealth Adviser

Former Commonwealth Financial Network Adviser Rick Bergstrom joined Cetera alongside his Tallahassee, Florida-based practice, 7G Wealth Management. Bergstrom has spent 21 years in the financial services industry, most recently at Commonwealth.

Bergstrom works with another adviser and four support staff, who oversaw $240 million in assets under administration as of April 3. Their practice focuses on law enforcement officers and other municipal and public-sector employees in the Tallahassee area. 

Cetera Financial Group is a financial adviser wealth hub with 12,000 financial professionals and institutions. Its firms managed approximately $630 billion in assets under administration and $296 billion in assets under management as of March 31.

1291 Group Acquires IPG

Swiss-founded independent insurance broker 1291 Group acquired International Planning Group, providing 1291 Group onshore access to the U.S. market.

1291 Group Americas will temporarily operate IPG under its current brand as a wholly owned subsidiary. Financial terms were not disclosed.

IPG  focused on life insurance-based strategies for wealth structuring and transfer planning for high-net-worth individuals and families.