Failing to have a solid succession plan is one of many risk factors that can tank an advisory practice's selling price, industry pros warn.

Top deals from Q4 include Wealth Enhancement Group's deal with Levy Wealth Management Group and Cetera's bid for Concourse Financial Group Securities.

Michael Nathanson, CEO of the RIA aggregator, envisions a day in the not-distant future when firms like his will sit on $1 trillion or more in client assets.

While not denying the benefits of PE backing, a subset of RIAs and wealth managers remain determined to go it alone.

Even though some firms have been able to command top dollar selling themselves to large aggregators, plenty of variables are still helping to hold purchase prices in check.

The fast-moving RIA aggregator has been undergoing an internal reorganization since 2023 in a bid to consolidate the many firms it has scooped up over the years.

The asset sales carry complexity requiring careful thought and expert advice, but they could prove beneficial to some wirehouse breakaways or RIA succession plans.

Mike Durbin on Cetera's M&A plans, why consolidation will barrel forward in the wealth management industry and the advantages of having a hybrid firm.

The 10 largest transitions include deals by LPL and Osaic, hybrid RIAs that received private equity infusions and even a new public offering by a SPAC investor.

Recruiting moves, M&A deals, influxes of capital, internal rollups and business pivots are fueling the industry's race to scale.