Carson Group

Office address: 14600 Branch Street, Omaha, NE 68154
Website: carsongroup.com
Year established: 1983
Company type: financial services
Employees: 370+
Expertise: wealth management, investment advisory, financial planning, advisor coaching, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, compliance support, marketing support, technology solutions, high-net-worth client services
Parent company: Carson Group Holdings, LLC
Key people: Burt White (CEO), Omani Carson (chair), Daniel Applegarth (CFO), Dani Fava (chief strategy officer), Dan Tobin (COO), Kelsey Ruwe (chief talent officer), Julie Pine (chief legal officer)
Financing status: private equity-backed

Carson Group is an Omaha-based registered investment advisor (RIA) that serves financial advisors and investors across the US. The company's mission is to be the most trusted in financial advice through a client-first, planning-first approach. As of early 2026, it serves more than 54,000 client households through a network of over 150 partner firms and 650+ advisors nationwide.

History of Carson Group

Carson Wealth, the founding entity of what is now Carson Group, was launched in 1983 from a dorm room at the University of Nebraska's Abel Hall. Founder Omani Carson began with no capital and a negative net worth of $2,600.

His farm family's financial hardship shaped his drive to help others avoid the same path. A football injury in his first year also freed up time to focus entirely on building the practice.

From one practice to three businesses

By the early 1990s, Carson recognized that financial advisors faced their own operational challenges. He launched Carson Coaching in 1993 to help advisors overcome business obstacles and scale their practices.

Then in 2012, Carson Partners arrived to fill another gap by offering independent firms technology, compliance tools, and investment research they couldn't build alone.

Scaling with capital and new leadership

The company's growth caught the attention of major investors. Bain Capital, a leading private equity firm, took a minority stake in Carson Group in 2021.

That capital unlocked an aggressive acquisition strategy. In 2024, Omani Carson stepped away from the CEO role, handing leadership to Burt White, who accelerated the firm's purchase of other practices at scale.

Carson Group's succession as growth strategy

By 2025, the company was moving fast by completing 21 acquisitions that year and crossing $50 billion in AUM. Key deals included Colorado's Aveo Capital and Ohio's Total Wealth Planning, both bringing substantial advisor networks into the fold.

In early 2026, Carson Group acquired Brent Pine's Scottsdale practice, which manages $430 million in assets. Pine had originally connected to Carson through its coaching program in 2021 and operated as a minority equity partner before the full acquisition. This showed how Carson now views advisor succession as its most powerful growth lever.

Carson Group's products and services

Carson Group provides an integrated platform where financial advisors and investors access advisory services, coaching, and operational tools in one ecosystem:

Advisory and wealth management services

• wealth planning services
• investment advisory
• private client services
• planning-first methodology

Technology and operations platform

• technology stack
• compliance support
• investment research
• white-labeled banking services

Coaching and professional development

• practice management coaching
• executive coaching
• group coaching programs
• advisor training and development

Succession planning and M&A services

• succession planning framework: strategies for advisor firm ownership transitions
• M&A advisory: guidance for mergers and acquisitions of practices
• affiliate network: peer connection across Carson Partners advisor firms
• next-generation pathways: career development programs for emerging advisors

Specialized tools and services

• AI assistant: technology tool called Steve to support advisor workflows
• marketing support: client acquisition and brand development services
• performance analytics: business metrics and dashboards for tracking growth

Carson Group emphasizes client-first planning and advisor freedom through its unified three-part model. The firm also builds community through events, peer networks, and ongoing development to support sustained business growth.

Culture and corporate values

Carson Group seeks to be the most trusted financial services provider. The company also says this mission rests on core values:

1. client first
2. third dimension of trust
3. care factor
4. adaptability
5.  innovation
6. get stuff done

The company also created the IDEA Council (Inclusion, Diversity, Education, Action) to drive inclusive workplace initiatives. In support of this, Carson Group provides its employees with several benefits, which include:

• health and wellness coverage: health, dental, vision insurance, fertility assistance, parental leave, on-site health center
• education and career development: student loan reimbursement, tuition assistance, professional development, next-generation advisor pathway
• workplace culture and community: on-site coffee shop, food trucks, dog-friendly workspace, employee interest groups
• compensation and retirement: base salary, performance bonus, 401(k) matching, discounted financial planning services
• flexibility and work-life balance: paid sabbaticals, flexible workspace options, remote work availability, employee discounts
• charitable giving and impact: paid volunteer day annually, charitable donation matching, community nonprofit support

Reinforcing its commitment to advisor growth, Carson Group launched a NextGen Advisor Council in January 2026 with a standardized career development framework. The council gives emerging advisors input into firm strategy and development pathways while the framework clarifies expectations and compensation progression.

About CEO Burt White and key people

Burt White became CEO of Carson Group in 2024 after serving as managing partner and chief strategy officer. He spent 14 years at LPL Financial as managing director and CIO before joining the company. White holds a bachelor's degree in finance from William & Mary.

Beyond White's leadership, Carson Group's executive team brings decades of combined experience:

• Omani Carson is the founder and chair
• Daniel Applegarth is the CFO
• Dani Fava is the chief strategy officer
• Dan Tobin is the COO
• Kelsey Ruwe is the chief talent officer
• Julie Pine is the chief legal officer

This leadership team oversees Carson Group's three-part platform and drives initiatives around advisor growth, technology investment, and client-first planning.

The future at Carson Group

In late 2025, the company discharged an Indiana advisor for ignoring compliance audit issues. The advisor failed to respond to 12 identified deficiencies within 30 days, even after Carson Group sent repeated reminders. This enforcement shows how the firm takes regulatory oversight seriously to protect its clients and $55 billion network.

Neal McGrath, managing partner at Carson Wealth Pittsburgh, earned recognition as one of InvestmentNews' Top Financial Professionals for 2026. The award signals that Carson Group continues to develop top-tier advisors and attract new talent.

The latest Carson Group news