Office address: 5700 W. 112th St., Suite 200, Overland Park, KS 66211
Website: marinerwealthadvisors.com
Year established: 2006
Company type: financial services
Employees: 2,000+
Expertise: tax planning and preparation, estate planning, executive financial planning, wealth planning, investment management, trust services, insurance solutions, retirement planning, institutional cash management
Parent company: founder-owned through 1248 Holdings, LLC
Key people: Marty Bicknell (CEO), Cheryl Bicknell (COO), Jeff Poe (CFO), Katrina Radenberg (CIO), William Greiner (chief economist), Jeff Krumpelman (chief investment strategist), Tony Roberts (head of wealth management)
Financing status: private equity-backed
Mariner Wealth Advisors is one of the largest independent registered investment advisors in the US. The firm is based in Overland Park and advises on over $577 billion in assets as of 2025. Its in-house teams handle wealth planning, tax preparation, estate planning, and more.
Mariner Wealth Advisors got its start in 2006 when Marty Bicknell left a large national firm after 16 years. Bicknell brought together a small team of eight people who shared a common goal. They wanted to build a firm that put clients first and made them proud.
The 2008 financial crisis tested many organizations, but the company saw a different outcome. Top advisors joined Mariner because they were unhappy with how their employers handled the downturn.
This wave of talent helped double the firm's growth in just one year. In 2009, it launched a charitable arm funded by employee donations and company matching.
The company made its first major acquisition outside Kansas City in 2012, which opened doors to the investment banking world. By 2018, it introduced the One Mariner mindset to bring all its sub-brands under a single identity.
This shift kicked off a nationwide push to acquire advisory firms that shared its client-first vision. Two years later, it rolled out an independent platform to support outside advisors and their clients.
The firm hit a major milestone in 2023 when it surpassed 100 office locations across the country. In 2025, Mariner partnered with Flourish, a wealthtech platform, to offer cash management tools for ultra-high-net-worth clients.
Mariner Wealth Advisors kicked off 2026 with a double deal that added $1.8 billion in assets. These acquisitions of First National Advisors in Massachusetts and Strava Wealth in Pittsburgh expanded its East Coast presence.
The company offers a range of financial services through its in-house teams:
The firm also works with specialized client groups such as executives, business owners, and professional athletes. Its advisors serve medical and dental professionals with strategies built around practice ownership.
According to Mariner Wealth Advisors, its culture centers on teamwork and doing big things for clients. The firm also says it values inclusion, where all voices matter and diverse views are welcome. Its core values are:
Beyond its values, the company says it recognizes the hard work and unique skills of its team. It offers a mix of employee benefits to show appreciation:
The firm also emphasizes belonging as part of its workplace approach. Led by CEO Marty Bicknell, the company says it supports inclusion and invests in communities through the Mariner Foundation.
Marty Bicknell leads as CEO and president. Bicknell holds a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg.
A group of senior leaders supports Bicknell in running the company's operations and strategy:
The company's leadership team works together on tax, estate, and investment planning. This approach helps the firm deliver unified solutions for its wealth management clients.
In 2025, Mariner reached a $25.5 million settlement over past employment practices. The case alleged that Mariner, along with investment management firm American Century, suppressed wages by limiting competition for staff between 2014 and 2018. Both firms had earlier signed a non-prosecution agreement with the Justice Department and set aside $1 million for affected workers.
On the growth side, the company added a 12-person team from Northwestern Mutual to its independent channel in early 2026. Alinity Wealth Management, a Baton Rouge-based RIA, joined Mariner Independent for access to planning, tax, and technology resources. The move is part of a broader push that has grown the channel to over 1,000 advisors and $45 billion in client assets.
The RIA is harnessing the veteran's 20-plus years of experience, most recently at Mariner Wealth Advisors, to accelerate its strategic growth.
The fintech provider’s latest funding round, which also includes Alumni Ventures and Vanguard, will support its continued growth and AI push.
The leading alts provider reports a significant year-on-year demand spike for the flexible investment options as the quest for diversification continues.
Recognizing the leading finance firms across the US who are attracting advisors with their range of services and outstanding expertise.
The increasingly popular strategy lets people transition socially and financially, advisors say.
"We’re seeing continued deal flow of mid-sized and smaller RIAs, along with broker-dealers, too," one banker said.
Advisors caution professional athletes to hire teams and give associates limited access to their accounts.
The veteran advisor and his two sons are joining the IBD after managing $250M at Wells Fargo.
The Atlanta-based RIA is deepening its Pacific Northwest footprint with a financial planning team from LPL.
The companies 'explicitly agreed not to hire or recruit each other’s asset and wealth management professionals,' according to a lawsuit.
The team is coming under LPL’s umbrella after managing $150M in advisory, brokerage, and retirement plan assets at Stifel.
A January wave of consolidation sees $32 billion in assets purchased across 23 deals, Fidelity reports.
The firm is creating a new institutional business unit.
In its 7th acquisition of 2023, Mariner buys Sacramento-based Confluence Financial Planning.
Edelman Financial Engines is suing Mariner Wealth Advisors, alleging that Mariner is poaching its clients and running Edelman out of business.
