Advisor moves: Ohio RIA managing nearly $1B joins Osaic for succession planning

Beacon Financial Group, an independent registered investment advisor based in Aurora, Ohio, has joined Osaic's Empowered Independence channel, citing succession planning and expanded wealth management capabilities as the primary drivers of the move.

The firm, founded in 2007 by Managing Director Brent Besinger, oversees nearly $1 billion in client assets and serves more than 120 families through comprehensive financial planning and multigenerational wealth management. Beacon had previously operated as an independent RIA with broker-dealer affiliation through Private Client Services before selecting Osaic as its new platform partner.

Besinger, a financial services veteran with more than 30 years of experience, established Beacon as an independent RIA in 2022 following a 24-year career at Lincoln Financial Advisors. The decision to affiliate with Osaic was shaped, in part, by a longstanding professional relationship with John DiMonda, head of Advisor Direct at Osaic, with whom Besinger worked for more than 15 years.

"When we started exploring succession planning options, our biggest priority was finding a partner that would allow us to continue running our business the way we always have, with our clients' needs guiding every decision," Besinger said. "John and I have known each other for many years, and he understands our team, our clients and the relationships we've worked hard to build."

Beacon's seven-person team has been a core element of the firm's identity, with several staff members having worked alongside Besinger for more than a decade.

Their tenure spans services including financial planning, investment management, retirement plan services and multigenerational wealth management - areas that InvestmentNews has covered extensively as advisor succession planning intensifies across the independent channel.

W-2 model gains momentum

Osaic launched its Empowered Independence W-2 affiliation model in 2023, and the channel has since attracted a growing roster of established advisory firms seeking operational support without sacrificing client-facing autonomy.

Cindy Hamel, head of Empowered Independence, has indicated the firm expects the number of external teams joining the W-2 channel to grow, with the team aiming to be "much more aggressive externally" in pursuing prospects.

Beacon is the latest in a series of firms to make the transition. Osaic operates as a private equity-owned network with more than 10,000 advisors across its platform. Recent additions to the Empowered Independence channel have included firms ranging from $500 million to $1.5 billion in assets, reflecting consistent demand for the W-2 structure among mid-sized independents navigating leadership transitions.

"Having known Brent for more than 15 years, I've seen firsthand the dedication he and his team bring to their clients and the thoughtful way they've built their business," DiMonda said. "Brent wasn't looking to change the way his firm operates. He was looking for a partner that could help protect what he's built and position the business for long-term success."

Succession as a strategic priority

For Beacon, the affiliation addresses a question that is front of mind for a growing number of advisory firm owners nearing a leadership transition: how to preserve a firm's culture and client relationships while building a durable structure for the future.

Through the Empowered Independence channel, Beacon gains access to centralized compliance infrastructure, technology resources and business development support, while retaining control over its client relationships and day-to-day operations.

"Beacon Financial Group represents exactly the kind of entrepreneurial, client-focused firm we aim to empower," said Cindy Hamel, head of Empowered Independence at Osaic. "Our Empowered Independence channel provides firms like Beacon with the flexibility to maintain that identity while leveraging Osaic's capabilities to strengthen their businesses, plan for succession and continue serving clients for generations to come."