Prospera acquires $2B boutique broker-dealer with 35 year history

Prospera acquires $2B boutique broker-dealer with 35 year history
Team of 40 advisors, 12 employees will remain with the firm
APR 07, 2025

Prospera Financial Services has acquired an independent broker-dealer to expand its capabilities and footprint.

St. Louis, Missouri based Cutter & Company manages approximately $2 billion in client assets. As well as being a broker-dealer, it is an insurance agent, and RIA. It has advisors nationwide but most are in the Midwest.

Cutter is led by CEO Deborah Castiglioni and president William Meyer, who founded the company in 1988. Castiglioni will remain in a leadership position while Meyer will continue to serve his book of clients. The firm’s 40 advisors and 12 employees will all stay with the firm as it transitions to Prospera.

“As we looked for the right partner to support our next phase of growth, Prospera was the clear choice. Our shared values of client service and advisor-centric decision-making provide clear cultural synergies with excellent opportunities for future growth. Working with Prospera will enable our team to focus on our advisors' needs, providing them with enhanced technology and tools to grow their businesses.”

Prospera says that the enlarged footprint will not impact its industry leading staff-to-advisor ratio.

“Smaller, boutique broker-dealers provide meaningful service to their advisors and will continue to be a valuable asset to the wealth management industry,” said Prospera Chairman and Co-CEO Tim Edwards. “The Cutter team understands the importance of personal connections between staff and advisors, and how these relationships enhance the advisor’s ability to build a strong, independent business. We are excited to welcome Debbie, Bill and the entire team to the Prospera family.”

Just over a year ago Prospera launched a family office program to serve ultra-high-net-worth individuals. It also welcomed the former scion of Wunderlich Securities who left B. Riley Financial which acquired Wunderlich in 2017.

Latest News

Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients
Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients

By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’
Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’

Counsel representing Lisa Cook argued the president's pattern of publicly blasting the Fed calls the foundation for her firing into question.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.