Stratos Wealth adds $400M with RPI Financial Life Planners

Stratos Wealth Enterprises has announced a strategic partnership with RPI Financial Life Planners, a Naperville, Illinois-based wealth management and financial planning practice with more than four decades of operating history.

It’s a move expected to add approximately $400 million in assets under management to the Stratos network and is the firm's 12th partnership since SEI Investments Company made a strategic investment in the Stratos business in 2025.

The latest acquisition follows a landmark run of 11 acquisitions completed by December 31, 2025, that added roughly $4.8 billion in client assets across seven states. That earlier expansion stretched from Ohio and Pennsylvania to California, Arizona, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts, cementing Stratos' position as one of the more aggressive acquirers in the independent advisory space.

RPI will continue to operate under its existing name and retain its team, client relationships and Financial Life Planning philosophy, while gaining access to Stratos' operational infrastructure, technology capabilities and growth resources.

A planning-led culture at the core

RPI was founded on the principle that financial planning centers on people and life goals rather than portfolio performance alone.

The firm serves individuals, families, retirees and business owners across retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, investment management and life transition planning; a holistic model it has refined over more than 40 years in the Midwest market.

"David and the entire RPI team have built something special,” said Jeff Concepcion, founder and CEO of Stratos Wealth Holdings. “Their focus on relationships, planning excellence, and helping clients navigate life's most important decisions aligns closely with the values that define Stratos."

Scaling without sacrificing autonomy

Concepcion has been explicit about the philosophy driving Stratos' deal pace. In May 2026, reflecting on the firm's 11-acquisition run, he said that "advisors today are navigating increasing complexity” and that SEI's investment had "helped accelerate our ability to support advisors while preserving the entrepreneurial culture that defines Stratos."

The RPI transaction reflects that same intent with advisor leadership retained and the acquired practice's name and planning process remaining intact.

SEI's Arthur Worthington, CFP, managing director of strategic business development and integration at SEI Investments Company, echoed the theme.

"This is a natural fit between two organizations that believe great advice starts with understanding what's most important to clients," he said. "RPI has spent decades building long-term client relationships. We're excited to welcome the team to Stratos and look forward to supporting the next chapter of their growth."

Midwest footprint deepens

The RPI deal extends Stratos' reach in the Midwest, a region already anchored by several of its Ohio-based practices.

Stratos Wealth Enterprises is the acquisition and wealth management arm of Stratos Wealth Holdings, a national network that also includes registered investment advisors Stratos Wealth Partners, Stratos Wealth Advisors and Stratos Investment Management. Stratos and its subsidiaries are majority owned by SEI Investments Company.

The transaction reinforces a broader industry dynamic in which regional advisory practices with strong client retention and multigenerational relationships are drawing sustained acquisition interest from national aggregators.

The pace of consolidation shows little sign of slowing. As wealth management M&A activity continues to reshape the independent advisory landscape firms like Stratos are making the case that size and independence are no longer mutually exclusive.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.