Mariner Wealth Advisors extends PE-backed buying spree

Mariner Wealth Advisors extends PE-backed buying spree
The addition of The Pinnacle Group, a $600 million Ohio-based RIA, marks the fifth deal by Mariner since it partnered with private equity investor Leonard Green & Partners in April.
SEP 09, 2021

Mariner Wealth Advisors has notched its fifth acquisition since selling a minority stake to private equity investor Leonard Green & Partners in April.

The Overland Park, Kansas-based registered investment adviser announced Thursday its plans to acquire The Pinnacle Group, a $600 million RIA based in West Chester, Ohio.

The deal, which is expected to close Sept. 24, will give Mariner its second office in the Cincinnati area. Mariner has 395 advisers across 53 offices.

“We’re thrilled to welcome such a talented group of individuals to the Mariner Wealth Advisors family while being able to expand our presence in Cincinnati,” Marty Bicknell, chief executive and president of Mariner, said in a statement.

“The Pinnacle Group’s approach to financial planning, including their retirement planning solutions for businesses, fold into our services and firm goals seamlessly," Bicknell said. “I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.”

Founded in 1994, The Pinnacle Group has the bulk of its assets in retirement plans, which will boost Mariner’s retirement plan solutions platform.

This deal continues Mariner's summer streak of growth. Since July, the firm has announced four acquisitions Allegiant Private Advisors, AdvicePeriod, Channel Islands Group and Commonwealth Advisory Group and added more than $7 billion in assets under management.

Pinnacle will assume the Mariner Wealth Advisors name when the deal closes. Its Cincinnati office remains under the leadership of J. Scott Sims, president and founder of the firm.

Latest News

SEC to lose Hester Peirce, deepening a commissioner crisis
SEC to lose Hester Peirce, deepening a commissioner crisis

The "Crypto Mom" departure would leave the SEC commission with just two members and no Democratic commissioners on the panel.

Florida B-D, RIA owner pitches bold long-term plan to sell to advisors
Florida B-D, RIA owner pitches bold long-term plan to sell to advisors

IFP Securities’ owner, Bill Hamm, has a long-term plan for the firm and its 279 financial advisors.

Fintech bytes: Vanilla, Wealth.com forge new estate planning partnerships
Fintech bytes: Vanilla, Wealth.com forge new estate planning partnerships

Meanwhile, a Osaic and Envestnet ink a new adaptive wealthtech partnership to better support the firm's 10,000-plus advisors, and RIA-focused VastAdvisor unveils native integrations with leading CRMs.

Fiduciary failure: Ex-advisor who sold practice fined after clients lost millions
Fiduciary failure: Ex-advisor who sold practice fined after clients lost millions

A former Alabama investment advisor and ex-Kestra rep has been permanently barred and penalized after clients he promised to protect got caught in a $2.6 million fraud.

Why the evolution of ETFs is changing the due diligence equation
Why the evolution of ETFs is changing the due diligence equation

As more active strategies get packaged into the ETF wrapper, advisors and investors have to look beyond expense ratios as the benchmark for value.

SPONSORED Are hedge funds the missing ingredient?

Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management