Mercer Advisors, the acquisitive RIA with $70 billion in client assets, is officially restarting its expansion strategy for 2025 as it welcomes a trio of experienced advisors to its network.
The additions announced Tuesday bring in a total of more than $240 million in combined assets under management while strengthening the Denver, Colorado-headquartered firm’s presence in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeastern US.
In Bend, Oregon, Mercer Advisors has partnered with Dave Stuehling and John Swanson, marking its debut in one of the fastest-growing cities in the Pacific Northwest.
Stuehling, who oversees $114 million in client assets, cited Mercer’s robust resources and client-service infrastructure as key reasons for the partnership. “Partnering with Mercer Advisors was the ideal decision to help provide my clients with best-in-class service and the support they need to achieve their financial goals,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
Along similar lines, Swanson, who manages $110 million, emphasized Mercer’s ability to deliver comprehensive, family-office-style wealth management. “The combination of Mercer Advisors’ deep value proposition for clients and its fiduciary-first ethos aligns with my philosophy on how to best serve clients,” he noted.
Meanwhile in Atlanta, Georgia, Mercer Advisors expanded its footprint with the acquisition of Edward Vance Investment Management. Led by Edward Vance, the $41 millin independent that provides retirement planning, tax and estate strategies, and other financial planning services joins Mercer’s growing team in the state.
“Leveraging Mercer Advisors’ vast team of specialists, modern technology solutions, and extensive resources will provide me with opportunities to enhance the client experience and do my best work as a financial advisor,” Vance said.
Martine Lellis, who was promoted as Mercer's principal of M&A partner development in March last year, emphasized the new additions as a testament to the firm's capacity to support advisors.
“Our offering empowers advisors to thrive in local markets with the collective backing of our specialty teams, advanced technology and unified enterprise operations,” she said.
Prior to its moves in Atlanta and Oregon, Mercer broadened its presence in the women's wealth advisory space with its integration of independent firm Frango Financial in December.
Insiders say the Wall Street giant is looking to let clients count certain crypto holdings as collateral or, in some cases, assets in their overall net worth.
The two wealth tech firms are bolstering their leadership as they take differing paths towards growth and improved advisor services.
“We think this happened because of Anderson’s age and that he was possibly leaving,” said the advisor’s attorney.
The newly appointed leader will be responsible for overseeing fiduciary governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management at Cetera's trust services company.
Certain foreign banking agreements could force borrowers to absorb Section 899's potential impact, putting some lending relationships at risk.
How intelliflo aims to solve advisors' top tech headaches—without sacrificing the personal touch clients crave
From direct lending to asset-based finance to commercial real estate debt.