$70B Mercer Advisors starts off 2025 with bicoastal additions

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 million 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.