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.
The "Crypto Mom" departure would leave the SEC commission with just two members and no Democratic commissioners on the panel.
IFP Securities’ owner, Bill Hamm, has a long-term plan for the firm and its 279 financial advisors.
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.
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.
As more active strategies get packaged into the ETF wrapper, advisors and investors have to look beyond expense ratios as the benchmark for value.
Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification
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