Mega-RIA Mariner snaps up sports-focused Taurus Asset Management

Mariner, the colossal private equity-backed RIA firm founded by Marty Bicknell, is continuing to pursue its ambitious growth plans with a new East Coast partnership.

Mariner on Tuesday that it has acquired Taurus Asset Management, a New York City-based RIA with approximately $1.4 billion in assets under advisement, marking another step in its national expansion and niche client strategy.

The deal, which closed May 31, adds to Mariner’s growing roster of firms with expertise in serving professional athletes and high-net-worth individuals. Founded in 2004 by Brad Peck, Taurus brings two decades of experience in managing complex wealth planning needs, particularly for clients in the sports world.

“Our clients have complex financial lives that demand specialized attention and a high level of sophistication, from navigating concentrated equity positions to managing cross-generational wealth planning,” Peck said in a statement on Tuesday. “Mariner possesses the scale, depth and in-house expertise to help us further elevate the level of service we provide without compromising the highly personalized approach our clients expect.”

In addition to investment and wealth advisory services, Taurus provides integrated planning that includes estate planning, tax preparation, insurance consulting and personal financial management. That multifaceted approach mirrors Mariner’s client-first service model and contributed to the strategic fit between the two firms.

“Taurus Asset Management’s deep bench of experience, particularly in working with high-profile clients and professional athletes, adds a new dimension to our capabilities,” said Marty Bicknell, CEO and president of Mariner. “They bring both cultural alignment and a specialized skill set to our growing national platform.”

Following the acquisition, Taurus adopted the Mariner name and continues to operate from its Madison Avenue location.

The addition of Taurus comes amid a period of sustained M&A activity for Mariner, one of the most active acquirers in the RIA space. In January, the firm announced the acquisition of Cardinal Investment Advisors, a $292 billion AUA institutional consulting firm, which effectively more than doubled Mariner’s assets while adding about 40 professionals to its institutional division.

In May, Mariner also acquired Hyre Personal Wealth Advisors, a $325 million firm based in Ohio, further broadening its geographic reach and service offerings.

Mariner’s acquisition strategy is backed by private capital, including a 2021 investment from Leonard Green & Partners and a minority investment in October 2024 by Neuberger Berman. Since its founding in 2006 with $300 million in AUA, the firm has grown to oversee more than $555 billion in assets as of March 31.

The firm has set a lofty growth target, declaring that it would build a community of 5,000 advisors by 2027.