Mercer Advisors acquires $160 million RIA

Wealth Design Services in Rochester, New York, also provides tax services.
JUL 12, 2017

Mercer Advisors Inc., a Santa Barbara, California-based RIA managing $10.6 billion in assets through several firms, has acquired Wealth Design Services (WDS), a Rochester, New York-based RIA, which manages approximately $160 million in assets and includes a tax practice. Steven Schwartz, the founder and president of WDS, and the firm's management will continue with the company and help expand Mercer's footprint in New York and the Northeast, Mercer said in a release. Mercer said that the WDS acquisition represents one of seven RIA takeovers by the firm in 16 months, which have included Kanaly Holdings ($2.1 billion), Duckworth Wealth Advisors ($160 million), Spruce Hill Capital ($112 million) and Novos Planning Associates ($100 million).

Latest News

Goldman leads wave of prediction market bans at financial firms
Goldman leads wave of prediction market bans at financial firms

As Goldman Sachs tightens rules on event contract trading, RIAs and hedge funds are weighing their own policies

Advisor moves: Baird recruits $600M veteran pair to director roles in North Carolina
Advisor moves: Baird recruits $600M veteran pair to director roles in North Carolina

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo lures defectors from UBS and JPMorgan to expand in the East Coast, while another bank aligns itself with RayJay's financial institutions division.

AI may be nudging some older workers into early retirement, study finds
AI may be nudging some older workers into early retirement, study finds

New research suggests AI-exposed workers over 55 are leaving jobs more often than before ChatGPT’s rise.

Wall Street banks promoting AI agents from research aids into digital coworkers
Wall Street banks promoting AI agents from research aids into digital coworkers

Agentic AI is landing in trading, treasury and wealth management roles across major banks, with advisory functions as the next frontier.

People moves: FiNet hires former LPL executive Andrew Harpp, Ellevest names new CIO
People moves: FiNet hires former LPL executive Andrew Harpp, Ellevest names new CIO

Wells Fargo affiliate and women-focused wealth firm both promote leadership as they scale advisor support.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income