A flurry of RIA acquisitions were announced Tuesday as deal activity in the wealth management sector continues to drive geographic expansion across the country.
Modera Wealth Management expanded its footprint and Simplicity Group Holdings announced its second deal in as many days, in a day where there were also significant deals for Hightower Signature Wealth, Allworth, and Wealth Enhancement.
Modera Wealth Management, a fee-only RIA headquartered in Westwood, New Jersey, has acquired Marathon Wealth Management of Albany, New York, adding approximately $155 million in assets under management to its platform.
The deal marks Modera's entry into New York's Capital Region and Long Island, extending a national footprint that now spans $17.5 billion in AUM across more than 6,300 clients, according to the firm's December 31, 2025, data.
Marathon founder Aaron Lieberman, a CFP professional and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, will join Modera as a wealth manager and principal.
"Aaron's success springs from a commitment to caring for his clients and the belief that financial advice should make life simpler, not more complicated," said Tom Orecchio, CEO of Modera Wealth Management.
Founded in 1983 and majority owned by its employee shareholders, Modera has grown steadily through acquisitions and organic growth. The Marathon deal adds another upstate New York presence to an already multi-state operation.
In a separate transaction, Simplicity Group Holdings, based in Summit, New Jersey, has acquired Mobile Bay Financial Solutions, LLC, an independent advisory firm in Mobile, Alabama. The renamed entity will operate as Simplicity Wealth Advisors: Mobile Bay.
Co-founders John McNeil and Virginia O'Brien will join as partners at the combined firm. O'Brien noted that Mobile Bay Financial has a history spanning more than 104 years, pointing to the firm's deep roots in the region as a driver of the combination.
"Simplicity's robust technology platform and institutional support will eliminate administrative friction," said McNeil, whose family has been tied to the business across generations.
Bruce Donaldson, partner and CEO of Simplicity Group, said the acquisition fits a broader pattern of adding advisor teams with shared client-focused values. "John, Virginia, and the entire team at Mobile Bay Financial embody the exact client-first values that define the Simplicity partnership," he said.
Simplicity, which offers wealth accumulation and protection products, has described itself as one of the fastest-growing partnerships in financial services. No AUM figures were disclosed for the Mobile Bay transaction.
Both deals reflect a broader trend of mid-size RIAs pursuing expansion through acquisition as firms look to scale operations, broaden service offerings, and enter new regional markets. The pace of M&A in the independent advisory space has remained elevated heading into the second half of 2026, with buyer interest concentrated in firms with established client relationships and strong local reputations.
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