Steward Partners Global Advisory has bolstered its presence in the Empire State, acquiring a seven-advisor team based in the greater Rochester market.
Managing more than $500 million in client assets, Wisdom Rock Financial Advisory was founded by Michael Keys and Christopher Neitz and has operated for nearly four decades,
Wisdom Rock – which is the second practice Steward Partners officially welcomed this week, following Jazz Wealth in Florida – has built its practice around estate planning, tax strategy and retirement income rather than treating those disciplines as add-ons.
Keys said the cultural fit was the deciding factor. "What stood out about Steward immediately was that they wanted to get to know us as people before they ever looked at our numbers," he said.
Steward said the acquisition is a product of its dedicated M&A channel, which is designed to give established advisory teams a succession path without requiring them to give up their brand or client relationships.
Chief Growth Officer Scott Danner said Wisdom Rock exemplifies the kind of team the channel was built for. "What Mike and team have built is exactly what the Steward model was designed to honor and protect," he said.
Steward, which was responsible for nearly $50 billion in client assets as of March, was recently ranked ninth on Barron's 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms list.
Also disclosing a second transaction this week is Wealth Enhancement, which announced it has acquired hybrid RIA firm Sherpa Wealth Strategies in Bend, Oregon.
Founded by Brian Stallcop, the firm manages more than $108 million in client assets, bringing Wealth Enhancement's total to more than $148.2 billion.
Sherpa, founded in 2011, operates what it calls a "Financial Empowerment Journey" – a coaching-oriented model focused on retirement planning, tax-efficient strategies and multigenerational wealth transfer. The firm primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, families and business owners.
Wealth Enhancement's partnership with Sherpa comes on the heels of its addition of Lake Tahoe Wealth Management in California.
Stallcop called the deal "an important milestone" in his firm's long-term vision. "Our clients will benefit from a broader ecosystem of specializations while continuing to receive comprehensive guidance," he said.
Wealth Enhancement CEO Jeff Dekko said the firm's culture was the draw. "Sherpa Wealth Strategies has built its reputation on trust, transparency, and decades of experience," he said, "which makes us especially proud to partner with them."
Sherpa's hybrid structure – holding both RIA and broker-dealer registrations – has become an increasingly attractive profile for acquirers looking to absorb firms with flexible revenue models and broader client-service capabilities.
Savant Wealth Management has booked its own deal double this week, simultaneously adding a Pacific Northwest boutique and a California-based tax planning firm to its platform.
The first deal to acquire North Ridge Wealth Advisors in Beaverton, Oregon gives Savant its first stake in the state.
Founded by Brian Lawrence in 2011, North Ridge manages approximately $223 million in client assets. Partner Adam Cornwell said the firm was drawn to Savant's collaborative culture. "Joining Savant allows us to spend less time managing the business and more time focused on our clients," he said.
Lawrence and Cornwell join as member-owners, with North Ridge's two other team members joining as employees.
The second deal adds Desmond Wealth Management, a Walnut Creek, California firm founded more than two decades ago by Gregory Desmond, a CPA and CFP who built his practice around integrated investment advice and tax planning. The firm manages approximately $148 million in client assets.
Two Desmond employees will join Savant Tax & Consulting, deepening the firm's in-house tax capabilities. Savant also acquired Desmond Consulting Group, which handles tax preparation and business advisory services.
Brent Brodeski, Savant's founder and CEO, said the Desmond deal reinforces a clear strategic direction. "Tax planning plays a central role in how our clients make decisions," Brodeski said. "Desmond Wealth Management built its practice around that same belief."
With both deals closed, Savant now operates 68 offices across 27 states.
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