RIA moves: Carson Group, Bluespring announce new acquisitions as consolidation continues

RIA moves: Carson Group, Bluespring announce new acquisitions as consolidation continues
Greg Wambolt, founder, managing partner, and wealth advisor at Wambolt & Associates in Colorado.
Carson Wealth is strengthening its Colorado presence, while Bluespring's move in Texas will create a new $1.4 billion firm.
JUN 10, 2025

Carson Group and Bluespring Wealth Partners are both on the move, with both firms announcing new mergers and acquisitions in key markets.

Carson doubles down on Colorado

On Tuesday, Carson Group, which manages more than $42 billion in assets, revealed it has acquired Wambolt & Associates, a Littleton, Colorado-based RIA led by Greg Wambolt.

The Wambolt team, which manages approximately $570 million in assets, sets themselves apart by delivering investment and tax strategies to high-net-worth clients across the region.

Wambolt, who launched the firm in 2010 after more than three decades in the industry, highlighted the opportunity for his team to offer broader services by joining Carson Wealth.

“[W]e’re giving our clients access to a deeper bench of specialists and a level of centralized services that will meaningfully enhance their experience,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Clients of Wambolt & Associates will continue working with the same advisory team. Carson’s platform will provide access to expanded capabilities, including institutional-grade investment strategies and advanced planning support, while preserving the firm’s boutique approach. 

Michael Belluomini, senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions at Carson Group, commended Wamboldt's efforts to "build out a strong G2 team focused on long-term relationships and exceptional outcomes."

2025 has been fairly busy so far for the expansion strategy at Carson Wealth, which has been heavily focused on buyouts to integrate existing partner RIAs into its platform.

Most recently, the Omaha, Nebraska-based firm announced the completed acquisition of SRQ Wealth in Sarasota, Florida, which in the process became its 25th office to be fully owned by Carson Wealth.

Bluespring gets bigger in Texas

Meanwhile, Bluespring Wealth Partners has merged two Texas-based firms, including one existing Kestra Financial firm, in its network to create a $1.4 billion advisory business. 

Bluespring operates within the Kestra Financial ecosystem and focuses on acquiring and supporting RIAs and hybrid firms.

SilverStar Wealth Management, based in Cypress and led by Tim Hudson, will merge with Houston-based LifeBridge Financial Group, an existing Bluespring partner. Both teams will remain in place following the combination.

LifeBridge is led by managing director Michael Rudelson and advisors Selena Krampota and Grayson Palmer. The firms plan to maintain their client-centric focus while working together to enhance operations.

“This merger simply enhances our ability to remain fully dedicated to our mission – helping our clients grow, protect, and distribute their wealth with purpose,” Hudson said Tuesday.

The month following its March acquisition of Charter Capital Management, an RIA based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Bluespring brought aboard a trio of industry veterans, including leaders with experience from LPL and Dimensional Fund Advisors, to strengthen its capabilities for organic growth, practice management, and M&A.

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