RIA moves: Carson Group enters New Jersey with $410M Foran Financial Group deal

RIA moves: Carson Group enters New Jersey with $410M Foran Financial Group deal
Somerville-based firm departs LPL to gain planning resources and technology it says would have taken years to build independently.
OCT 09, 2026

Carson Group, the Omaha, Nebraska-based registered investment advisor managing more than $65 billion in assets, has brought Somerville, New Jersey-based Foran Financial Group into its integrated Carson Wealth channel.

The acquisition, announced October 8, adds approximately $410 million in assets under management and marks Carson's latest move in one of the most active dealmaking stretches in the RIA industry this year.

Foran Financial Group transitions from LPL Financial and will operate as a fully branded Carson Wealth office, serving executives, small business owners, and multigenerational families across Somerset County, New Jersey.

A family practice with deep community roots

The firm is led by managing partners and wealth advisors Daniel Foran, CFP, CFS, and John Foran, CFP, AIF, ChSNC, CFS - a father-and-son team whose approach to financial planning has centered on long-term client education rather than transactional relationships.

For the past 14 years, the Forans have taught retirement planning courses at Raritan Valley Community College, while Dan Foran has also guest lectured at the Rutgers University School of Business.

That community-oriented model resonated with Carson Group leadership, who pointed to a pre-existing relationship stretching back nearly two decades through Carson's coaching business.

"Dan and John have built something that is increasingly rare in this industry, which is a true family business where clients bring in their children and grandchildren because they trust the people, not just the plan," said Burt White, CEO of Carson Group. "Our relationship with the Foran team goes back 17 years through our coaching business, and we've had a front-row seat as they've grown by prioritizing education, service and genuine relationships."

The existing team, which includes Operations Manager Jennifer Roberto and Senior Relationship & Operations Manager Diane Zychlinski - with roughly 25 and 20 years of tenure at the firm, respectively - will remain in place. All client-facing relationships will continue through the same advisors at the Somerville office.

Next-generation leadership as a deal driver

The acquisition reflects a pattern Carson Group has pursued throughout 2026: targeting established practices where the groundwork for succession has already been laid. As InvestmentNews has reported, Carson Group has been among the most active RIA acquirers in 2026 announcing eight deals and approximately $2.7 billion in acquired assets in the first quarter alone, according to data from Echelon Partners.

The Foran deal fits that model squarely. John Foran represents the second generation of leadership at the practice, and Michael Belluomini, senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions at Carson Group, pointed to that transition as central to the firm's interest.

"Foran Financial Group is a great example of what can happen when an advisor builds with the long term in mind," Belluomini said. "John is already producing and winning new business, demonstrating what successful G2 leadership can look like."

For Dan Foran, the decision came down to resources and continuity. "As we considered what our clients and team need for the next chapter, Carson Group emerged as the right partner," he said. "The depth of talent, planning solutions and resources available to us would have taken years to build on our own."

John Foran cited the cultural alignment as equally important. "I grew up watching my dad build relationships through honesty, integrity and a genuine desire to help people," he said. "With Carson, we saw a firm that shares our commitment to putting clients first and gives us more ways to serve them as their needs become increasingly complex."

Carson's Northeast push continues

The Somerville addition extends Carson Group's footprint in the Northeast, a region the firm has been methodically building out as part of a broader national expansion. The firm now operates more than 165 partner offices across the country, including more than 50 fully integrated Carson Wealth locations, and serves upward of 60,000 client families.

Carson's dealmaking strategy in 2026 has focused heavily on converting longtime coaching clients and affiliated partner offices into wholly owned locations, an approach that accelerates integration and reduces cultural friction post-acquisition.

Turkey Hill served as exclusive M&A advisor to Foran Financial Group in the transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal comes as broader RIA consolidation shows no signs of slowing. As InvestmentNews has tracked throughout the year 2026 is on pace to be a record year for wealth management M&A activity, with larger platforms moving aggressively to secure established regional practices with proven client retention and embedded successor leadership.

 

Latest News

Advisor moves: Wells Fargo FiNet lands $580M Ameriprise team
Advisor moves: Wells Fargo FiNet lands $580M Ameriprise team

LPL Financial and Raymond James also add independent advisors from Osaic and Edward Jones in Michigan and Arizona.

M1 Advisor bets AI can serve clients wealth managers turn away
M1 Advisor bets AI can serve clients wealth managers turn away

The SEC-registered RIA advises on more than $1 billion in client assets, with no advisory fee through 2027 and no human financial advisors.

SEC charges Caris Investment Partners in alleged cherry-picking scheme
SEC charges Caris Investment Partners in alleged cherry-picking scheme

95.8% of house trades were winners. For clients? The SEC says just 14.9%.

Pension fund accuses Duolingo of burying user-growth crisis
Pension fund accuses Duolingo of burying user-growth crisis

The complaint says Duolingo added friction on purpose, then lied about it.

Wirehouses losing more advisors so far in 2026: Report
Wirehouses losing more advisors so far in 2026: Report

The four wirehouse firms lost 1,449 experienced advisors and recruited 932 in the first six months of the year, according to Diamond Consultants.

SPONSORED Built on insurance experience to deliver on long-term promises

Knighthead Life entered the market with a competitive MYGA. A strong launch earned advisor confidence and paved the way for FIAs.

SPONSORED In the Age of AI, Trust Becomes the Advisor's Greatest Asset

As AI makes financial information more accessible than ever, Lana Hock explains why human judgment, trust, and empathy remain the qualities clients value most in a financial advisor