RIA and advisor-platform dealmaking is wasting no time in 2026 with another pair of transactions highlighting the thirst of acquisitive firms to bulk up national footprints.
Corient has strengthened its West Coast presence with the addition of the advisory business of Palo Alto Wealth Advisors, extending its reach in one of the industry’s most competitive wealth markets and adding almost $767 million AUM.
The new team expands Corient’s access to technology-sector executives, entrepreneurs and multigenerational family clients, a strategic move as national platforms look to plant flags in high-growth, high-net-worth regions.
Palo Alto was founded by Ryan Schmidt and Nate Blair and the team has joined Corient.
“Corient’s partnership model gives us the best of both worlds,” said Schmidt. “We maintain our client-focused, fiduciary approach while gaining access to deeper expertise and broader capabilities – including tax, trust, and family office services – that meaningfully enhance how we can serve technology entrepreneurs and their families.”
The deal follows Corient’s ongoing strategy of adding established regional firms to broaden geographic coverage and deepen specialized planning capabilities. While transaction terms were not disclosed, the move further reinforces Corient’s ambition to be a coast-to-coast advisory platform.
Meanwhile, Bluespring Wealth Partners has acquired Coghill Investment Strategies, a Pittsburgh-based RIA overseeing approximately $600 million in assets.
The firm, founded in 2011 by Carrie Coghill, focuses on generational wealth management, tax-efficient strategies for business owners and executives, and guidance through major life transitions. Partners Michael Cooley and Shana Bielich remain with the business.
“When thinking about the future of our business, my partners and I were intentional about aligning with an organization that shares our values, provides strategic support, and creates opportunities for our team while ensuring top-tier service for the clients who have trusted us for decades,” said Coghill.
Bluespring reported more than $6 billion in partner-firm AUM added during 2025, entering 2026 with continued momentum.
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