After a quiet start on the M&A front this week, some of the most active consolidators came out in force on Thursday, with Mariner, Wealth Enhancement, and Integrated each making a move.
Mariner said Wednesday it has added two multigenerational advisory practices totaling approximately $500 million in assets, with both teams citing succession planning and long-term growth as the primary drivers behind their moves.
The larger addition is a St. Louis-based, three-person practice led by Blake Dunlop and Connor Dunlop, which oversees roughly $400 million in assets and serves families, business owners, professional athletes, and executives.
The second is a Timonium, Maryland-based team led by Grant Palmer III that manages approximately $100 million and has served clients for nearly three decades, specializing in evidence-based investing and retirement planning.
Both teams adopted the Mariner name and brand upon closing – the Dunlop team on April 15, the Palmer team on March 31.
Connor Dunlop said the move became a natural next step after more than two decades alongside Blake. "It became clear we needed a like-minded firm who could fully help advance our long-term growth objectives," he said, adding that the team plans to leverage Mariner's investment infrastructure for current and future clients.
Mariner president and CEO Marty Bicknell said the firm supports advisors by "removing operational complexity and expanding their capabilities, giving them more confidence in what comes next."
The firm collectively advises on more than $632 billion in assets under advisement as of year-end 2025. The Dunlop-led team was represented by Turkey Hill Management.
Mariner's latest additions came shortly after news of LPL agreeing to acquire Mariner Advisor Network, a hybrid advisor network within Bicknell's mega-RIA.
Wealth Enhancement said it has acquired FullCircle Wealth, an independent RIA in Dallas led by principal partner Brent Sikes, who manages a team of one advisor and two support staff overseeing more than $268 million in client assets. The deal closed April 15.
Founded in 2012, FullCircle primarily serves business owners, technology professionals, C-suite executives, and multigenerational families, as well as individuals navigating major life transitions. The firm offers a broad menu of services including financial planning, tax mitigation, wealth transfer planning, and investment and insurance guidance.
Sikes, who described his practice philosophy as centered on "winning by not losing," said the partnership gives him greater resources and support to continue delivering long-term, discipline-driven advice to clients.
Chief strategy officer Jim Cahn said FullCircle represents "a strong strategic fit" as Wealth Enhancement continues expanding in key growth markets like Dallas. With the addition, the firm's total client assets now exceed $141.9 billion across more than 189 offices nationwide.
Integrated Partners said Wednesday that Kyle Caouette, John de Carvalho, and their team have joined the firm and launched SIGIL Family Office, a virtual family office practice targeting ultra-high-net-worth business owners and families.
Caouette was formerly affiliated with Parallel Advisors and, before that, co-founded Parcion Private Wealth, a multi-family office RIA that grew to more than $2 billion in assets. De Carvalho served as Parcion's chief investment officer. SIGIL will deliver strategic planning, asset management consulting, and virtual family office services to a select group of private client households.
The team selected Integrated in part for brand autonomy, along with access to the firm's Advisor Dashboard, its planning and operational resources, and its CPA Alliance – a referral network that connects advisors with tax professionals to serve clients with complex needs.
Caouette said launching SIGIL allows the team to build "the type of boutique virtual family office that business owners and successful families demand." Integrated president Andree Mohr said the SIGIL team's focus on ultra-high-net-worth families, paired with the firm's capabilities, "creates a powerful foundation for long-term success."
The announcement comes as Integrated marks its 30th anniversary and follows a string of additions this year that have included Brick by Brick Wealth Advisors, Fair Street Advisors, and Pisces Wealth.
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