Robertson Stephens is extending its reach yet again with its fourth acquisition of the year.
The San Francisco-headquartered RIA announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Ratio Wealth Group, an RIA managing over $530 million in advisory assets.
Apart from planting a new stake in Colorado with a new Denver office – Robertson Stephens actually bolstered its presence in the state earlier this year with another deal in May – the transaction represents a significant milestone as Ratio Wealth’s AUM makes it Robertson Stephens' largest deal to date.
The new team joining the national RIA consists of co-founders Derek Scarth and Graham Gerlach, along with colleagues Josh Freedman, Nancy Kimball, Becky Neils, Jen Padgett, Jack Seavall, and Shawn Wallace.
Raj Bhattacharyya, CEO of Robertson Stephens, said he was “honored to welcome” the Ratio team, which brings extensive expertise in insurance planning and a focus on pilots in the airline industry.
"From our first meeting, it was clear that Ratio’s high-growth culture, commitment to financial planning, and collaborative approach to client service aligned perfectly with our values," Bhattacharyya said in a statement.
Derek Scarth, who’s stepping in as managing director and principal at Robertson Stephens, commented on the merger's benefits for clients and the firm's growth.
"When we first created Ratio Wealth Group, we aimed to offer institutional-quality financial advice for individuals and families while maintaining a fiduciary relationship," Scarth said. "This merger with Robertson Stephens allows us to stay ahead of those value-added services to deliver on greater client expectations while continuing to expand our client base."
He also highlighted the opportunity for his team and clients to access greater expertise through an investment office, make investments in private equity, and tap a wealth planning group with specialists in tax and estate strategies.
Earlier this month, Robertson Stephens announced another landmark transaction with its deal to partner with Rain Capital in Oregon, which brought its advisory assets past the $6 billion mark.
With the integration of Ratio Wealth Group, Robertson Stephens’ business now has north of $6.5 billion in advisory assets with operations across 22 locations, including San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, Seattle, and now Denver.
Meanwhile, Cetera has welcomed a family-run practice from Commonwealth, and a Merrill advisor joins an existing UBS team in Connecticut.
The Olympia, Washington firm's retirement planning expertise reinforces the consolidator's growth momentum to exceed $160 billion in client assets.
Beyond content generation and execution, firms that can offer answers around governance, transparency, and supervision are set to pull ahead in the next leg of the AI race.
The experienced advisory teams join Ameriprise and Janney as the race for experienced talent continues.
Rising drug and outpatient costs are pushing plan members to demand more financial guidance and most insurers are falling short.
Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains
Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income
