Edelman snaps up Cahill Wealth Management in 2025 deal debut

Edelman snaps up Cahill Wealth Management in 2025 deal debut
Transaction adds $426 million in assets and expands Edelman Financial Engines' reach into life sciences-focused wealth planning
MAY 05, 2025

Edelman Financial Engines has completed its first acquisition of the year, adding Michigan-based Cahill Wealth Management to expand its reach in the Midwest.

The acquisition, announced Monday morning, sharpens Edelman's focus on executives in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors while bringing $426 million in client assets under the firm’s management.

Cahill Wealth Management, based in Kalamazoo, serves 125 clients and will be fully integrated into the Edelman brand, the firm said.

Cahill’s focus on executives in life sciences aligns with Edelman’s workplace services strategy, which offers retirement and financial planning services through employer partnerships. The move is part of a broader effort by Edelman to identify advisory teams with specialized expertise and integrate them to support clients with evolving needs.

“Investor needs are changing rapidly, and EFE continues to elevate our offering and help clients in new ways by adding talented RIAs to our team,” Jay Shah, chief executive at Edelman Financial Engines, said Monday.

Cahill provides guidance across financial planning, employee benefits, and tax strategies, with a niche emphasis on professionals in the pharmaceutical and life sciences fields. Edelman said it sees potential to scale this specialty across a broader client base.

“As we extend our reach throughout the country, particularly in the Midwest, we seek partners who prioritize client service and align with our fundamental principles,” said Suzanne van Staveren, executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer at Edelman Financial Engines.

“Cahill’s industry specialization complements EFE’s workplace business, as their expertise serving executives in the life sciences space will be additive to these relationships,” the firm stated.

While 2023 and 2024 were busy years for dealmakers in the M&A space, including a record-breaking 272 transactions logged in Echelon Partners' 2024 RIA M&A deal report, Edelman appeared to be very selective with just a handful of acquisitions under its belt.

Edelman's 2023 deal calendar took a late fourth-quarter start with its October acquisition of Align Wealth Management, a $425 million RIA with offices in Oklahoma City and St. Petersburg, Florida. In November, it added PRW Wealth Management, a Quincy, Massachusetts-based firm overseeing over $500 million in client assets.

One month later, the firm snapped up New England Pension Plan Systems and its affiliate, expanding its small business retirement consulting capabilities in the Northeast to the tune of $1.5 billion in assets and over 500 clients added.

Last year, Edelman inked just one deal in May with Soundmark Wealth Management of Kirkland, Washington, a $453 million RIA known for serving medical professionals, tech workers, and small business owners.

Latest News

SEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with overbilling clients more than $2.5M in fees
SEC charges Chicago-based investment adviser with overbilling clients more than $2.5M in fees

Eliseo Prisno, a former Merrill advisor, allegedly collected unapproved fees from Filipino clients by secretly accessing their accounts at two separate brokerages.

Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors
Apella Wealth comes to Washington with Independence Wealth Advisors

The Harford, Connecticut-based RIA is expanding into a new market in the mid-Atlantic region while crossing another billion-dollar milestone.

Citi's Sieg sees rich clients pivoting from US to UK
Citi's Sieg sees rich clients pivoting from US to UK

The Wall Street giant's global wealth head says affluent clients are shifting away from America amid growing fallout from President Donald Trump's hardline politics.

US employment report reactions: Overall better than expected, but concerns with underlying data
US employment report reactions: Overall better than expected, but concerns with underlying data

Chief economists, advisors, and chief investment officers share their reactions to the June US employment report.

Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk slams 'offensive' congressional stock trading
Creative Planning's Peter Mallouk slams 'offensive' congressional stock trading

"This shouldn’t be hard to ban, but neither party will do it. So offensive to the people they serve," RIA titan Peter Mallouk said in a post that referenced Nancy Pelosi's reported stock gains.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.