Mercer Advisors, EP Wealth unveil Nashville partnerships

Mercer Advisors and EP Wealth have officially fired their opening shots in their 2025 organic growth strategy.

On Tuesday, Mercer Global Advisors announced that it has acquired Financial Partners Group, a Tennessee-based RIA overseeing $660 million in client assets, as it continues expanding in the Southeast.

Aside from pushing it closer to the $70 billion AUM mark, the deal strengthens Mercer Advisors’ presence in the Nashville metropolitan area and integrates Financial Partners Group’s wealth management and retirement planning services into its national platform.

Financial Partners Group, headquartered in Gallatin, Tennessee, serves a client base ranging from mass affluent individuals to ultra-high-net-worth families. Led by founding partners Bo Bowling and Scott Paschal, the firm specializes in retirement planning, distribution strategies, and wealth transfer.

“At Financial Partners, our goal has always been to stand for our clients as their most trusted advisor, combining professional expertise with integrity and personalized service,” Bowling said in a statement Tuesday. “In joining Mercer Advisors, we strengthen our ability to provide the quality guidance our clients expect.”

By merging with Mercer Advisors, Financial Partners Group gains access to expanded investment management resources, estate and tax planning specialists, and operational support. The acquisition also provides growth opportunities for the firm’s next-generation advisors.

“This partnership enhances our ability to offer even more comprehensive solutions, helping our clients navigate their financial futures with confidence,” Paschal said.

“Bo and Scott have cultivated a highly respected practice, committed to delivering high-quality advice,” said Martine Lellis, principal and M&A partner development lead at Mercer Advisors. “We believe deeply in their client-centric approach and focus on long-term success.”

Last year, Mercer Advisors onboarded 11 firms onto its platform, including its November double-deal adding Chapel & Collins and Waypoint Capital Advisors. Earlier in October, it snapped up Kades & Cheifetz, a Pennsylvania-based firm serving high-net-worth clients. It expects a busier M&A pipeline this year with 40 targets in various stages of development.

Meanwhile, EP Wealth announced its own partnership in Nashville as the fee-only RIA with $31 billion in assets snapped up Criterion Capital Advisors.

With over $500 million in AUM, Criterion is led by co-founder Allan Horner and partners Mark Pierce and Scott Freeman. Apart from being EP wealth's first partnership in 2025, it also marks the national RIA's first office in Tennessee.

“At EP Wealth, our growth is fueled by partnering with entrepreneurs across the country who share our values and are looking to leverage additional resources to deliver outstanding experiences to their clients,” CEO Ryan Parker said Tuesday. "Through our combined efforts, we are well positioned to serve even more families in the Southeast.”

The Criterion team represents a crucial speartip in EP Wealth's expansion strategy in Nashville as they continue to offer tailored tax, financial planning, and investment services.

“We have grown our business by focusing on putting the client’s best interest first. In EP Wealth, they share that value," Horner said. "We’re excited to be part of EP to both potentially expand our breadth of services and provide deeper partnerships.”