Pathstone snaps up Crestone Capital in $3B deal

Pathstone snaps up Crestone Capital in $3B deal
The employee-owned RIA will see its AUA balloon past $100 billion as it builds a 'true multi-generational family office experience.'
FEB 15, 2024

Pathstone has just unveiled a strategic acquisition that promises to cement its dominant position in the ultra-high-net-worth space.

The independent RIA, known for its investment advice and family office services, has announced a plan to acquire Boulder, Colorado-based wealth management firm Crestone Capital.

Established in 1991 by Eric Kramer, Crestone Capital has built a reputation for its tailored investment management and advisory services, catering to a select group of entrepreneurs, business owners, and their families with a combination of boutique, high-touch services and an institutional approach.

With offices in Colorado, Texas, and California, Crestone manages more than $3 billion in client assets and advises approximately 150 families, focusing primarily on serving first-generation entrepreneurs and wealth creators.

Pathstone, headquartered in Englewood, New Jersey, operates as a partner-owned advisory firm.

Once completed, the acquisition will significantly increase Pathstone's assets under advisement and administration, bringing the total to over $100 billion. It also expands Pathstone's national footprint, adding to its 20 offices across the United States and increasing its team to over 550 members, including more than 225 who own shares in the firm.

“From the very beginning, we admired Crestone’s culture and approach to working with sophisticated families," Matt Fleissig, CEO of Pathstone, said in a statement. Highlighting the firms’ shared focus on serving UNHW families, Fleissig underscored his commitment to “build a true multi-generational family office experience for our clients.”

“The rationale for this agreement is simple: we are a better firm, together,” said Kramer, CEO and managing partner of Crestone.

Once the acquisition is complete, Kramer will join Pathstone’s CEO council. Crestone President Matt Wiles, meanwhile, will be joining Pathstone’s regional leadership team.

Pathstone’s acquisition-driven strategy to conquer the UHNW space has actually been in motion since last year.

In July, it announced that it would snap up Veritable, a $17 billion multifamily office firm, from Affiliated Managers Group. Last May, it announced plans to acquire Brainard Capital Management, a Texas-based RIA firm with $2 billion in AUM.

Private equity up, hedge funds out for wealthy investors, says Tiger 21 founder

Latest News

Divorce Is When Financial Planning May Matter Most and Advisors Are Still Late to the Table
Divorce Is When Financial Planning May Matter Most and Advisors Are Still Late to the Table

Divorce is a financial inflection point, not just a legal one and wealth managers need to be part of the process from day one

IRA ownership climbs as rollovers drive retirement savings growth, ICI finds
IRA ownership climbs as rollovers drive retirement savings growth, ICI finds

Nearly three quarters of US households hold tax-advantaged retirement accounts as IRA assets reach $18 trillion.

Robinhood brings AI-powered Cortex to RIAs on TradePMR
Robinhood brings AI-powered Cortex to RIAs on TradePMR

Robinhood is adding Cortex for Advisors across TradePMR, bringing AI-powered portfolio analysis and tax insights to advisors, while executives say regulatory constraints still prevent AI from directly managing client assets.

The real challenge in retirement isn’t saving — it’s spending
The real challenge in retirement isn’t saving — it’s spending

As Americans transition from saving for retirement to spending in retirement, new research suggests sustainable income matters more than account balances.

Wellington Management strikes acquisition deal with Hartford Funds in $1.9B wealth push
Wellington Management strikes acquisition deal with Hartford Funds in $1.9B wealth push

The agreement marks the end of a four-decade sub-advisory partnership while giving Wellington a scaled distribution platform for financial advisors.

SPONSORED Estate planning isn't a service add-on. It's your retention strategy.

As $84 trillion prepares to change hands, advisors who treat estate planning as peripheral are quietly building a sieve, not a book.

SPONSORED Why strategy matters more than performance

In volatile markets, the advisors who win aren't the ones with the best calls - they're the ones whose clients stay the course.