Mercer Global acquires woman-owned $250 million planning firm

Mercer Global acquires woman-owned $250 million planning firm
Starks Financial Group, which was founded in 1999, is based in Asheville, North Carolina.
JUL 06, 2022

Mercer Global Advisors, a Denver-based registered investment advisory managing $38 billion, has acquired Starks Financial Group, an Asheville, North Carolina-based planning and wealth management firm managing approximately $250 million.

The eponymous firm was founded in 1999 by Dawn Starks. She said that the acquisition was part of a succession plan she and partner Jennifer Adams developed.

Starks Financial is a women-owned and operated firm that "not only serves the interests of women, but those of same sex partners, along with others seeking our brand of deep financial planning, Starks said in a press release Wednesday.

"Dawn and Jennifer have built a great business and a strong team," Dave Welling, chief executive officer of Mercer Advisors, said. "As a women founded, owned, and led firm, they will join with the nine other women-led firms who have chosen Mercer Advisors as their new home and add to the ranks of our advisory team which is already over 50% women."

Adviser keys to post-pandemic success: Fighting inflation, personal touch

Latest News

Texas man says SEC and fund could make him pay twice
Texas man says SEC and fund could make him pay twice

A $141M judgment and a federal asset freeze collide over one shrinking pool

Osaic executives Kristy Britt and Greg Cornick to leave
Osaic executives Kristy Britt and Greg Cornick to leave

The firm's CFO and EVP of Wealth Management Solutions are the latest executives to exit the broker-dealer.

Estate planning becomes a client retention issue for financial advisors, survey finds
Estate planning becomes a client retention issue for financial advisors, survey finds

Clients are saying they would consider switching advisors if another professional offered estate planning services, according to a new Trust & Will survey.

Candidly adds AI agents for Trump Accounts, workplace benefits
Candidly adds AI agents for Trump Accounts, workplace benefits

CEO Laurel Taylor says the fintech's composable AI stack helps workers optimize dollars across Trump Accounts, 529s, 401(k)s, and other employee benefits.

BMO adds three advisors in Dallas amid Y'all Street wealth boom
BMO adds three advisors in Dallas amid Y'all Street wealth boom

The bank has swiped three private banking veterans from BNY as the city climbs the ranks of America's fastest-growing wealth hubs.

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

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

SPONSORED Why direct indexing stopped being optional

Direct indexing is on pace to outgrow ETFs and mutual funds. Northern Trust's Ken Lassner explains why the advisors who get it wish they had started sooner.