By Kenneth Corbin

Mercer Advisors, a prominent registered investment advisory firm based in Denver, has acquired Beach Freeman Lim & Cleland, a tax and accounting practice in Southern California. The deal closed Oct. 31.

Mercer, which oversees more than $90 billion in client assets, is a frequent acquirer of other RIAs, but this is its first acquisition of a dedicated tax operation, signifying the growing emphasis that advisors serving wealthy clients are placing on services outside core wealth management.

"This partnership reflects our strategic focus on tax as a cornerstone of our family office set of services," says Jeremiah Barlow, Mercer's chief solutions officer, who notes that the firm's founder, Kendrick Mercer, was a tax and estate lawyer. "Tax professionals have long played a core role in our family office delivery, and we are thrilled to add the BFLC team to deliver a local family office experience in Southern California communities that we serve."

A Mercer representative declined to comment on whether more purchases of specialty providers such as BFLC are on the road map but says the firm expects to close "several" more RIA acquisitions before the end of the year.

BFLC has a staff of 20 tax professionals working in offices in El Segundo, Irvine, and Ontario, Calif. The firm provides tax, accounting, and business-advisory services to more than 500 individuals and companies in a range of industries, including healthcare, law, and professional sports.

"We've built lasting relationships by delivering the personalized attention of a large, local firm, grounded in a deep understanding of our clients' unique needs," says BLFC managing partner Doug Beach.

Mercer fields a large tax practice with more than 120 professionals around the country who help clients with tax planning and preparation.

Mercer President Daniel Gourvitch says BFLC's "strong client relationships and Southern California presence make them a valuable addition to Mercer Advisors as we scale our tax services in key markets."

"BFLC is a 'first-call' professional services firm that has developed strong partnerships with clients to support them on their entrepreneurial journeys," he says. "Most importantly, their culture of partnership and investing in CPA talent very much mirrors our own."

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November 12, 2025 13:57 ET (18:57 GMT)

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