By Kenneth Corbin

Mercer Advisors, a large registered investment advisory firm in Denver, is expanding its presence in south Florida with the acquisition of Family Wealth Planning Group, an independent wealth management business previously affiliated with Raymond James that oversees $1.2 billion in client assets. The deal, which closed Thursday, gives Mercer nine advisors and support staff in a wealthy market and figures to expand its tax-planning reach.

Included in the move is the addition of Family Wealth's affiliated tax advisory practice, Family Wealth Tax Advisory.

Family Wealth operated as an independent contractor to Raymond James, which offers both 1099 and employee channels to advisors. Raymond James didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the team's departure.

Mercer figures to help Family Wealth enhance its service model, according to Nadia Keric, a Certified Financial Planner and principal at the practice.

"Mercer Advisors' extensive resources, especially in tax, estate, and investment planning, will help us increase our impact while preserving the long-term continuity of the business," she says.

Family Wealth serves about 200 mostly high-net-worth families, offering services such as next-generation education and estate planning, with a core financial plan at the heart of the client relationship.

"[O]ur firm is built on being proactive, providing holistic solutions through a financial plan, and empowering families to act in their long-term best interest," said Tom LaMacchio, principal and founder of the practice.

The addition of Family Wealth marks Mercer's third deal involving an advisory practice with $1 billion or more of client assets in the past three months, following the acquisitions of Full Sail Capital ($2 billion) and O'Brien Wealth Partners ($1.1 billion).

The latest acquisition is Mercer's ninth of the year, with several more to come.

"We expect 2025 to be one of our biggest years yet for M&A," a spokesman says. "We have a robust pipeline and expect to sustain our current momentum, with plans to onboard 15 to 20 partner firms this year."

Mercer CEO Dave Welling praised Family Wealth's principals for the holistic service model they have developed, including the focus on working with multiple generations within a family.

"When we first met with Tom and Nadia, we saw a passion for client service like our own," he says. "Their dedication to personalized, multigenerational wealth management also aligns with evolving client needs that we see across the country and prominently in Florida."

This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 01, 2025 13:28 ET (17:28 GMT)

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