Sell Your Business/Wealth Management/OhioLast updated: October 5, 2026

Sell Your Wealth Management Firm in Ohio

Quick Answer
RIAs and wealth management firms in Ohio typically sell for 6x-12x EBITDA, or 2.7x-7x SDE for smaller owner-operated RIAs and wealth management firms, per published ranges from Piper Sandler, Advisor Growth Strategies 2026 RIA Deal Room Report and others. The Census Bureau counts 788 investment advice firms in Ohio, ranking 7th of 50 states, and 84% of them have fewer than five employees. The largest groups buying RIAs and wealth management firms nationally include Wealth Enhancement Group (TA Associates and Onex), Creative Planning (Peter Mallouk, founder and CEO) and Mariner (Marty Bicknell, CEO and president). We have recorded two named wealth management acquisitions in Ohio, most recently NorthAvenue Financial Advocates by Mercer Advisors (Aug 2026).
6x-12x
typical EBITDA multiple (published ranges)
2.7x-7x
typical SDE multiple
788
establishments in Ohio (Census 2023)
84%
have fewer than 5 employees

Who is buying RIAs and wealth management firms in Ohio

Named wealth management acquisitions we have recorded in Ohio

  • NorthAvenue Financial Advocates, acquired by Mercer Advisors
    Private-equity-backed buyer · Announced Aug 2026 · Columbus, OH · Source ↗
  • MAI Capital Management, acquired by Carlyle
    Private-equity-backed buyer · Closed Jun 2026 · Cleveland, OH · Source ↗

Headquartered in Ohio: MAI Capital Management (Cleveland, OH) and Stratos Wealth Holdings (Beachwood, OH).

PlatformOwner / backerTypeHeadquartersScale
Wealth Enhancement GroupTA Associates and Onex (majority owners); Stone Point also an investorPrivate equityMinneapolis, MNMore than 194 offices (Aug 2026); $164.6 billion in client assets as of Aug 31, 2026, and more than $187.1 billion once the RWA deal closesSource ↗
Creative PlanningPeter Mallouk, founder and CEO (majority); General Atlantic (minority, 2020); TPG Capital (minority, 2024)Private equityOverland Park, KSAbout $780 billion in assets under management (Sep 2026)Source ↗
MarinerMarty Bicknell, CEO and president (majority control); Leonard Green & Partners (minority, 2021); Neuberger Berman Capital Solutions (minority, 2024)Private equityOverland Park, KSAbout $555 billion (Citywire headline, Apr 2026)Source ↗
CAPTRUSTManagers and employees (majority); GTCR and Carlyle (minority)Private equityRaleigh, NCMore than $1.2 trillion in assets under advisement and management (May 2026)Source ↗
Focus Financial PartnersClayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) and Stone Point Capital (took it private, closed Aug 31, 2023)Private equitySt. Louis, MOMore than $500 billion in advised assets across Focus firms as of Jan 1, 2026Source ↗
Hightower AdvisorsTHL (Thomas H. Lee Partners), lead investor since 2018Private equityChicago, IL$350 billion in assets, 663 advisors in 33 states (Sep 2025)Source ↗
CorientMubadala Capital, through CI Financial (take-private closed Aug 12, 2025)Private equityMiami, FLAbout $508 billion in client assets after completing two U.K. acquisitions (Jun 2026); the U.S. business alone had about $222 billion as of Mar 31, 2026Source ↗
Cerity PartnersGenstar Capital (majority, since 2022); employees and Lightyear Capital (minority)Private equityNew York, NYMore than $206 billion in client assets (Oct 2026)Source ↗
Mercer AdvisorsOak Hill Capital, Genstar Capital, Altas Partners and GIC (majority owners)Private equityDenver, COMore than 110 locations; $111 billion in client assets (Sep 2026 release)Source ↗
Merit Financial AdvisorsConstellation Wealth Capital (minority, Jul 2025)Private equityAtlanta, GAMore than 55 offices; approximately $30.1 billion in total client assets (as of Jul 20, 2026)Source ↗
Savant Wealth ManagementEmployees (largest shareholder); Cynosure Partners and Kelso & Company (about 30% combined); Hamilton Lane (funded a $270M continuation vehicle for part of Cynosure's stake, Jul 2026)Private equityRockford, ILMore than $57 billion (Sep 2026)Source ↗
Beacon Pointe AdvisorsKKR (holds a stake through KKR Polyphony Aggregator L.P.); otherwise independently ownedPrivate equityNewport Beach, CA90+ offices; approximately $62 billion in client assets under advisement (Feb 2026)Source ↗
EP Wealth AdvisorsBerkshire Partners and Ares Management (minority stakes); co-founders keep meaningful ownershipPrivate equityTorrance, CAMore than 54 offices across 19 states; nearly $40 billion AUM (as of Aug 31, 2025)Source ↗
Carson GroupFounder Omani Carson and employee shareholders (majority); Bain Capital (minority, 2021)Private equityOmaha, NEMore than $65 billion in assets under management; 50 integrated offices (Sep 2026)Source ↗
Modern Wealth ManagementCrestview Partners (provided $200 million at launch, 2023)Private equityMonterey, CATotal assets of more than $15 billion; 23 acquisitions since 2023 (Sep 2026)Source ↗
Allworth FinancialIntegrum Holdings, Lightyear Capital and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (co-led the Apr 2026 round); employee and advisor shareholders keep significant ownershipPrivate equityFolsom, CAMore than 40 offices; surpassed $40B AUM (Sep 2026)Source ↗
MAI Capital ManagementCarlyle (majority; closed Jun 4, 2026)Private equityCleveland, OHApproximately $77.3 billion in combined client assets (Jun 2026)Source ↗
Prime Capital FinancialFounders and about 160 advisor-owners; Carlyle Global Credit (minority, expected under 25%, Aug 2026)Private equityOverland Park, KS$45B+ AUM; 75+ offices (as of Aug 6, 2026)Source ↗
CW Advisors (Osaic)Osaic, a portfolio company of Reverence Capital Partners (bought from Audax; closed Aug 2025)Private equityBoston, MA23 offices; more than $16 billion in assets under management (Feb 2026)Source ↗
LPL FinancialPublicly traded (Nasdaq: LPLA)Strategic / publicSan Diego, CAOver 32,000 financial advisors; approximately $2.4 trillion in brokerage and advisory assets (Apr 2026)Source ↗
Stratos Wealth HoldingsSEI Investments Company (Nasdaq: SEIC), controlling stake (first stage closed Dec 3, 2025)Strategic / publicBeachwood, OHNot disclosedSource ↗
WealthspireMadison Dearborn Partners (bought from Aon/NFP; closed Oct 30, 2025)Private equityNew York, NYAbout $560 billion in client assets, mostly retirement plan assets (Sep 2025, at the deal)Source ↗
ChoreoParthenon Capital (lifted the firm out of RSM in 2022)Private equityChicago, ILAbout $28 billion (Citywire headline, Jul 2026)Source ↗

Ownership verified October 6, 2026. See every platform's recent deals in the Wealth Management roll-up tracker →

How many investment advice firms are in Ohio

The Census Bureau counted 788 investment advice firms in Ohio in 2023, ranking 7th of 50 states. 84% had fewer than five employees and 98% had fewer than 20. 4 had 50 or more.

EmployeesEstablishmentsShare
Fewer than 566184%
5 to 98911%
10 to 19233%
20 to 49111%
50 or more41%

This counts investment advice firms (NAICS 523930). Firms that file as portfolio managers (NAICS 523920) are counted separately and are not included.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 ↗ (NAICS 523930). An establishment is a single physical location, so an owner with three locations counts three times.

What a wealth management firm in Ohio is worth

RIAs and wealth management firms typically sell for 6x-12x EBITDA, or 2.7x-7x SDE for smaller owner-operated RIAs and wealth management firms, with most deals in the $130M - $2B in client assets (AUM) for most targets in this tracker; prices are rarely disclosed range. These are published industry ranges from Piper Sandler, Advisor Growth Strategies 2026 RIA Deal Room Report and others, not an appraisal of your firm.

What buyers pay more for

  • +Strong organic growth
  • +Scale (AUM size)
  • +Engaged next-generation team
  • +Client niche or specialty

What buyers discount

  • -Key-person and client-exit risk
  • -Flat or declining growth
  • -No next-generation pathway
  • -Layered investment products

How selling through DealSeam works

01

A confidential conversation

We learn about your firm and what you want from a sale. Nothing is listed publicly.

02

Introductions where there is a fit

Where a qualified buyer fits your firm, we introduce you, and only after you approve it.

03

You decide

You choose whether to go further, on your own timeline. Sellers pay nothing; the buyer pays our fee if a deal closes.

Selling a wealth management firm in Ohio: common questions

How much is a wealth management firm in Ohio worth?

RIAs and wealth management firms typically sell for 6x-12x EBITDA, or 2.7x-7x SDE for smaller owner-operated RIAs and wealth management firms, with most deals in the $130M - $2B in client assets (AUM) for most targets in this tracker; prices are rarely disclosed range. Buyers tend to pay more for strong organic growth, scale (aum size), engaged next-generation team and client niche or specialty, and less where they see key-person and client-exit risk, flat or declining growth, no next-generation pathway and layered investment products. These are industry-wide ranges from Piper Sandler, Advisor Growth Strategies 2026 RIA Deal Room Report and others, not an appraisal of your firm.

Who is buying RIAs and wealth management firms in Ohio?

Recent named deals in Ohio include NorthAvenue Financial Advocates (acquired by Mercer Advisors, Aug 2026) and MAI Capital Management (acquired by Carlyle, Jun 2026). Nationally, the largest groups consolidating RIAs and wealth management firms include Wealth Enhancement Group (TA Associates and Onex), Creative Planning (Peter Mallouk, founder and CEO) and Mariner (Marty Bicknell, CEO and president); 21 of the 23 platforms we track are private-equity-backed.

How many investment advice firms are there in Ohio?

The Census Bureau's County Business Patterns counted 788 investment advice firms in Ohio in 2023, ranking 7th of 50 states. 84% had fewer than five employees, 98% had fewer than 20, and 4 had 50 or more. This counts investment advice firms (NAICS 523930). Firms that file as portfolio managers (NAICS 523920) are counted separately and are not included.

Does it cost anything to sell through DealSeam?

No. Sellers pay nothing. When a deal closes, the buyer pays DealSeam's fee. There is no listing fee and no retainer.

Will my employees or customers find out I'm thinking about selling?

No. Nothing is listed publicly, and your details go to a buyer only after you approve that introduction.

Thinking about selling your wealth management firm?

DealSeam works confidentially with owners to understand their options and, where there's a fit, introduces them to qualified buyers, at no cost to sellers.

Talk to us about your Ohio firm

Tell us how to reach you and we'll start a confidential, no-obligation conversation.

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Sources

Valuation multiples are published ranges from Piper Sandler, 2024 Asset & Wealth Management Whitepaper (Mar 2025), Advisor Growth Strategies 2026 RIA Deal Room Report, via WealthManagement.com (Mar 25, 2026), Succession Resource Group 2025 Advisor M&A review, via Business Valuation Resources, First Page Sage, Financial Services EBITDA Multiples (last updated Dec 12, 2024); columns are $1-3M, $3-5M, $5-10M EBITDA, buyAUM, Recasted EBITDA vs. SDE for an RIA Valuation (Aug 7, 2026) and Peak Business Valuation, Valuation Multiples for a Wealth Management Firm. Establishment counts are from the U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 523930). Platform ownership comes from each platform's own or press sources, verified October 6, 2026. Named acquisitions are the deals we have recorded from public announcements, each linked to its source; they are not every deal in the state. Ownership in this sector changes often. None of this is investment, legal or tax advice.