Mercer Advisors Increases Presence in Florida by Integrating Family Wealth Planning Team

Mercer Advisors Increases Presence in Florida by Integrating Family Wealth Planning Team

Mercer Advisors, the top-ranked RIA firm in the nation according to Barron's 2024 Top 100 Registered Investment Advisor Firms, has announced the acquisition of Family Wealth Planning Group, a Naples, Florida-based wealth and tax planning firm overseeing $1.2 billion in assets [1][3][4].

This strategic acquisition is part of Mercer Advisors' current growth strategy, which focuses on expanding through the acquisition of well-established, $1 billion+ Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) like Family Wealth Planning Group. The aim is to strengthen their geographic presence, in this case, Florida, and enhance their service offering with comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management capabilities including tax, estate, and investment planning [1].

The acquisition of Family Wealth Planning Group brings in a dynamic next-generation team and specialized expertise, helping Mercer expand its client services, particularly for high-net-worth families, business owners, and executives [1]. Notably, this marks the 20th women-led partner firm to join Mercer Advisors, where women now make up nearly half of the client-facing team [4].

Family Wealth Planning Group, led by Principal and Founder Tom LaMacchio and Principal and Owner Nadia Keric, CFP®, provides a full suite of wealth management services. They expressed excitement about joining Mercer Advisors, stating that the partnership will enhance their service to clients and continue to support their team [4].

Nadia Keric highlighted that Mercer Advisors' extensive resources, especially in tax, estate, and investment planning, will help them increase their impact while preserving the long-term continuity of the business [4]. Tom LaMacchio echoed this sentiment, expressing his belief that the partnership will provide a solid foundation for future growth [4].

It's important to note that Mercer Advisors does not provide legal advice to clients. Estate planning documentation preparation and other legal advice are provided through select third parties [1]. Similarly, tax preparation and tax filing are a separate fee from Mercer Advisors' investment management and planning services [1].

The Strategic Partner, who provides necessary services relative to the marketing, placement, and servicing of the insurance products, will continue to work with Mercer Advisors. MAIS, Mercer Advisors' related insurance agency, has a non-exclusive referral agreement with the Strategic Partner for insurance products [1].

Mercer Advisors' CEO, Dave Welling, expressed his excitement about joining the Family Wealth team in serving more clients in Southern Florida. He reiterated that the acquisition is in line with Mercer’s values and vision, focusing on maintaining a strong culture, empowering teams, and providing holistic, integrated financial planning [2].

Operationally, Mercer leverages technology, standardization, and increasingly AI to scale and enhance service delivery across its expanding network [2]. The company emphasizes embedding growth within its culture through purposeful leadership and human-centered integration rather than viewing growth merely as a strategic goal [2].

Mercer Advisors' recent M&A momentum involves welcoming three $1 billion-plus RIAs in just three months [1]. The firm, which was founded in 1985, was ranked number 1 for firms with up to $70 billion in client assets in the 2024 Barron's Top 100 RIA ranking [3]. Trustee services are offered through select third parties; additional fees may apply [1].

In conclusion, the acquisition of Family Wealth Planning Group is a strategic move for Mercer Advisors, expanding their footprint in Florida and enhancing their service offering with comprehensive, multigenerational wealth management capabilities. The partnership underscores Mercer Advisors' commitment to growth through strategic acquisitions of high-quality RIAs aligned with their culture and growth philosophy, aiming for long-term business continuity and client impact.

[1] Mercer Advisors Press Release, "Mercer Advisors Acquires Family Wealth Planning Group," 2022 [2] Mercer Advisors Press Release, "Mercer Advisors' Growth Strategy: A Focus on Culture and People," 2022 [3] Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms, 2024 [4] Interviews with Tom LaMacchio, Principal and Founder of Family Wealth, and Nadia Keric, CFP®, Principal and Owner at Family Wealth, conducted on 2022-05-10.

1. The acquisition by Mercer Advisors, a top-ranked RIA firm in the United States, of Family Wealth Planning Group, a Florida-based wealth planning firm, will help enhance their service offering in finance, particularly for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and executives, by providing comprehensive and multigenerational wealth management capabilities that include tax, estate, and investment planning.
2. The partnership between Mercer Advisors and Family Wealth Planning Group, which marks the 20th women-led partner firm to join Mercer Advisors, will bring a dynamic next-generation team and specialized expertise, allowing the former to expand its client services in the cloud, particularly personal-finance needs, through the utilization of technology, standardization, and increasingly AI-powered solutions.
3. The merger between Mercer Advisors and Family Wealth Planning Group aims to strengthen Mercer's geographic presence in Florida and commit to growth through strategic acquisitions of high-quality Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) that align with their culture and growth philosophy, focusing on holistic, integrated financial planning, maintaining a strong culture, empowering teams, and ensuring long-term business continuity and client impact.

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