The Onyx Advisor Network was founded by Berknell Financial Group founder Dasarte Yarnway and Gen Next Wealth founder and CEO Emlen Miles-Mattingly, who hope the platform will offer advisors community, compliance and custodial services.

During a year when ever-larger RIAs are being acquired, Hightower says it reached a deal with 6 Meridian, a $1.8 billion AUM firm in Wichita, Kan.

'This gives us an opportunity to provide wealth management services to what may be around 1 million participants in 401(k) plans all over the country,' Mallouk says.

Credit Suisse also appointed investment bank chief Christian Meissner to run the Americas.

The New Orleans-based broker-dealer and RIA will come onboard as an office of supervisory jurisdiction and retain its brand when joining with the Dallas-based Prospera.

FNZ's infrastructure is used by more than 150 banks, asset managers and life insurers to oversee more than $1.5 trillion in assets.