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The Top 10 RIA Deals of 2015The Top 10 RIA Deals of 2015

Diana Britton, Managing Editor

December 30, 2015

10 Slides
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If there was one phrase to sum up 2015’s M&A activity in the RIA space, it would be “go big, or go home.” It has been the year of the “mega-deal”—those over $5 billion, according to David DeVoe, managing partner at DeVoe & Company, which tracks RIA deals.

In fact, the first half of 2015 saw a total of eight mega-deals, compared to one acquisition over $5 billion in the first half of 2014 and two deals over $5 billion during the same period in 2013.

DeVoe attributes the size of deals to the fact that large, well-financed acquirers are interested in the space. RIA firms and consolidators—defined as an organization whose business model is predicated on making RIA acquisitions—have dominated M&A over the last couple years. But lately private equity firms and banks are again buying RIA firms.

As the year comes to a close, we highlight some of the biggest RIA deals of the year, many of which are mega-deals.

About the Author

Diana Britton

Managing Editor, WealthManagement.com

Diana Britton is the Managing Editor of WealthManagement.com, covering covering independent broker/dealers and RIAs from all angles. She's also the host of The Healthy Advisor, a podcast focused on advisor health and wellbeing. A native of Los Angeles, she now lives in Rocklin, Calif.