&Partners, a St. Louis-based hybrid broker/dealer launched by David Kowach, the former president and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors, has added an eight-person team in Charlottesville, Va. with $950 million in pre-hire assets under management.
Bay Ridge Private Wealth joins from Wells Fargo Advisors. The team is led by Jon Chasen, partner and managing director; Patrick Carroll, partner and director; John Smith, partner and director; and Crystal Martin, partner and director of practice management. They’re joined by Noah Ellis, private wealth advisor; Shelley Bishop, private wealth consultant; Heather Nadeau, client experience manager; and Miyanna Bell, marketing manager.
Bay Ridge represents the sixth practice to join &Partners this year. This follows the addition last month of Four Lights Advisors, a Leesville, S.C. practice with about $125 million in pre-hire assets, from Ameriprise. The b/d also recruited La Belle Vue Wealth Management, bringing about $125 million in pre-hire assets from Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, the firm’s independent contractor unit.
&Partners has had much success recruiting advisors from Wells Fargo, Kowach’s former employer. Kowach co-founded &Partners in 2023 along with Kristi Mitchem, one of Wealth Management’s Ten to Watch in 2026, and John Alexander.
The firm now has 111 advisor practices, representing about $52 billion in pre-hire assets.
Mariner Acquires P&C Insurance Provider
Mariner, an Overland Park, Kan.-based registered investment advisor with more than $600 billion in assets under advisement and management, has acquired Cowell Insurance Services, a property and casualty insurance provider also in Overland Park. The transaction adds the 18-person team’s business and individual risk advisory solutions to the Mariner ecosystem.
Founded in 2009 by Lance Cowell, CIS brings experience in commercial and personal property and casualty coverage, underwriting strategy, claims advocacy and risk management. The acquisition strengthens Mariner’s ability to provide insurance capabilities to businesses and individuals.
“As we continue to grow, our focus is on building a firm that can truly meet clients wherever their needs take them,” said Marty Bicknell, president and CEO of Mariner, in a statement. “Property and casualty is a natural extension of the work we already do—helping those we serve protect what they’ve worked so hard to build.”
CIS will operate under the Mariner brand. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Arax’s Ashton Thomas Adds $460M RIA in Its Backyard
Ashton Thomas Private Wealth, a registered investment advisor acquired by Arax Investment Partners in 2023, has added Pinnacle Peak Private Client Group, a Scottsdale-based RIA with $460 million in AUM. The deal adds six team members to Scottsdale-based Ashton Thomas and expands its presence in the Southwest.
Pinnacle Peak will operate as the Pinnacle Peak Private Wealth Team within Ashton Thomas.
Brian Jack and Matt Figueroa join Ashton Thomas as directors and partners, while Ron Burns and Tyler Soria join as wealth advisors, and Teresa Flores and Shay Figueroa join in client services roles.
The acquisitive Arax Partners, a portfolio company of private equity firm RedBird Capital, owns Ashton Thomas.
Savant Closes Deal for $127M AUM Michigan RIA
Savant Wealth Management partnered with Grand Capital Advisors, an RIA with $127 million in AUM and an office in Grand Blanc, Mich. The deal, which closed Feb. 28, marks Savant’s third partnership in Michigan.
Founded in 2019 by Ken Duetsch II and Steve Schiestel, Grand Capital serves clients who are 50 and older or within 10 years of retirement. Duetsch, Schiestel and Andreas Shick will become member-owners in Savant, while Lori Amos, director of operations, becomes a Savant employee.
“We have been aware of Savant for many years, and felt this partnership fits on many levels, including investment philosophy, our Midwest values, and a focus on doing what’s best for the client,” Duetsch said in a statement.
The partnership provides Grand Capital clients with additional resources, including trust services and tax planning. Savant did not disclose financial terms of the deal.
“With a limited number of fee-only RIAs in the area near Grand Blanc, we are excited to partner with Grand Capital and provide comprehensive wealth management services to the Genesee County area and beyond,” said Brent Brodeski, founder and CEO of Savant, in a statement.
With Grand Capital and Massachusetts-based Heritage Financial added this week, Savant now operates 51 offices across 21 states.
Emigrant Launches Family Office Division With Latest Deal
Emigrant Bancorp, the parent company of Emigrant Partners, has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Fortis Management Group, a Boston-area family office services provider, coinciding with the launch of Emigrant Family Office, a new business unit. The acquisition brings Fortis’s 14-person team into Emigrant’s wealth management ecosystem, which already includes more than 100 professionals serving ultra-high-net-worth clients.
Fortis will seed Emigrant Family Office, a new unit designed to deliver family office capabilities to ultra-wealthy families and RIA seeking to move upmarket.
“For decades, we have built a broad set of specialized capabilities to serve the increasingly complex needs of wealthy families,” said Howard P. Milstein, chairman and CEO of Emigrant Bank and Emigrant Bancorp Inc., in a statement. “Emigrant Family Office brings these capabilities together into a single, coordinated platform—fulfilling a long-standing vision of providing families and their advisors with an integrated solution supported by exceptional talent across our organization.”
Fortis, founded and led by CEO Jay Goldfarb, specializes in financial reporting, cash management, family governance, and coordination across tax, trust and estate planning for ultra-high-net-worth families.
Mark Rogozinski, who joined Emigrant in 2025 as head of family office services, will serve as president of Emigrant Family Office, while Ken Eyler, who joined last year as managing director of family office services, has been appointed managing director of the new unit. Goldfarb will also serve as managing director once the deal closes in April 2026.
