The first week of June saw a flurry of advisor movement, with Carson Group, Cresset, and Sanctuary Wealth all announcing notable additions. Carson Group added a $1.1 billion practice from Osaic, Cresset hired a $1 billion advisor from JPMorgan, and Sanctuary supported a Merrill Lynch breakaway launching his own independent RIA.
Carson Group Adds $1.1B Florida Team from Osaic
Omaha-based Carson Group, which oversees more than $58 billion in client assets, has added Jackson Wealth Management as its 46th integrated office. The Lake Mary, Florida-based practice, with over $1.1 billion in client assets, transitioned from Osaic.
Founded more than three decades ago by veteran advisor George P. Jackson, the firm operates a family office model serving high-net-worth individuals and families. The team includes advisors Michael McGahan and Yulia Dance, along with support staff. Jackson was affiliated with Osaic from 2024 to 2026, according to his FINRA BrokerCheck record, and previously spent over 15 years at Raymond James.
“George has built a highly respected independent advisory firm and earned the trust of his clients through a disciplined, relationship-driven approach to planning, which makes this team an ideal fit for the Carson Wealth community,” said Burt White, CEO of Carson Group. Michael Belluomini, Carson Group’s senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions, noted that Jackson Wealth exemplifies the type of firm the platform targets: “established, high-integrity and deeply committed to client outcomes.”
The addition follows Carson’s recent acquisition of Meikle Financial Group in Phoenix and the rollout of a dedicated estate planning capability. The RIA space continues to see consolidation, as highlighted by Wealth Enhancement and Steward Partners staking new ground in California and Florida.
Cresset Hires $1B JPMorgan Veteran in Denver
Cresset, the Chicago-based multi-family office and RIA, has hired Ali Bathgate Hild as a managing director in its Denver office. Hild arrives from J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she spent 14 years advising clients across Denver, New York, and Greenwich offices. She oversaw approximately $1 billion in assets under advisement and was recognized as a member of the Morgan Circle, an internal designation for the top 52 advisors in the U.S. Private Bank.
Hild specializes in serving entrepreneurs and business owners navigating liquidity events, complex wealth transitions, and multi-generational planning—a focus that aligns with Cresset’s ultra-high-net-worth client base. “Cresset was built by clients, for clients, with alignment at the center of everything we do,” said Susie Cranston, CEO of Cresset. “Ali’s experience advising entrepreneurs through complex transitions reflects the kind of leadership we value.”
A Colorado native, Hild joins Cresset on the heels of Managing Director and Wealth Advisor Mark Ostroff, who came from Evoke Advisors to lead Cresset’s regional buildout in New York. The firm’s independent model continues to attract advisors from major institutions seeking greater flexibility.
Merrill Lynch Alum Launches Valen Private Capital with Sanctuary
Indianapolis-based hybrid RIA Sanctuary Wealth has welcomed Valen Private Capital as a new partner firm. The practice was founded by John Durham, a former Merrill Lynch advisor in Philadelphia with over 25 years of experience. Durham managed $477 million in total assets at Merrill, where he served a concentrated group of ultra-high-net-worth families.
Durham holds a Juris Doctor from Delaware Law School and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law, along with an estate planning certificate. Valen Private Capital focuses on investment management, planning coordination, and a high-touch, multi-generational advisory approach. Joining Durham are Benjamin Durham, formerly a wealth management specialist at Merrill Lynch in New York, who becomes partner and director of financial planning, and Lisa Downey, Durham’s longtime assistant.
“As I evaluated independence, I wanted a partner that would allow me to build Valen Private Capital around my clients – not force my clients into someone else’s model,” Durham said, citing Sanctuary’s “combination of flexibility, experienced support and UHNW resources.” Vince Fertitta, president of wealth management at Sanctuary Wealth, said Durham’s decision reflects a broader adviser demand for platforms with ultra-high-net-worth capabilities and the latitude to define their own service models.
The moves come amid a competitive landscape for advisor talent, with firms like LPL and Osaic capturing a $1.4B advisor team in a dual breakaway from Raymond James and Osaic, Raymond James, and LPL recruiting advisors managing nearly $1B in client assets.
