Carson Group has completed its acquisition of Pinnacle Wealth Management, a Roseville, California-based advisory practice overseeing approximately $236 million in client assets. The deal, announced Thursday, brings managing partners Jack Zboralske and Kenyon Lederer, along with advisor Chase Lederer and two support staff, into the Carson Wealth brand. The team will continue operating out of Carson's existing Roseville office, strengthening the firm's presence in Northern California's Sacramento-area market.
The acquisition comes just two days after Carson absorbed a Northern Kentucky advisory office managing roughly $201 million in assets, reflecting a strategy of converting independent partner offices into fully integrated Carson Wealth locations. Carson CEO Burt White said the deal combines the strengths of a local practice with the firm's national platform, offering scale, resources and planning capabilities. Zboralske cited the quality of Carson's people and culture as key factors, while Kenyon Lederer highlighted the firm's infrastructure, including planning resources and technology.
Pinnacle's client base is concentrated in retirement, telecommunications and healthcare planning. The addition deepens Carson's footprint in California, following earlier expansions in Colorado, Utah and Arizona this spring. Carson now manages more than $60 billion in assets across a network exceeding 165 partner offices, including more than 50 fully owned Carson Wealth locations, serving over 60,000 client families.
The deal is part of a broader industry trend. According to Echelon Partners' first-quarter 2026 RIA M&A Deal Report, Carson ranked among the most active acquirers, ahead of Beacon Pointe and Cerity Partners, with eight deals and roughly $2.7 billion in acquired assets. RIAs accounted for 106 of the 142 total transactions industrywide in the first quarter, a new quarterly record, as buyers prioritize integrated service platforms over simple asset accumulation.
If the current pace holds, 2026 would become the most active year on record for RIA M&A. Carson is on track to surpass its 2025 run of 15 deals, fueled in part by recapitalizations from private equity backers. Carson itself received PE backing from Bain Capital in 2021. The firm's recent activity includes a $270 million Colorado practice acquisition earlier this year.
Industry observers note that the M&A frenzy is driven by firms seeking scale to invest in technology and compliance, as well as succession planning for aging advisors. The Pinnacle deal underscores how larger platforms are absorbing smaller practices to offer broader services while maintaining local client relationships.
