Carson Group, the Omaha, Nebraska-based registered investment advisor, has deepened its foothold in Colorado with the acquisition of a veteran-led practice in Arvada. The deal, announced Tuesday, brings in managing partner and wealth advisor Ted Swenson, who oversees approximately $270 million in advisory and brokerage assets. The transaction adds to Carson Wealth's network of fully integrated offices, now totaling 47 locations.
Swenson's practice becomes the third Colorado-based firm to join Carson since mid-2025. In June, the firm acquired Wambolt & Associates, a Littleton-based practice managing roughly $570 million, followed by the July acquisition of Aveo Capital in Englewood, which had close to $608 million under management. These moves underscore Carson's strategy of deepening its presence in the Rocky Mountain region through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Swenson, who entered financial services in 1998 after earning an accounting degree and passing the Certified Public Accountant exam, has built a multigenerational client base centered on retirement planning, tax strategy, estate planning, and investment management. He had been working alongside Carson since 2018, participating in the firm's coaching programs before transitioning to a fully integrated office. Swenson cited Carson's planning depth, particularly in tax strategy, as the deciding factor in joining fully. “I believe Carson gives me the best opportunity to be the best advisor I can be,” he said.
Burt White, who joined Carson Group from LPL Financial in 2022 and succeeded founder Ron Carson as CEO in 2024, framed the deal as evidence of a model built on long-term relationships rather than one-off transactions. “Ted's spent years working alongside Carson, leveraging our resources and support while building a thriving business,” White said. He added that advisors today need more than investment solutions, requiring advanced planning capabilities, innovative technology, operational support, and a partner committed to helping them grow.
Last month, Carson Group rolled out a new estate planning capability aimed at helping advisors turn generational wealth transfers into a source of client retention. The initiative pairs education and a dedicated Advanced Planning Team with access to vetted outside specialists. Dani Fava, Carson's chief strategy officer, said the initiative responds to a wealth transfer that is reshaping how advisors retain multigenerational relationships. “Estate planning has become a critical part of how advisors retain relationships,” Fava said in a statement at the time.
Carson Group, which took on Bain Capital as a strategic minority investment partner in 2021, now manages more than $60 billion in assets across a network exceeding 165 partner offices and 60,000 client families, according to the company. The firm's network includes more than 50 fully owned Carson Wealth locations. The Swenson acquisition adds to that tally, bringing the total number of fully integrated offices to 47.
The deal reflects a broader trend of RIAs expanding through acquisitions, particularly in high-growth markets like Colorado. Other recent moves include Cetera's acquisition of Marmo Financial Group in Tennessee and Dynasty Financial Partners' purchase of Optima Group to launch a consulting division. As the wealth management industry consolidates, firms like Carson are leveraging their scale and resources to attract advisors seeking advanced capabilities and operational support.
