Carson Group has broadened its Atlanta presence with the addition of Yari Capital, a $405 million advisory practice that previously operated under Northwestern Mutual. The move, announced Thursday, comes just days after the Omaha-based firm hired a veteran recruiter from Osaic to accelerate its independent-channel growth.
Yari Capital is led by founder and senior wealth advisor Kurt Mattson, a certified financial planner who launched the practice in 1995. The team also includes Olivia Payne, a CFP and director of financial planning, along with three support staff members. The practice serves executives, physicians, attorneys, business owners and other high-earning professionals, with a planning-first approach that integrates cash flow, tax, retirement, investment and estate planning.
Mattson, who had been registered with Northwestern Mutual since 1997 according to his BrokerCheck record, said his business model has always centered on fiduciary advice. "I've always believed that my responsibility is to help clients make decisions based solely on what's in their best interest," he said in a statement.
The addition is part of Carson's broader strategy to attract independent-minded advisors. Gregg Johnson, Carson's national sales director, said Mattson's three decades of experience align with the firm's values. "Kurt Mattson has spent more than three decades building a business around trust, planning and doing what's right for clients," Johnson said. "That's exactly the kind of advisor who thrives at Carson."
Mattson said he chose Carson after speaking with other advisors who had gone through the affiliation process. He described the move as a way to expand resources for clients while maintaining the independence he built his practice around. "As our firm continued to grow, I wanted an independent partner that would allow us to stay true to that philosophy while giving us access to best-in-class technology, advanced planning expertise and a community of advisors committed to putting clients first," he said.
The Yari Capital addition follows Carson's recent hire of Kevin Peterson, a nearly three-decade veteran of advisor recruiting from Osaic, as senior vice president of business development. Peterson's arrival is expected to bolster Carson's efforts to recruit more advisors into its independent channel, which has been a key growth driver for the firm.
Carson Group, which oversees approximately $62 billion in client assets, has been actively expanding its network of affiliated advisors. The firm's independent channel offers technology, compliance, and back-office support while allowing advisors to maintain their own brand and client relationships. This model has attracted a growing number of advisors seeking to break away from traditional wirehouses or insurance-based platforms.
The Atlanta market has been a focal point for several firms recently. For example, MAI Capital's acquisition of Waypoint Wealth Counsel marked its entry into the city, while Stevens Capital Partners' acquisition of a Dallas tax practice shows the broader trend of consolidation. Carson's addition of Yari Capital underscores the competitive landscape for top advisory talent in the Southeast.
As Carson continues to build momentum, the firm is likely to pursue further hires and acquisitions. The combination of Peterson's recruiting expertise and the addition of established practices like Yari Capital positions Carson to compete aggressively for advisors who value independence but seek the resources of a larger platform.
