Osaic has expanded its presence in the Midwest with the addition of IronGate Services, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based advisory firm that manages approximately $367 million in client assets. The team, which previously operated under Ameriprise Financial Services, has affiliated with Osaic through Carlson Advisor Networks, an office of supervisory jurisdiction (OSJ) within the firm's independent broker-dealer channel.
The move, announced Thursday, underscores the intensifying competition for experienced advisory teams across the wealth management industry. IronGate specializes in serving business owners, a client segment that has become a strategic priority for Osaic as it seeks to differentiate its platform.
IronGate is led by Chad Sarsfield, a veteran advisor whose career includes stints at Signator Investors, Royal Alliance, and most recently Ameriprise. He is joined by his son Coy Sarsfield, along with Brennan Dorighi and Jeff Netolicky. The team's multigenerational structure reflects a broader trend in the industry as older advisors bring younger partners into their practices.
Chad Sarsfield's regulatory record shows he was registered with Signator Investors in 2018, the same year that firm was acquired by Advisor Group—the predecessor to Osaic—from John Hancock Financial Services. Advisor Group later folded Signator into Royal Alliance, which was rebranded as Osaic Wealth in 2023. Sarsfield moved to Ameriprise in 2022 after four years with Royal Alliance.
In a statement, Sarsfield cited Osaic's independence, flexibility, and support as key reasons for the switch. "Osaic gives us access to the technology, investment capabilities and resources we need to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the first-class experience our clients expect," he said. The firm also highlighted Osaic's business coaching, consulting, and expanded operational resources as draws.
Erinn Ford, Osaic's executive vice president of advisor engagement, said the firm's entrepreneurial approach aligns with IronGate's growth ambitions. "Chad and the IronGate team have a clear vision for growing their business while staying focused on the clients and communities they serve," Ford said.
The recruitment comes as Osaic continues to bolster its offerings for advisors who cater to business owners. Last month, the firm deepened its partnership with RISR, a succession-planning platform, giving its roughly 11,000 affiliated advisors broader access to tools for valuing, transitioning, and protecting privately held companies. Jerry Schreck, senior vice president of advisor education and training, said at the time that demand for sophisticated business owner planning is growing, making such tools critical.
Osaic's recent moves are part of a wider wave of advisor transitions. In the past few months, two Wells Fargo teams with $580M jumped to Ameriprise and Janney, while Cetera added a $420M North Carolina team. The competition for talent has also drawn attention from industry executives, with some warning of unsustainable recruiting costs.
For Osaic, the addition of IronGate strengthens its foothold in Iowa and reinforces its focus on business-owner clients. The firm has been actively recruiting teams from rivals, including O'Reilly LLC, which left LPL for Osaic earlier this year. As the wealth management landscape consolidates, such moves are likely to continue.
