RIA M&A is Following a Familiar Playbook

If the current wave of RIA consolidation feels familiar, it should.

We’ve seen this before—in insurance distribution.

Over the past two decades, private equity transformed a fragmented insurance landscape into a network of scaled, institutional platforms. Now, the same strategy is unfolding in the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) space:

• Fragmented market ripe for scale
• Recurring revenue + low capital intensity
• Strategic buyers armed with integration playbooks

Sponsor-backed RIAs are deploying capital to build national footprints, drive margin through shared services, and professionalize operations—just like the retail insurance roll-ups of the 2010s.

For founders, this means increased buyer sophistication, more deal structures, and a well-worn path to both liquidity and legacy.

The RIA industry is changing.

But the model? It’s proven.

📘 Download our whitepaper for a closer look at the trends shaping RIA M&A in 2025

💬 What lessons do you think RIAs can learn from the insurance roll-up boom?