Why are RIA M&A Deals Accelerating in 2025?

RIA M&A is off to a record-breaking start this year.

In just the first quarter, deal activity reached unprecedented levels, reflecting continued momentum from last year and underscoring the industry’s strong fundamentals.

What’s driving this surge?

• Growth ambitions are overtaking succession as the top deal driver.
  More RIA owners are pursuing transactions to access resources and scale for future growth, rather than purely to plan for retirement or gain liquidity.
• Mid-sized firms are leading the way.
  RIAs managing between $1B and $5B in assets are increasingly active in the market, pushing average seller AUM to new highs and reshaping competitive dynamics.
• Private equity-backed buyers remain dominant.
  These firms continue to deploy capital aggressively, leveraging institutional support to consolidate and build national platforms.

Combine these trends with aging ownership, rising compliance complexity, and the need for tech-enabled client experiences – and it’s clear why 2025 is shaping up to be another defining year for RIA M&A.

Is your firm ready to capitalize on this market or address succession proactively?

Let’s connect to discuss what these trends mean for your strategic options this year.

📄 Want to learn more? Read Colonnade’s recent RIA report.