Avantax Acquires GA Investment Management

Avantax Acquires Integrated Tax & Wealth Strategies’ $760M Wealth Management Business

May 5, 2024

Wealth Management

Avantax acquired the wealth management business of Integrated Tax & Wealth Strategies, which manages $760 million in client assets as of December 31, 2023. The founder, Brian Stephens, will continue with the tax practice while the wealth team joined Avantax as W-2 investment adviser representatives to deepen Avantax’s tax‑focused wealth management capabilities and expand AUM.

Cetera Holdings Acquires Avantax

November 27, 2023

Financial Services

Cetera Holdings (the holding company of Cetera Financial Group) completed the acquisition of Avantax, Inc. for $26.00 per share in cash, taking Avantax private. The deal adds Avantax's tax-focused wealth management capabilities — including 3,111 financial professionals and approximately $82.3 billion in assets under administration — to Cetera's advisor platform and strengthens its tax-centric offering and multi-custodial capabilities.

Avantax Adds S&P Financial Services and Noble Oak Financial Advisor Teams

July 31, 2024

Financial Services

Avantax (a community within Cetera Holdings) announced it has onboarded two advisory teams: S&P Financial Services (John Surace and Kelly Powers) from Osaic, bringing about $150 million in client assets, and Noble Oak Financial (Josh Linton, Mike Koltz and Danielle Boutwell) from LPL Financial, bringing about $300 million in client assets. The hires expand Avantax’s tax-focused wealth-management capabilities and overall assets under administration while positioning the firm to grow advisor headcount and client relationships in Long Island, New York and the Augusta, Georgia area.

Avantax Acquires SEP Financial Services from Stephen E. Plain

September 26, 2024

Financial Services

Avantax Inc. has acquired SEP Financial Services, the independent advisory practice founded by veteran CPA/advisor Stephen E. Plain, as part of Plain’s succession plan. Approximately $40 million in client assets and the practice will transition to Avantax Planning Partners to ensure continuity of tax‑intelligent financial planning and wealth management for clients.

Savant Wealth Management Acquires Capital Directions

February 22, 2023

Financial Services

Savant Wealth Management has acquired Atlanta-based Capital Directions, a registered investment adviser with approximately $3.3 billion in AUM and about 25 employees. The deal expands Savant's footprint (to 10 states and 26 offices) and strengthens its TAMP and retirement plan services; members of Capital Directions' ownership team will become significant equity owners in Savant.

Merit Financial Advisors Acquires Global Wealth Advisors

August 18, 2025

Wealth Management

Merit Financial Advisors, an Atlanta-based wealth management firm, acquired Global Wealth Advisors, adding approximately $860 million in client assets and six office locations. The transaction, finalized Aug. 18, 2025, expands Merit's footprint in Texas and bolsters its national advisory team as GWA advisors join Merit.