Cetera Holdings Acquires Avantax

Avantax Acquires GA Investment Management

May 20, 2024

Wealth Management

Avantax has acquired Pennsylvania-based GA Investment Management, onboarding $400 million of GA client assets to its platform and converting 10 GA employees to Avantax W-2 employees. The GA partners selected Avantax as part of a succession plan because of aligned tax-focused planning, in-house asset management, eMoney compatibility, and access to Avantax's network for future advisor growth.

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 Financial Group Acquires Darnall Sikes Wealth Partners' Wealth Management Business

January 22, 2026

Financial Services

Cetera Financial Group has acquired the wealth management business of Darnall Sikes Wealth Partners, adding approximately $1.9 billion in client assets to its RIA model. The Darnall Sikes team — based in Louisiana with four locations and clients across more than 40 states — will join Avantax Planning Partners within Cetera's RIA channel, providing succession solutions for the firm's advisors and expanding Cetera's advisor network and AUM.

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.

Cetera Financial Group Acquires BAR Financial LLC

January 13, 2021

Financial Services

Cetera Financial Group has acquired BAR Financial LLC, a financial services firm comprising nearly 300 independent financial professionals, 25 employees, and about $4 billion in AUM. BAR will transition to a Cetera-owned, region-managed group while retaining brand autonomy; BAR's founding partners will serve as Regional Directors for three years to ensure a smooth succession.