Financial Services Acquisitions in Florida

MPowered Capital has made a seed capital investment in A1A Investment Partners to accelerate A1A's healthcare-focused private credit platform. The partnership will provide capital and strategic support (via MPowered's GSP seeding strategy and MULTIPLIER PROGRAM) to help A1A scale its investment activity across the U.S. lower middle market.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (Commerce) has completed its acquisition of FineMark Holdings, Inc., the parent of FineMark National Bank & Trust. FineMark will operate as FineMark Bank & Trust, a division of Commerce Bank, expanding Commerce’s private banking and wealth management capabilities and adding locations in Florida, Arizona and South Carolina.

Bepensa Capital completed the sale of its U.S. lending business, FinBe USA (the U.S. operations of Bepensa Capital Inc.), to Generosity Lending Services, LLC, exiting the U.S. market to refocus resources on Mexico. The U.S. business — which operated across 32 states and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — will continue operations and maintain employee status; Scot Seagrave will remain/continue as Managing Director overseeing day-to-day operations.

Carnegie Investment Counsel, an independently owned RIA, has acquired Florida-based AHL Investment Management, a wealth management firm led by founder Rick Ahl with roughly $220 million in AUM. The two-person AHL team will fully integrate into Carnegie to deepen the firm's presence in the Florida market and expand its national client service capabilities.

US Capital Global has acquired Miami-based TC Capital Advisors LLC and appointed TC Capital's founder Jullion Taylor as a Partner and Managing Director. The acquisition supports the launch of US Capital Global's Micro-Cap Program and expands its broker network and small/family-owned business financing capabilities.

Fiserv, a global provider of payments and financial technology, has acquired Smith Consulting Group (SCG), a U.S. banking and credit-union consulting firm that supports core conversions and implementations. The acquisition brings in-market consulting expertise to Fiserv to enhance its advisory and core transformation services for community banks and credit unions; financial terms were not disclosed.

Daybright Financial has acquired Clearwater-based retirement plan administrator The Platinum 401k, Inc., strengthening Daybright's MEP/PEP and ERISA 3(16) capabilities. The deal expands Daybright's private sector retirement solutions and scales The Platinum 401k's retirement plan administration offerings across PEO and MEP/PEP segments.

Merit Financial Advisors acquired a specialized first-responders focused advisory team from Second Half Financial Partners, LLC, adding $225 million in client assets and establishing Merit's fifth Florida office in Sebring. The deal, finalized August 6, 2025, brings the team's lead advisor Mike Fitch into Merit as a Wealth Manager and Partner to expand the firm's presence and service offering for firefighters, law enforcement and other first responders across Florida.

BitBridge Capital Strategies completed a merger with Green Mountain Merger Inc., enabling BitBridge to begin trading on the OTC market under the ticker BTTL and pursue an eventual NASDAQ uplisting. The transaction positions BitBridge as a pure-play Bitcoin treasury company focused on accumulating Bitcoin reserves and launching consumer-facing Bitcoin lending products.

Mercer Global Advisors (Mercer Advisors) has acquired Family Wealth Planning Group and its affiliate Family Wealth Tax Advisory, a Naples, Florida-based wealth and tax planning firm overseeing approximately $1.2 billion in client assets. The deal expands Mercer’s presence in Southern Florida and adds wealth, tax and estate planning capabilities while retaining the nine-member Family Wealth team.

Polymarket has acquired the holding company of QCEX — the operator of a CFTC-licensed derivatives exchange (QCX, LLC) and clearinghouse (QC Clearing LLC) — for $112 million. The deal enables Polymarket to re-enter the U.S. market with a fully regulated trading and clearing framework, expanding its prediction-market platform to U.S. users under regulatory oversight.

Gordon Brothers has acquired SOLIC Capital Advisors, a boutique financial advisory and investment banking firm that specializes in restructuring and distressed-asset support. The deal expands Gordon Brothers' asset services and advisory capabilities and broadens its client coverage—notably enhancing expertise in the healthcare sector.

Financial Trust Asset Management, a Boca Raton-based registered investment advisor, has acquired Hueston Financial Services of Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Hueston will operate as a division under Financial Trust, maintaining its name while gaining expanded financial planning and investment management capabilities and access to a larger team and research resources.

Carson Group has fully acquired Sarasota-based SRQ Wealth, a Carson Partner firm that manages approximately $365 million in client assets. SRQ Wealth will remain led by Managing Partner Steve Martin and operate under the SRQ Wealth name as the 25th wholly owned Carson Wealth office, with the deal driven primarily by succession and business continuity goals.

Cary Street Partners has acquired IFS Advisors, Inc., a Sarasota, Florida-based wealth management firm led by Daniel J. Wolff. The deal expands Cary Street Partners' national footprint to 20 offices and strengthens its presence in Florida alongside its Tampa office.

F2 Strategy, a wealth management technology and marketing services firm, has acquired Florida-based MD Solutions LLC, a financial technology, software and operations managed-services provider led by Steve Mars and Bill Navarro. The acquisition expands F2's implementation and ongoing support capabilities and strengthens its reach into emerging RIA and single-family office markets.

Webull Corporation and special purpose acquisition company SK Growth Opportunities Corporation completed their previously announced business combination, with SK Growth becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Webull and SK Growth securities converted to Webull securities. Webull's shares, warrants and incentive warrants began trading on Nasdaq under the tickers BULL, BULLW and BULLZ, marking Webull's public listing via the SPAC transaction.

Waverly Advisors, a PE-backed RIA based in Birmingham, Alabama, has acquired Fiduciary Wealth Advisors (FWA), a Sarasota, Florida-based wealth management firm founded by Scott Collins. The deal closed April 4, 2025 and adds approximately $110 million of AUM while expanding Waverly's presence in Southwest Florida.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida signed a definitive agreement to acquire Heartland Bancshares, Inc., parent of Heartland National Bank, expanding Seacoast's presence in Central Florida. The transaction (aggregate consideration ~ $110–111 million) closed effective July 11, 2025 and brings Heartland's four branches and approximately $666 million in deposits into the Seacoast franchise.

LPL Financial announced that financial advisor Francisco J. Blanco (bringing approximately $200 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets) has joined LPL's broker-dealer, RIA and custodial platforms. Blanco merged his practice with Stonebrook Wealth Management (founded by Joe Mazzucco) to form Stonebrook Wealth Partners, which will operate on LPL’s platforms to provide wealth management and retirement planning services.

DFCU Financial announced its intent to acquire Winter Park National Bank, a Winter Park, Florida-based commercial bank, expanding DFCU's Florida footprint. Winter Park National Bank, founded in 2017 with two branches and about 32 employees, will be retained under DFCU with CEO David Dotherow named Central Florida Area President; branches will be rebranded and integrated in 2025 pending regulatory approval.

Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, has acquired Price Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor based in Stuart, Florida. The deal expands Mesirow Wealth Management's footprint in Southeast Florida and gives Price Wealth access to Mesirow's investment research and resources as the firm grows its presence in the region.

Waverly Advisors, a Birmingham-based registered investment adviser, has acquired River Capital Advisors, L.C., an investment advisory business based in Jacksonville, Florida. The deal — Waverly's 15th since receiving equity backing from Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC’s Aspire Holdings platform — closed July 19, 2024, and boosts Waverly's AUM to approximately $12.5 billion; financial terms were not disclosed.

Onex Partners (via Onex Partners V) has completed the acquisition of Accredited, a global P&C program manager previously owned by R&Q Insurance Holdings. Accredited will operate as an independent program management platform providing A- (AM Best) insurance capacity across the US, UK and Europe and will be supported by Onex to pursue growth with its MGA and reinsurance partners.

Wealth Enhancement Group has acquired Atlas Fiduciary Financial, an independent RIA that manages roughly $219 million in client assets across two offices in Sarasota, Florida and Oakland, New Jersey. The acquisition expands Wealth Enhancement Group's presence in Florida and New Jersey and increases the firm's total client assets to approximately $85 billion.

First Federal Bank has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the mortgage business assets of Watson Mortgage Corp., bringing Watson's loan officers and customer relationships into First Federal's residential lending platform. The acquisition expands First Federal's retail lending capabilities and market share across the Watson Realty footprint while Watson Realty will transition mortgage servicing to the bank and retain its broader real estate operations.

Wealth Enhancement Group announced the acquisition of Piermont Wealth Management Inc., an independent RIA with approximately $226 million in client assets. The deal expands Wealth Enhancement Group’s presence in Florida (its 12th Florida office) and increases the firm’s total client assets to more than $79 billion.

Borderless Capital, a Web3-focused investment manager, has acquired Miami-headquartered quantitative crypto asset manager CTF Capital and integrated CTF's funds into its Multi-Strategy Fund V LP. The deal brings CTF's AI/quant trading expertise and an 11-person team into Borderless as it expands capabilities and plans LatAm growth with a new Argentina office.

BPAS (Benefit Plans Administrative Services) has acquired David G. Leonard A.S.A., LLC (DGL), an Ormond Beach, Florida–based actuarial and retirement-plan administration firm. DGL provides plan design, actuarial services and administration for roughly 300 small- to mid-sized retirement plans, and all DGL employees will join the BPAS team to expand BPAS’s actuarial and plan-administration capabilities.

Hub International Limited acquired the assets of Bienenfeld, Lasek & Starr LLC and BLS Wealth Management, LLC, a Fort Lauderdale-based wealth management and retirement planning firm. The BLS team (including partners Howard Bienenfeld, Carol Lasek and Mitch Starr) will join Hub South Florida, with Starr leading expansion of Hub's Retirement and Private Wealth practice in the region; terms were not disclosed.

Heffernan Financial Services (with Heffernan Insurance Brokers) has acquired First Coast Wealth Advisors, a St. Augustine, Florida-based wealth advisory firm, effective January 1, 2024; terms were not disclosed. The First Coast team, led by founder Jeff Helms, joined Heffernan to expand the firm's wealth advisory capabilities and establish a Florida presence.

Dort Financial Credit Union completed its acquisition of Flagler Bank (Flagler Bancshares Corporation) on December 14, 2023, adding four Florida branches and increasing Dort Financial's assets to over $2 billion. Dort Financial will operate in Florida as "Flagler Credit Union, a Division of Dort Financial," keeping the existing Flagler branches and converting members to Dort's systems to expand its geographic footprint and member services in Palm Beach and surrounding counties.

Achieva Credit Union, through its credit union service organization Achieva Insurance Agency, has acquired Cannella Insurance Services, an independent insurance agency based in Tampa, Florida. Capstone Strategic advised Achieva on the transaction; Cannella founder Joe Cannella will serve as Director of the newly named Achieva Insurance Agency, LLC.

Accurate Group has acquired Voxtur Appraisal Services, LLC to expand its valuation and appraisal management capabilities. Voxtur Appraisal Services will operate as a standalone division within Accurate Group, retaining its leadership and team to strengthen services for mortgage lenders, default servicers and capital market clients.

Paychex, Inc. acquired Alterna Capital Solutions, LLC (ACS), a specialty finance provider focused on invoice financing and asset-based lending for small- and medium-sized businesses. The transaction—an exit for Alterna Equity Partners—closed effective July 31, 2023; terms were not disclosed. Legal counsel to ACS and AEP was Greenberg Traurig and Hovde Group served as exclusive financial adviser to ACS.

TIAA has completed the divestiture of TIAA Bank to a group of private investors (funds managed by Stone Point Capital, Warburg Pincus, Reverence Capital Partners, Sixth Street and Bayview Asset Management). TIAA retains a non‑controlling ownership stake and a board seat while the bank, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, will operate under a new national bank charter and now does business as EverBank to pursue nationwide consumer and commercial banking growth.

Atlanta-based Ty J. Young Wealth Management has acquired Republic Asset Management, a Tallahassee, Florida financial advisory practice. The deal expands Ty J. Young's presence and client base in Florida and gives Republic Asset Management clients access to TJY's broader suite of wealth-management services.

Bregal Sagemount and FTV Capital acquired a substantial minority stake in Neptune Flood, a St. Petersburg-based digital insurtech that provides private flood insurance and has insured over 150,000 homeowners, renters, and businesses. The growth investment (financial terms undisclosed) will help Neptune accelerate customer expansion and further develop its AI-driven Triton risk platform while Neptune's CEO and management retain majority ownership.

Risk Strategies, a national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has acquired Parady Financial Group, Inc., including its affiliates Parady Tax Solutions, LLC and Blueprint Wealth Management, LLC. The acquisition expands Risk Strategies' financial and wealth services capabilities, adding retirement income planning, annuity and life insurance solutions, and tax and investment advisory services focused on retirees in The Villages and Central Florida.

Inter&Co (Inter Group) acquired 100% of YellowFi Mortgage LLC and YellowFi Management LLC to add mortgage origination and fund-management capabilities to its Super App offering in the United States. The bolt-on purchase is intended to enable Inter's customers to access U.S. real estate investment products and to accelerate Inter's US product expansion through a capital-light, easily integrated solution.

FNZ has agreed to acquire YieldX, a U.S.-based provider of fixed‑income portfolio management technology and direct indexing tools, to accelerate delivery of personalized wealth management solutions in the U.S. As part of the deal, YieldX co‑founders Adam Green and Steve Gross will join FNZ's North America asset management leadership team to support product and technology integration.

APCO Holdings, LLC has acquired National Auto Care (NAC) from Lovell Minnick Partners, combining two leading Finance & Insurance (F&I) administrators to create a nationwide F&I platform. The deal was financed substantially by an equity injection from majority shareholder Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board alongside third-party debt; Tony Wanderon, former CEO of NAC, becomes CEO of APCO after the transaction.

DFCU Financial has completed its acquisition of First Citrus Bank and rebranded the combined operations as DFCU Financial. The deal expands DFCU's presence into the Tampa Bay/Florida market and brings First Citrus customers access to DFCU's broader product set including mortgages, consumer loans, and investment services.

Waverly Advisors, a Birmingham-based registered investment advisor, has acquired Wall Advisors, a small wealth management firm founded by H. Lee Wall. The Wall Advisors team of four will join Waverly (Lee Wall will serve as Regional Director); the deal closed on December 2, 2022 and is Waverly's third RIA acquisition since taking equity backing from Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC's Aspire Holdings platform.

King Insurance, a Gainesville-based full-service insurance brokerage, has acquired Hunt Insurance Group, LLC, a Tallahassee specialty broker that advises housing authorities, prison systems and municipalities. The acquisition adds Hunt’s self-insurance and pooled program expertise to King’s capabilities and expands King’s public-sector product offerings and client relationships.

One True Holding Company d/b/a TrueML has acquired the debt collection business of Enhanced Recovery Company, LLC (ERC). The acquisition brings ERC’s collections operations into TrueML’s fintech software family to expand scale, add collections capabilities and augment ERC’s services with TrueML’s machine-learning digital communication tools.

MAI Capital Management has acquired West Point Business Group and launched a new business unit, MAI Retirement, to expand into retirement plan consulting. The deal brings West Point's fiduciary-based retirement plan consulting talent and financial wellness capabilities into MAI, adding approximately $230 million in AUM and $568 million in retirement plan assets to MAI's platform.

DLP Bancshares, a holding company backed by private investors including Don Wenner of DLP Capital, has acquired Community State Bank, a Starke, Florida-based commercial bank with approximately $225 million in assets. DLP Bancshares injected significant capital to increase lending capacity, support loan growth, expand technology and services, and retain the bank's local management and board representation.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida agreed to acquire Professional Holding Corp., the parent of Professional Bank, in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $488.6 million based on Seacoast's August 5, 2022 share price. The deal expands Seacoast’s footprint in the tri-county South Florida market (Miami‑Dade, Broward and Palm Beach), adding nine branches, roughly $2.4 billion in deposits and $2.0 billion in loans; closing was expected in Q1 2023 pending customary approvals.

Ty J. Young Wealth Management, an Atlanta-based wealth management firm, has acquired Annuity Pros, LLC, a Gulf Breeze, Florida financial services firm specializing in retirement planning and fixed annuities. The deal is part of Ty J. Young's ongoing nationwide expansion, marking its 22nd acquisition in four years.