Edelman jumps into M&A

Edelman Financial Services, one of the advisory industry’s largest RIAs with over $17 billion in assets, is plunging into the crowded, competitive and capital-intensive M&A game.

“We’ve decided to engage in M&A activity,” says executive chairman Ric Edelman. “At our board meeting last week, we decided to do this for the first time ever.”

Backed by majority shareholder Hellman & Friedman, the private equity firm that has long been a major LPL Financial shareholder, Edelman Financial hopes to establish a national brand and become “America’s planning firm,” says Edelman, whose syndicated radio show, seminars and books drive the RIA’s brand.

The company’s board of directors concluded it was impossible to accomplish that goal with inorganic growth, according to Edelman.

The RIA’s CFO, Rene Chaze, will lead Edelman’s M&A and strategic alliance efforts, which will include several new hires. “We need more players on the field,” Chaze says. “We’re ramping up our capability and are going to be moving quickly in the [acquisitions] space.”

Read the full article on Financial-Planning.com.

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Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author and professional speaker who is passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.

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