Added on January 2026 in Blog
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RIA M&A in 2026 isn’t just a big-firm game.
While headlines focus on billion-dollar RIAs, private equity rollups, and national platforms, most advisory firms operate between $50 million and $500 million in AUM—and their M&A reality looks very different. For these firms, deals aren’t about chasing scale at all costs. They’re about solving practical problems: succession gaps, growth ceilings, capacity constraints, and how to stay independent without doing everything alone.
In 2026, the good news is this: smaller and midsize RIAs have more viable paths forward than ever before. Partial liquidity, peer mergers, phased transitions, and affiliation models are reshaping what “M&A” can look like. The challenge isn’t opportunity—it’s perspective. This guide breaks down the key trends shaping RIA M&A for $50–$500M firms and offers practical guidance to help owners, successors, and partners navigate their options with clarity and confidence.
