07/14/2026
$1.67 trillion in RIA deals changed hands in the first quarter… a record. Assets on the move more than doubled in a year.
If you've ever wondered whether it's a good time to explore your options, the market just answered.
Here's what that record actually means for you as an owner: you have leverage. There's more capital chasing quality firms than there are quality firms to buy. That's not a reason to rush, it's a reason to choose well, on your terms.
Three things worth knowing while the window is open:
→ The headline multiple is just the cover. Cash at close, rollover equity, earnouts, retention terms, the structure underneath is what you actually take home. Two identical "prices" can be very different deals.
→ You're choosing a partner, not just a price. "Sell-and-stay" is the norm now, most owners stay on for years. So the real question isn't how much, it's who you'd actually want to build the next chapter with.
→ Leverage has a shelf life. Records don't last forever. The best time to understand your options is before you need them.
At GCG Advisory Partners, that's the conversation we like having, a straight, no-pressure look at how these deals really work and what's realistic for a firm like yours. Whether or not we turn out to be the right fit, you'll walk away knowing more than you did.
Thinking about what's next? Start with a number. Our valuation tool gives you a confidential, no-obligation estimate of what your firm could be worth in today's market...in about two minutes. Know where you stand before you ever take a call.
https://advisorvaluations.com/?lid=1783965919425-d243abfd&email=trogers%40structuredplan.com&name=Trogers
Source: ECHELON Partners, Q1 2026 RIA M&A Deal Report.
