Citywire: Verdence Acquires Harvest Investment Consultants
Citywire Exclusive: Verdence Intends to Become a National Brand Through M&A Push
The Deal
Verdence Capital Advisors has acquired Harvest Investment Consultants, a $564 million registered investment advisor in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The deal closed September 18. It’s Verdence’s largest acquisition since WPCG and HGGC became majority investors.
Building the Relationship
CEO Leo Kelly has known Harvest owner Michael Meily for years. The two firms are neighbors in Hunt Valley. Kelly and Meily met regularly over breakfast to discuss practice management. Verdence’s recent $100 million acquisition of Luesink Stenstrom prompted Meily to pursue serious discussions.
About Harvest
Harvest was founded in 1987. The firm now has 12 employees and serves approximately 1,000 clients. Under Meily’s leadership, it shifted from insurance-focused to planning-oriented RIA services.
Accelerating Growth
This is Verdence’s second acquisition since taking on new investors. Several additional acquisitions are under letter of intent. More deals are in advanced discussions. Verdence expects to surpass $1 billion in acquired AUM by year-end.
Strategic Vision and Industry Recognition
Kelly outlined Verdence’s ambitious growth trajectory to Citywire. “We are going to be in the market, and the end goal is to be a national brand,” he said. “You’re going to continue to see us expand geographically.” Citywire named Verdence one of the fastest-growing RIAs headquartered in Maryland in its 2026 “50 Growers Across America” report.
Read the full Citywire article: https://citywire.com/ria/news/verdence-adds-564m-ria-in-largest-buy-since-pe-deal/a2498450?utm_medium=website&utm_source=citywire_usa_ria&utm_campaign=home-content-list-1&utm_content=international-usa-ria-latest-news-list&utm_pos=1
Frequently Asked Questions:
What did Verdence Capital Advisors acquire?
Verdence acquired Harvest Investment Consultants, a $564 million RIA based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, in a deal that closed September 18, 2026.
Why is this Verdence’s largest deal so far?
It surpasses the firm’s earlier 2026 acquisition of the $100 million Luesink Stenstrom in New York, and it is the second deal since Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC became majority investors in Verdence.
What is Verdence’s growth plan?
CEO Leo Kelly said Verdence is in “full build mode,” with several more acquisitions under letter of intent and a goal of surpassing $1 billion in acquired assets under management by the end of 2026.
What does Verdence Capital Advisors do?
Verdence is a fiduciary, independent private wealth advisor and multi-family office firm serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and executives. The firm combines investment management with comprehensive financial planning in a single coordinated service, managing approximately $5 billion in assets across offices in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, New York, and Massachusetts.
Is Verdence Capital Advisors independent?
Yes. Verdence is independent of banks, insurance companies, and broker-dealers. The firm answers to its clients, not to a parent company or external shareholders setting quotas or shaping recommendations. This independence allows advisors to recommend what’s best for the client, not what generates the most commission.
What does it mean that Verdence is a fiduciary?
As fiduciaries, Verdence advisors are legally and ethically required to act in the client’s best interest ahead of the firm’s own interests. Fiduciary duty is the highest legal standard of care in financial services. Verdence discloses its fees and any potential conflicts openly so clients always know where the firm stands.
Where is Verdence located?
Verdence is headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, with offices in Vienna, Virginia; Tampa, Florida; and Boston, Massachusetts. The firm is expanding geographically through acquisitions of independent RIAs.
