Verdence Secures Private Equity Backing to Fuel M&A Push
Verdence Majority Stake Partnership Advances RIA Growth Strategy
The verdence majority stake partnership with Wealth Partners Capital Group and HGGC highlights a clear evolution in RIA growth strategy, as firms combine institutional capital with integrated platforms to scale nationally.
Verdence, a Hunt Valley-based private wealth advisory and multi-family office, manages approximately $4.6 billion in assets as of year-end 2025. The firm has positioned this partnership to accelerate its M&A pipeline, expand organically, and enhance client-facing resources. These priorities reflect a broader shift in how RIAs pursue growth, blending acquisitions with internal capability building.
A central element of this verdence majority stake deal is the use of the Aspire Holdings platform. This structure allows WPCG and HGGC to support multiple advisory firms while creating operational leverage across shared resources. It also reinforces a model where capital partners contribute not only funding, but strategic infrastructure to support expansion.
Leadership continuity remains a defining feature of this RIA growth strategy. Founder and CEO Leo Kelly and President Thomas New will continue to hold meaningful ownership stakes. That alignment supports long-term decision-making and helps preserve the firm’s culture as it scales. Both executives emphasized that growth will remain disciplined and consistent with Verdence’s client-first approach.
Since its founding in 2017, Verdence has built a multi-dimensional platform that extends beyond traditional wealth management. Its offering includes financial planning, family office services, and an RIA+ platform that supports independent advisors with infrastructure, research, and access to private markets. This breadth positions the firm within a segment of RIAs focused on delivering integrated and scalable solutions.
The transaction also marks the exit of Emigrant Partners, which first invested in 2021. That transition reflects a common lifecycle in RIA investment, where early partners step back as firms reach a new stage of scale and attract larger institutional backing.
Overall, the verdence majority stake agreement underscores how RIA growth strategy continues to center on scale, platform depth, and aligned ownership. Firms that can execute across these dimensions remain well positioned in an increasingly competitive wealth management landscape.
