As 2025 unfolds, financial advisors are facing a landscape of significant change—from the sunset of key provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to evolving IRS enforcement priorities, trade policy shifts, and ongoing market volatility. For advisors, this isn’t just about staying informed—it’s about staying ahead. Clients will be looking to you for clarity, context, and confident guidance as these developments unfold. This update highlights what’s on the horizon and how you can begin preparing your clients—and your practice—for what’s next. Sunset Provisions Looming (2026): Many provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to sunset after 2025, including: Reversion to prior individual income tax brackets Reduction of the standard deduction Return of personal exemptions Decrease in estate and gift tax exemption (from ~$13.6M to ~$6.8M per person) Potential cap changes to QBI deductions for pass-through entities You’ll want to encourage clients to review estate plans, Roth conversion strategies, and gifting plans while the higher thresholds are still in place. IRS Enforcement and Audit Risk IRS continues ramping up audits on high-income individuals and partnerships due to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Crypto reporting enforcement is slated for expansion in 2025, with new 1099-DA rules expected soon (though guidance is still being finalized). Ensure high-net-worth clients have strong documentation and tax planning, especially if they hold complex assets. Ongoing Implementation of  SECURE Act 2.0 2025 is a pivotal year for provisions, including: Higher catch-up contributions for those 60–63 (delayed to 2026 but still anticipated) Mandatory Roth catch-up contributions for high earners (delayed, but advisors should prep now) Automatic enrollment and portability rules for retirement plans are coming into sharper focus State-Level Tax Changes Noteworthy state tax shifts include: California: Push for wealth tax and changes to capital gains discussions New York: Adjustments to corporate and high-income tax brackets Arizona, Iowa, and others: Flat tax or lower income tax structures, phasing in For clients considering relocation or domicile changes, now’s the time to model the impact. Market Trends and Economic Signals Interest rates: The Fed has held rates steady, with possible cuts anticipated in late 2025 depending on inflation and employment trends. Election Year Volatility: Markets may experience swings as we approach November, which is a good time to remind clients about long-term positioning. Real Estate Watch: Residential and commercial markets are diverging, so opportunities in private credit and alternatives may become more compelling. Trump Tariff Overview In April 2025, President Trump enacted sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), introducing a 10% baseline tariff on all U.S. imports, with higher rates up to 145% on goods from countries with significant trade deficits, notably China. These measures sparked legal challenges, with plaintiffs arguing that the tariffs overstep executive authority and could harm the economy. Economic Impact: Inflation: Despite initial concerns, U.S. inflation has remained subdued, with the Consumer Price Index rising at a 2.3% annual rate in April. This unexpected trend is attributed to companies stockpiling goods before the tariffs took effect. Consumer Costs: As inventories deplete, prices are expected to rise. Economists estimate a 1.7% price increase this year, translating to an average $2,800 burden per household. Market Volatility: The tariffs introduced uncertainty, leading to stock market fluctuations and concerns over potential recession risks. Over the past few weeks, President Trump’s administration has finalized several trade agreements: United Kingdom Tariff Adjustments: The U.S. has reduced tariffs on British steel and aluminum, and lowered car tariffs from 25% to 10% for up to 100,000 vehicles annually. U.K. Concessions: In return, the U.K. agreed to eliminate its 19% ethanol tariff and align its aluminum and steel tariffs with U.S. rates. WSJ China Temporary Tariff Reduction: A 90-day agreement reduces U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 10%, excluding a 20% tariff on fentanyl-related products. Reciprocal Measures: China has implemented similar tariff reductions, easing tensions between the two nations. Reuters Switzerland Trade Agreement: A new deal focuses on securing supply chains and encouraging local production, though specific details are pending. Reuters India Ongoing Negotiations: Discussions are underway to establish a trade agreement, with expectations of finalization in the coming weeks. As we move through a year of transition, your role as an advisor has never been more critical. By staying proactive and translating complexity into clear, client-focused strategies, you can turn uncertainty into opportunity and position your clients (and your practice) for long-term success.

ECHELON Partners Releases Its 3Q24 RIA Report. M&A By Stone Point, Pathstone, Beacon Pointe, Naviter, Carson And AlphaCore. Recruitments By Raymond James, Journey And Avantax. XYPN Adds Corporate RIA Model. World Investment Advisors Adds Raymond James As A Custodian. by Chris Latham This edition of the Deals & Recruiting Roundup covers the ECHELON Partners third quarter RIA M&A Deal Report, Stone Point agreeing to acquire a majority stake in Kestra, Pathstone agreeing to acquire Hall Capital, Beacon Pointe acquiring Landmark Wealth, Naviter buying back WAGN’s minority stake, Carson Group acquiring Sweet Financial Partners, AlphaCore merging with All Season, Raymond James picking up a team from RBC, Journey Strategic Wealth recruiting advisors Chad Faulkenberry and Jill Isbell, Avantax recruiting 10 advisors, XYPN launching its Sapphire corporate RIA affiliation model and World Investment Advisors adding Raymond James as a custodian. Larry’s Take Recent news of Stone Point Capital agreeing to acquire a majority stake in Kestra after selling its minority stake to Oak Hill Capital in 2022, and of Naviter buying back Wealth Advisor Growth Network’s minority stake after launching in 2023, are two different positive examples of not-quite-linear growth trajectories in wealth management. As WSR Editor in Chief Julius Buchanan noted in his article earlier this month, “The Non-Linear View Of Capital Structures,” successful firms may encounter various circumstances that make sense for it to avoid the conventional path of early stage with founders and startup investors, through a growth period with private ownership, culminating in a mature public company. The Kestra and Naviter deals also show how buyer confidence can merit breaking with the herd. PE firms can revisit past portfolio holdings, based on how the target company performs in the future and prevailing market conditions at the time. And fast growing RIAs can re-invest in themselves as their leaders accumulate capital. Those are great qualities of our industry. If you would like to discuss this Larry’s Take further, including how these trends might impact your business, please contact me at larry.roth@rlrstrategicpartners.com. Mergers & Acquisitions 1. ECHELON Partners Releases 3Q RIA M&A Deal Report Dan Seivert, CEO and Managing Partner, ECHELON Partners ECHELON Partners released its third quarter RIA M&A Deal Report, which found that buyers announced 74 transactions – a slight dip from the 75 deals announced in the second quarter and the lowest since the second quarter of 2023. Even so, 2024 transaction volume through September surpassed volume for the same time period last year, with 241 deals announced this year compared with 239 deals announced by the end of 3Q23. Strategic acquirers such as private equity-backed RIAs announced 85.1% of third quarter deals and financial acquirers such as private equity firms announced 14.9% of deals, ECHELON found. This year is on track to have 130 wealth management acquisitions with at least $1 billion in assets, up from 2023’s 116 such deals and 2022’s 118 billion-dollar deals. More than 50 wealthtech transactions were announced, a big jump from the previous quarter’s 33 wealthtech deal announcements. While deal activity remained relatively constant this quarter compared to last, there are some important signs for optimism: large acquirers continue to raise capital, and many indicated that they would be closing numerous deals at the end of the third quarter (though these will be announced in 4Q24). according to the ECHELON report. The recent capital raises and solid 3Q24 performance are indicators of ongoing seller supply and acquirer optimism. 2. Stone Point Capital To Acquire Majority Stake In Kestra James Poer, CEO, Kestra Holdings Private equity firm Stone Point Capital agreed to acquire a majority interest in Kestra Holdings, replacing Warburg Pincus while Oak Hill Capital remains a minority owner. The management team of Kestra Holdings, many Kestra-affiliated financial advisors and affiliated principals of Bluespring Wealth Partners will keep their equity positions. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. Kestra Holdings aims to use the recapitalization to bolster its acquisitions, recruiting, and service and technology platform. Stone Point initially invested in Kestra in 2016, supported its spinout from NFP, became a minority investor in 2019 and then sold its minority stake to Oak Hill in 2022. Kestra supports approximately 1,700 financial professionals and had approximately $117 billion in assets under advisement as of Dec. 31. We’re pleased with the successful partnership we had with Warburg Pincus and are excited to once again partner with Stone Point. said James Poer, CEO of Kestra Holdings Stone Point’s expertise and partnership previously helped propel us along a successful path to establishing our unique value proposition – to support successful wealth management businesses with full and deep value while focusing on the life cycle of their entrepreneurial efforts. 3. Pathstone To Buy $45 Billion RIA Hall Capital Katie Hall, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Hall Capital Partners Partner-owned Pathstone, which provides family office services, agreed to acquire Hall Capital Partners, an RIA managing about $45 billion in client assets. Pathstone said the transaction will enhance its investment capabilities and boost its total assets under management (AUM) to almost $100 billion and total assets under advisement and administration to nearly $160 billion. After the acquisition closes, Pathstone will have expanded its national footprint and have a total of 23 offices and more than 750 team members, almost 300 of whom are shareholders of the firm. Like Pathstone, Hall Capital is an independent investment advisory business serving ultra-high net worth families, endowments and foundations. Hall Capital, which serves more than 130 clients, was founded in 1994. From the beginning, we have strived and prided ourselves on our ability to meet the needs of our clients, and we truly believe this combination brings together two complementary organizations who will benefit immensely from collaboration and sharing of resources. said Katie Hall, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Hall Capital. 4. Beacon Pointe Acquires $1 Billion Landmark Wealth Shannon Eusey, CEO and Founder, Beacon Pointe Advisors Newport Beach, California-based Beacon Pointe Advisors acquired Lake Elmo, Minnesota-based Landmark Wealth Management Group, which oversees approximately $1 billion in AUM. Landmark also has offices in Farmington, Minnesota; Hudson, Wisconsin; and San Jose, California. Landmark provides financial planning, investment management, estate planning, tax strategy and insurance. It serves individuals, families, business owners and employees of Fortune 500 corporations such as 3M, Lockheed Martin and Andersen Corporation. The acquisition of the 36-member team will bring Beacon Pointe’s assets under advisement to approximately $38 billion. It is Beacon Pointe’s fifth publicly announced RIA acquisition this year. The team at Landmark will do very well at Beacon Pointe due to our shared ethos. said Shannon Eusey, CEO of Beacon Pointe Advisors. Their large group of skilled wealth management and investment professionals will enter as a new powerhouse, acting as an emerging catalyst for progress, positive energy, and optimization overall. 5. $1 Billion Naviter Buys Back WAGN’s Minority Stake Bentley Blackmon, CEO, Naviter Wealth Little Rock, Arkansas-based Naviter Wealth, an RIA that CEO Bentley Blackmon and President Phillip Worthen founded in early 2021 with the backing of Denver-based Wealth Advisor Growth Network (WAGN) as an investor and consultant, purchased back the minority ownership held by WAGN in a transaction that also expands Naviter’s employee ownership. Naviter, which last year acquired Echelon Wealth Advisors, manages more than $1 billion in client assets. Partners John Phoenix and Jay Hummel founded WAGN, which also manages the WAGN Hub, a network of affiliated firms that operate similarly and receive exclusive access to WAGN’s specialty services as well as business, operational, and growth support. Naviter Wealth and WAGN aim to continue their other existing business interests together. The WAGN team was critical to us in the early stages of our launch.Blackmon said. As a strategic and capital partner, John and Jay helped us quickly identify and implement the compliance, legal, marketing, technical, and back-office support we needed for a successful start. 6. Carson Group Acquires $1 Billion Sweet Financial Partners Bryan Sweet, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, Sweet Financial Partners Omaha, Nebraska-based Carson Group acquired Fairmont, Minnesota-based Sweet Financial Partners, a 12-person team that has $1 billion in client assets and is Carson’s second largest deal so far. As a result of the deal, the firm and its clients will have access to experts in Carson’s Investments, Research and Financial Planning teams. Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor Bryan Sweet launched the firm in 1987. Sweet has 45 years of industry experience, including 32 years as an advisor affiliated with Raymond James. He has been a long-term member of the Carson Coaching platform, which aims to help advisors and their firms learn how to accelerate growth. Our team is excited to join forces with Carson Wealth.Sweet said. This collaboration allows us to maintain our local focus while tapping into the resources of a national brand. It’s a natural progression that aligns perfectly with our culture of inspiring clients to realize their dreams are possible. c 7. AlphaCore Merges With $200 Million All Season Dick Pfister, CEO and Founder, AlphaCore Wealth Advisory La Jolla, California-based AlphaCore Wealth Advisory merged with Denver-based All Season Financial Advisors, which has approximately $200 million in AUM and primarily serves high net worth clients. As a result, AlphaCore’s Cherry Creek office will gain four experienced All Season team members. Sam Jones, who founded All Season in 1996, joins AlphaCore as a Partner and business leader operating from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The deal, AlphaCore’s first since receiving a strategic investment from Constellation Wealth Capital in December, is expected to close in the fourth quarter. AlphaCore has $3.1 billion in AUM, according to a spokesperson. It brought on Aidan Walsh as Head of Corporate Development in May and Brian Habas as Chief Operating Officer in June. For nearly 30 years, Sam and his team have served the Mountain-West region. The addition of the talented All Season team will immediately strengthen our capabilities in this key wealth market.said Dick Pfister, CEO and Founder of AlphaCore. All Season, along with other recent additions in Denver, highlights our commitment to growth and delivering high-quality service to an expanding client base. We’re excited about the contributions the Denver team will bring to AlphaCore’s continued success. Advisor Transactions 8. Raymond James Picks Up $1.1 Billion Advisor Team From RBC Raymond James brought on a team of four advisors in Las Vegas who collectively managed more than $1.1 billion in client assets at RBC Capital Markets. The Business Exit Planning Advisors of Raymond James joined the firm’s employee advisor channel ­– Raymond James & Associates (RJA) – and are operating as part of RJA’s Las Vegas branch. Managing Directors Kerry Withrow and Ben Hamilton lead the team. It also includes Financial Advisors Ryan D’Souza – who serves as First Vice President, Investments – and Elliot Bloch, along with Practice Business Manager Terri Criswell. Withrow has more than 30 years of financial services experience and Hamilton has 46 years of industry experience. Kerry Withrow and Ben Hamilton, Managing Directors, Wealth Management, The Business Exit Planning Advisors of Raymond James After extensive deliberation and due diligence, our team partnered with Raymond James for its advanced technology platforms, specifically designed to serve business owners and high-net-worth individuals and families Withrow said. What truly sets Raymond James apart is its personalized attention and unwavering commitment to a client-first culture Hamilton said. 9. Journey Recruits Advisors Chad Faulkenberry And Jill Isbell Penny Phillips, President, Journey Strategic Wealth Journey Strategic Wealth recruited Orlando-based Chad Faulkenberry from Charles Schwab, where he managed approximately $750 million in assets. He joins Richmond, Virginia-based Senior Advisors Mark Newfield and Angela Lessor, and Financial Planner Melissa Clark, as part of a growth and continuity plan. The firm also added Jill Isbell and her Office Manager, Yenni Chesire, of the Colorado Springs, Colorado-based RIA Creative Financial Services. Journey, which oversees nearly $4 billion in assets, has brought on eight advisory teams across the country since launching in early 2021. It provides middle and back office support, including investment management and practice management tools. Affiliated advisors have experienced average top-line revenue growth of over 70% since joining Journey, according to the firm. In August, Journey recruited the Tampa, Florida-based MDL Wealth Management team. We are more than just a platform aggregator. Journey is a community built on shared values, said Penny Phillips, President of Journey Strategic Wealth. We attract advisors who are passionate about serving their clients and want to do so within a firm that respects their unique approach but also ensures they are not building alone on an island. 10. Avantax Recruits 10 Advisors With $390 Million In Combined Assets Andy Watts, President, Avantax Wealth Management Cetera Holdings-owned Avantax added 10 new independent advisors with approximately $390 million of combined assets under administration so far in 2024. Avantax provides advisors with tax-intelligent tools, technology, resources and home office support. Advisors also can access peer-to-peer collaboration with other advisor affiliates of the firm. Here are advisors and professionals who joined Avantax in 2024 through the date of the press release. Ali Kazemi and his Sentinel Financial Group, based near San Francisco; Amy Wright, based near Des Moines, Iowa, of Wright Financial Solutions; Joseph Schwan and his Long Island, New York-based Premier Wealth Management; Allan Thompson, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; George Escobar and his Covina, California-based Xavier Consulting; Ken Ulrich and John Ariola, and their East Amherst, New York-based Progressive Planning Services; Scot Sageser and William Hubbard, and their Defender Financial Services Group, based near Seattle; and Townsend Morris, based in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. We’re excited these Financial Professionals chose to affiliate with Avantax, especially because their backgrounds and areas of client focus are so diverse, and their diversity helps further strengthen the Avantax Community,said Andy Watts, President of Avantax Wealth Management. Strategic Partnerships 11. XYPN Launches ‘Sapphire’ Corporate RIA Affiliation Model Alan Moore, CEO and Co-Founder, XYPN XY Planning Network (XYPN) – a support platform for independent, fee-for-service financial planners – is launching a corporate RIA affiliation option called Sapphire that will provide fee-only advisors with technology, support and resources, without the kind of asset minimums or fees typical of many corporate RIAs and broker-dealers. Sapphire members are independent contractors who own their business. XYPN’s current Emerald membership offers tech, compliance, community, coaching, advocacy, education and resources. Those members and non-XYPN advisors can transition to Sapphire, which offers all of XYPN’s benefits along with more support and back-office compliance, investment, and client-management outsourcing. It costs $1,500 per month and 20% of the advisor’s revenue. Too often, advisors strike out on their own so they can run their businesses how they want to, but then they join a corporate RIA only to end up back at square one, many times with even less control,” said Alan Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of XYPN. “We created Sapphire because many of our members asked for this option. They wanted a program that would allow them to focus on clients, not compliance and regulations. 12. World Investment Advisors Adds Raymond James As Custodian Kevin Ryan, CFO, World Investment Advisors; Troy Hammond, Founder and CEO, World Investment Advisors World Investment Advisors (World), a division of World Insurance Associates, struck a custodial relationship with Raymond James. World RIA advisors will have access to most of the same services as independent contractor advisors and employee advisors at Raymond James. In July, World acquired $3.5 billion Boston Harbor Wealth Advisors, a Raymond James partner of almost a decade. World has a network of more than 350 advisors and staff nationwide, serving thousands of retirement plan and wealth management clients. World Insurance Associates provides individuals and businesses with personal and commercial insurance, employee and executive benefits, retirement and financial planning services and human capital management solutions. We are excited about our new relationship with Raymond James and the additional resources it allows us to bring our advisors,” said Troy Hammond, CEO of World Investment Advisors. “We are focused on enabling advisors to manage their businesses their way, optimize operations, and recapture time spent on tasks they can delegate to us, ultimately allowing them to spend more time growing assets and building personalized relationships with their clients.

The firm is extending its growth ambitions with a new location in Colorado while welcoming a $750M Schwab advisorOCT 15, 2024 By Leo Almazora Jill Isbell, head of Creative Financial Services (left), and veteran advisor Chad Faulkenberry (right) National RIA Journey Strategic Wealth has expanded its independent advisor community as it welcomes two new additions to its network. In a double deal announced Tuesday, the firm overseeing nearly $4 billion in assets said it's welcoming Creative Financial Services, a solo RIA based in Colorado, and veteran advisor Chad Faulkenberry, previously with Charles Schwab. Jill Isbell, head of Creative Financial Services, and her office manager Yenni Cheshire join Journey, establishing the firm’s presence in Colorado Springs. Isbell, known for her commitment to financial education and holistic planning, has integrated her practice into Journey’s framework. Meanwhile, Journey said its addition of Faulkenberry will extend its presence in the Orlando, Florida market. Faulkenberry, who managed $750 million in assets during his time at Charles Schwab, will join Journey’s Richmond, Virginia team and work alongside senior advisors Mark Newfield and Angela Lessor. “Chad not only brings significant experience as an advisor and leader, but also expands this practice’s reach into a new market,” Penny Phillips, president of Journey Strategic Wealth, said in a statement. “We are doubling down on helping them take things to the next level.” Recently, Journey bolstered its presence in the Sunshine State when a veteran advisor from LPL joined the firm in Tampa. Since launching in early 2021, Journey has grown rapidly, attracting eight advisory teams across the US. By the firm's estimates, its focus on providing advisors with robust practice management support has led to an average top-line revenue growth of over 70 percent of the advisors joining its community. Phillips emphasized Journey’s role as more than just a platform aggregator, highlighting the firm's client-centric and independent ethos. “We attract advisors who are passionate about serving their clients and want to do so within a firm that respects their unique approach but also ensures they are not building alone on an island,” she said. In July, Journey expanded its advisor support platform through a partnership with RISR, a wealth tech provider with a focus on helping advisors engage with business owners.