The latest wealth management merger and acquisition transactions in North America.

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors has brought Indiana-based Lakeside Wealth Management into its embrace.

The Lakeside team brings $1.6 billion in assets under advisement and 27 employees, increasing CAPTRUST’s nationwide headcount to more than 700. CAPTRUST now has more than $390 billion in AuA and $45 billion in assets under management.

Lakeside provides retirement plan design, investment management, participant education for institutions and financial planning, retirement goal setting, and legacy planning for wealth management clients. Founded in 2002 by CEO Mark Chamberlain, the firm is also led by president Tim Rice and senior leaders Chip Mang and Timothy VerSchure, who will all be joining CAPTRUST as principals.

“By aligning ourselves with CAPTRUST, we are confident that our clients will benefit greatly from the added resources of a national firm, and we are excited about continuing to grow as part of the CAPTRUST brand,” Lakeside chief executive officer Mark W Chamberlain,” said. 

Founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina, CAPTRUST is an independent registered investment advisor.

Optimize
Optimize Wealth Management has acquired Lifestyle Wealth, expanding into the southern Ontario area of Canada. 

The acquisition will add three new offices in the Welland, Port Colborne, and Kitchener/Waterloo areas, according to a press release earlier this week. 

Republic Capital, Creativemass
Republic Capital Group, the investment banking firm for US registered investment advisors, asset and wealth managers, is taking an investment in Creativemass, a financial services software firm based in Australia and the US. The size of the stake wasn’t disclosed.

Creativemass aims to use the latest technologies to provides wealth management solutions via its products. The firm's WealthConnect offering operates via Salesforce, the heavyweight client relationship management platform. 

Established in 2017, with offices in three countries, the company is managed by a diverse team of tech professionals. 

“I believe Creativemass and WeathConnect will change the landscape of our industry,” John Langston, managing director of Republic Capital Group, said. 

Michael Rouse, founder and managing director of Creativemass, said: “The investment from Republic Capital Group represents an important strategic partnership as the company expands into the US market.”