US Wealth Management M&A – Q1 2025 Market Update
The RIA M&A market continues to show exceptional momentum in early 2025, building on the record-setting activity of last year. Our review of the latest data highlights strong buyer demand, a continued shift toward larger targets, and continued strong interest from both private equity and strategic acquirers.
Key Takeaways
• Compared to Q1 in the previous year, deal activity has been 31% higher in Q1’25 with 118 transactions completed
• Larger firms with proven growth and infrastructure are seeing the strongest demand. 42.4% of Q1 deals involved firms with over $1bn in AUM
• Growth has overtaken succession and liquidity as the main driver for sellers – M&A is increasingly seen as a way to scale faster and compete more effectively
• Despite a 4.6% decline in the S&P 500 during Q1 2025, multiples in the wealth management market remained flat and in line with the 2024 average
• While elevated market volatility from ongoing macro-economic uncertainty continues to play out, the sector continues to exhibit strong organic growth, with a AUM growth of 12.7% in 2024
At Danescor, we’re supporting both buyers and sellers across the US and are actively engaged with firms planning strategic moves in 2025.
If M&A is on your radar, we’d be happy to discuss your options and share relevant insights.