RIA Market Update: Q3 2024

RIA M&A headlines can create the impression that valuation is primarily about scale and headline multiples. In reality, today’s transaction environment reflects a more nuanced assessment of risk, growth, governance, and succession readiness.

Our team attended Dimensional’s Deals and Succession Conference in Charlotte this week, where industry leaders gathered to discuss the evolving M&A and succession landscape. While activity remains strong, this year’s conversations centered more on growth quality, equity structure, leadership depth, and cultural alignment than on deal volume alone.

There is a quiet irony developing in wealth management. Private equity firms continue to pay premium, sometimes nosebleed, prices for large RIA platforms. Acquisition funding continues to be available and consolidators keep consolidating. Even as private market exits have slowed and fundraising has become more difficult, sponsors remain willing to commit fresh capital to the sector. At the same time, public markets have shown only modest enthusiasm for investment management businesses.