RIA M&A activity is reaching record highs, keeping investment bankers, attorneys, and accountants working nonstop. Advisor Growth Strategies is handling nine concurrent deals, with several set to close by year-end, forcing the firm to focus solely on transactions through the holidays. Echelon Partners reports similar pressures, prioritizing M&A over consulting or valuations while managing multiple deals at once. Service providers like law firms, accounting firms, and quality-of-earnings teams are struggling to keep pace, often turning clients away or delaying work for weeks.
Firms without in-house M&A teams face bottlenecks, particularly on the legal side, which can extend deal timelines and create costly delays. Some RIAs, like MAI Capital Management, avoid these challenges by negotiating directly and leveraging internal resources. With soaring valuations, founder retirements, and potential tax changes driving the market, completing deals efficiently is more critical than ever for firms looking to capitalize on this historic M&A momentum…