ECHELON Partners’ latest quarterly RIA M&A report highlights another record-setting period for the wealth management industry, with 142 announced transactions during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing prior quarterly highs set in late 2024 and 2025. The report also found that total transacted AUM reached approximately $1.67 trillion, while average deal size climbed to $1.8 billion, reflecting continued demand for larger and more strategically positioned firms.

The report points to a market that is evolving beyond traditional consolidation, as acquirers increasingly pursue integrated platform models designed to expand client capabilities and operational breadth. Strategic buyers are using M&A to add services across tax, estate planning, family office, and institutional consulting, while cross-border expansion continued to gain traction among U.S.-based firms targeting markets such as Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Private equity-backed activity remained a defining force throughout the quarter, accounting for more than 70% of announced transactions, while WealthTECH deal activity accelerated around AI-driven workflow automation, compliance infrastructure, and client analytics platforms. According to ECHELON, the combination of elevated buyer demand, international expansion, and increasing platform sophistication suggests the industry’s structural transformation is continuing to accelerate into the remainder of 2026…