Skip to content
Monday, November 9, 2026 · Today’s edition, 6:30 a.m. ETMon, Nov 9 · 6:30 a.m. editionSign inMy Desk 0EditionsSign in
AnalysisAdvisorsPractice managementThe Rainmaker

Alliant builds RIA recruiting arm for $200M to $2B teams

Alliant is hiring on a W-2 basis, targeting teams far smaller than the $5.9 billion Merrill team Morgan Stanley just added.

At a glance

  1. Alliant is hiring on a W-2 basis, so a team joins as employees rather than as owners of their own firm.
  2. A team joining Alliant gives up the equity it would hold at an independent firm.
  3. Rockefeller added a three-partner Truist team in Atlanta managing $700 million, and the group produced $4 million in annual revenue, according to AdvisorHub.

Alliant is building an RIA recruiting arm led by Dan Newhall, aimed at advisor teams with $200 million to $2 billion in client assets for the firm's retirement and wealth division.

Alliant is hiring on a W-2 basis, so a team joins as employees rather than as owners of their own firm.

A team joining Alliant gives up the equity it would hold at an independent firm. In exchange, the team may gain introductions from a parent that already sells retirement and benefits services to corporate clients, potentially putting a plan sponsor in front of a wealth team.

Rockefeller added a three-partner Truist team in Atlanta managing $700 million, and the group produced $4 million in annual revenue, according to AdvisorHub. Morgan Stanley's new five-partner Merrill team, led by Rial A. Barnett, manages $5.9 billion, roughly three times the top of Alliant's band.

Kintra Wealth, a $4.3 billion RIA, has also started recruiting teams. CEO Andy Harris says new teams must fit a model he calls interdependence, and the firm expects more acquisitions in 2026.

The Merrill team was three times Alliant's ceiling

Client assets per team ($B), with Alliant's target floor and ceiling

  • Morgan Stanley Merrill team$5.9B
  • Alliant target ceiling$2B
  • Rockefeller Truist team$0.7B
  • Alliant target floor$0.2B
Source: AdvisorHub; InvestmentNews reports
Show as table
ItemValue ($B)
Morgan Stanley Merrill team$5.9B
Alliant target ceiling$2B
Rockefeller Truist team$0.7B
Alliant target floor$0.2B

Reported by the Practice management desk from Private Wealth Daily data pack coverage, compiled from firm announcements and AdvisorHub. Published . Corrections

Related

Advisors

Morgan Stanley adds Merrill team managing $5.9 billion

The five-partner group, led by Rial A. Barnett, also lists offices in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and Red Bank, New Jersey.

Advisors

Kintra Wealth starts recruiting teams at its $4.3 billion RIA

CEO Andy Harris says new teams must fit a model he calls interdependence, and the firm expects more acquisitions in 2026.

Advisors

UBS hires Merrill's John Pham and Jimmy Yip below $10M production minimum

The pair produced $7.5 million against the $10 million bar for a 16-year package paying 550% of revenue, on a book sources put at $575 million to $1.2 billion.

Advisors

Mercer says Arch cut alternatives costs 40%

The Denver RIA says the AI vendor saves more than 7,000 hours a year, while Osaic approves Nitrogen's suite for nearly 10,000 professionals.

Advisors

New PIABA president warns on FINRA arbitration changes

Joseph Wojciechowski, who took over Nov. 1, says restoring mandatory industry arbitrators and written-filing dismissals could erode investor protections.

Wealth Advisor Dailyfrom Private Wealth Daily

Practice management, recruiting, RIA M&A and the platforms advisors run on. Daily at 6:45 a.m. ET.

Free. Every morning. Unsubscribe from any edition in one click.

From other sections