Carson Group adds $1.6 billion Marietta Wealth in Georgia

Carson Group said Tuesday it added Marietta Wealth Management, a four-partner Georgia firm with about $1.6 billion in assets under advisement, to its integrated employee channel.

Clients will keep their current advisors and service staff, while the Marietta advisors gain access to Carson's Private Client Services, research, planning offerings and operational support, according to InvestmentNews. The integrated channel is the division where acquired practices become fully branded Carson Wealth offices rather than affiliating as independents.

For an owner weighing a sale, joining the integrated channel means giving up the standalone brand while team members gain platform support and, Carson said, more ownership opportunities. Carson did not disclose terms for Marietta, so no multiple can be calculated.

WealthManagement.com reported that Carson launched an equity program in July for W-2 advisors and support staff.

Marietta is led by managing partners Scott Keller, Charlie Holloway, Ben Crowe and Wes Hackney. The firm offers financial, investment, tax and retirement planning.

WealthManagement.com, citing SEC records, reported that the principals were registered with Hennsler Financial until 2015, when they launched Marietta Wealth Management, and that Alaris Acquisitions advised on the deal.

The deal is Carson's second in the Atlanta area in about a week. St. John & Associates, a Roswell practice with about $131 million in assets, joined Carson Wealth's Milton, Ga., office, InvestmentNews reported.

At $1.6 billion, Marietta is smaller than the $1.76 billion Hanover, N.H., team of Doyle and Loughman Wealth Management, which came from Wells Fargo. WealthManagement.com called that Carson's largest asset-based acquisition to date.