Advisor360° Welcomes CEO, Nestimate Hires Former Allianz Exec
Advisor360° has appointed Milind Mehere as chief executive officer. A fintech entrepreneur with a track record of building companies from category creation to scale, Mehere steps into the role as Advisor360° enters its next era of AI-native growth.
Mehere succeeds Mike Fanning, who came out of retirement to guide Advisor360° through a period of strategic transition. Under Fanning’s leadership, the platform was strengthened and the team’s momentum accelerated. Fanning will remain engaged as a strategic advisor, ensuring continuity through the transition.
“Advisor360° has built what most companies are still trying to assemble: scaled enterprise software, a connected data model, deep advisor workflows, and a profitable business serving nearly 2 million households and 10,000 advisors. That’s a powerful foundation for building applied AI in wealth management. We’re at an inflection point for how AI reshapes advice, advisory productivity, and firm growth. My goal is to help this team accelerate that transformation and build a platform that makes advisors smarter, faster, and more competitive,” said Mehere.
Mehere co-founded Yodle, an ad-technology platform, and scaled it to more than $200 million in revenue and 1,400 employees before its $342 million acquisition by Web.com in 2016. He then founded and was the CEO of YieldStreet (now WillowWealth), a leading private-market investing platform, for nine years. Most recently, Mehere founded AutonomyFinance.ai, an AI-native platform building an intelligence layer for financial advisors. Autonomy uses clients’ data and agentic AI to deliver more personalized and proactive advice. That experience will inform Advisor360°’s next chapter as the company accelerates its AI roadmap and builds toward a more automated and personalized advisor experience.
Having served on Advisor360°’s board of directors for the past two years, Mehere has worked closely with a board that includes leaders such as William D. Green, former chairman and CEO of Accenture, and Bob Davis, managing partner of Highland Capital Partners.
Nestimate Hires Former Allianz Exec to Lead National Accounts
Nestimate has added Matt Stubblefield as head of National Accounts.
Stubblefield brings 14 years of experience in the 401(k) industry spanning distribution, research, and analyst roles, and will be responsible for managing the firm’s national accounts strategy and relationships.
Prior to joining Nestimate, Stubblefield held roles at Allianz, Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), and Fidelity. His dual designations as a Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst reflect his deep expertise in investment management, while his tenure at Allianz ignited his passion around retirement income within defined contribution space.
“I am thrilled to join the Nestimate team after consistently hearing from across the industry they were building something special. I believe Nestimate brings meaningful value differentiation and innovation to advisors, ultimately helping more participants retire with dignity,” said Stubblefield.
“Matt is a tremendous addition to our team. His experience covering multiple sides of the business and his passion around retirement income aligned well with our mission” said Kelby Meyers, CEO.
MAI Capital Management Buys UHNW RIA
MAI Capital Management has acquired Service Academy Capital Management, LLC, a Dallas-based registered investment advisor (RIA) serving ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and their families, institutions and family offices.
SACMGT will join MAI’s UHNW division, Evoke. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2015 by Brian Sears, SACMGT specializes in delivering bespoke portfolios and financial planning advice. Utilizing both private and public market investments, SACMGT constructs portfolios specific to each client’s risk profile and investment objectives.
Prior to founding SACMGT, Sears served as one of the co-heads of Barclays Wealth America, overseeing the Western United States, as a global co-head of Distribution and Product Development for Alternative Investments at Neuberger Berman and as a financial advisor at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.
“Brian and his team have built just the kind of firm we seek out—one where the client relationship comes first and the investment approach is as unique as the clients they serve,” said Rick Buoncore, chairman and CEO at MAI. “Service Academy Capital Management’s depth of experience in alternatives, fixed income and complex planning, combined with a family office-style approach to each client relationship, will complement MAI’s platform, especially as we continue to expand our ultra-high-net-worth and family office offerings.”
The addition of SACMGT is said to further enhance MAI’s UHNW capabilities and bench strength.
“The addition of the Service Academy Capital team enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive, high-touch service to clients across Dallas and the broader region, one of the country’s most dynamic markets,” said David Hou, managing partner at Evoke. “Ultra-high-net-worth families today tend to want more than investment access. Many are looking for a full family office experience, and through this partnership, Brian and his team will be able to provide their clients access to our Family Office Service Group, which offers sophisticated planning as well as tax, estate, and lifestyle support tailored to multigenerational wealth.”
By joining MAI, SACMGT will gain access to MAI’s integrated platform, including compliance, operations, portfolio reporting and performance, tax and estate planning, trust services, research and a family office infrastructure. Sears will continue to lead client relationships and investment strategy for the firm in his new role as investment advisor and senior managing director.
“I have known and worked with members of the Evoke leadership team since 1994,” said Sears. “Over the years, we often discussed finding a way to partner, and once Evoke joined MAI last year, the decision was straightforward. After visiting MAI in Cleveland, meeting with leadership and sitting in on research calls, I found a firm that shares a philosophy similar to the one we built at Service Academy Capital Management, one that is dedicated to providing integrated wealth management solutions for clients, aims to make the right decisions for its people, and is deeply committed to giving back.”
Empower Names Taft-Hartley Business EVP
Empower has promoted Marybeth Daubenspeck to executive vice president of government and Taft-Hartley businesses at the organization, the company announced this week.
The government and Taft-Hartley businesses serve public sector employees and trade union retirement plans— including teachers, first responders, public employees, and skilled trade professionals across the country.
Empower’s government and Taft-Hartley businesses encompass service to roughly 14,400 retirement plans; 7,590 clients; and approximately six million plan participants. Assets under administration (AUA) are approximately $403 billion as of March 31, 2026.
“Marybeth will be responsible for advancing Empower’s growth strategy, strengthening client relationships, and continuing to deliver exceptional service and value across these segments,” said Joe Smolen, president of Workplace Solutions at Empower. “She has a natural aptitude for leadership and her experience supporting our customers has always gone above and beyond. I’m confident she will help drive these businesses forward while supporting the financial futures of those we serve.”
Daubenspeck will report to Smolen and has recently assumed the new role.
“The growth and success we’ve achieved across these unique segments make this new opportunity particularly exciting and rewarding,” said Daubenspeck. “Helping the individuals who serve our communities has been something I’ve been very proud of. When they succeed, we succeed—and that will continue be our focus.”
A native of Long Island, New York, Daubenspeck joined Empower as a legal secretary at age 19 and, with this appointment, takes on leadership of one of the company’s biggest and most expansive units.
“In so many ways, Marybeth represents the best of Empower. She’s absolutely devoted to her clients and the people she works with. What more could you ask for in a leader?” said Smolen. “I cannot be more excited to see her take the reins of this important segment and do even more for these deserving clients.”
Daubenspeck has held many positions during her tenure at Empower, most recently as vice president of Government Markets, where she led a $120B assets under administration (AUA) portfolio and drove strategic growth, client retention, operational performance, and organizational transformation initiatives. Prior to that, she served as vice president of Institutional Markets, where she was responsible for business performance, client acquisition and retention, contract governance, and long-term strategic growth initiatives.
State Street Expands Partnership with Principal
State Street Corporation has been selected by Principal Financial Group, a global financial services company specializing in retirement solutions, asset management and insurance, to provide custody, fund accounting and administration services for Principal Funds.
Under the expanded mandate, Principal will leverage State Street’s integrated investment servicing platform and global operating scale to support the evolution of its mutual fund business. The appointment reflects the focus of Principal on aligning operating strategy with scalable infrastructure as it continues to broaden its investment offerings.
The mandate builds on a relationship between State Street and Principal that spans more than a decade, during which State Street has supported Principal across a range of investment vehicles, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and collective investment trusts (CITs), as the firm has grown and diversified its product suite.
“Principal has a strong track record of innovation and client focus, and we are pleased to expand our relationship in support of their next phase of growth,” said Joerg Ambrosius, president of Investment Services at State Street. “By bringing together our global scale, deep expertise and integrated servicing capabilities, we are well positioned to enhance operational efficiency and support of Principal and the continued evolution of their investment products.”
“Partnering with State Street gives us access to a scalable operational structure and speed to market as we continue to transform our U.S. wealth and retirement business,” said Kamal Bhatia, president and CEO, Principal Asset Management. “This transition reflects our focus on strategic partnering and outsourcing that accelerates our business for long‑term profitable growth.”
Pattern Wealth Joins Ameriprise Financial
Pattern Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice, recently joined the branch channel of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. from Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. with $160 million in client assets.
The practice, located in Wayzata, Minn., is led by private wealth advisor Jeremy Jackson and includes his father, financial advisor Dave Jackson, and client service associate Erika Holland.
“We’ve always been committed to helping our clients navigate retirement planning, insurance, and investment decisions with care and precision,” said Jeremy Jackson. “As we looked to the future, it was important to find a firm that could help us deliver even more, through a broader set of tools, a proven growth platform, and a brand our clients recognize and trust. Ameriprise stood out on all fronts.”
Jackson emphasized the firm’s client-focused culture and operational support as key differentiators. “Ameriprise provides the right combination of personalized support, operational efficiency, and modern AI and technology capabilities to help us grow intentionally,” he said. “The firm’s integrated platform allows us to deliver more comprehensive advice while spending more time focused on what matters most: our clients. We’re energized by the platform Ameriprise has built for the future, one that brings together robust investment solutions, meaningful advice, and personalized strategies with seamless digital capabilities. It positions us to continue evolving alongside our clients’ needs.”
“The transition has been smooth, and clients have been enthusiastic about what this move means for them,” Jackson added. “They’re excited about the expanded opportunities and the enhanced experience we’re able to provide.”
Pattern Wealth is supported locally by Ameriprise Complex Director Adam Lukens and Ameriprise Regional Vice President Mitch Doren.
Waverly Advisors Acquires WealthPlans
Waverly Advisors, LLC, a federally registered investment adviser that specializes in investment management, financial planning and wealth management solutions for a diverse group of high-net-worth individuals, corporate retirement plans and institutional clients, has acquired WealthPlans, LLC, a wealth management firm based in Frederick, MD.
As part of this transaction, Waverly’s affiliate, Waverly Business Services, LLC, has acquired WealthPlans’ affiliate, Cooley & Associates, P.C., a tax preparation and accounting services business also based in Frederick, MD.
Founded by President Brent Cooley, Cooley provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management and tax-efficient strategies tailored to the goals of its clients. Cooley and the entire team will join Waverly, and the acquisition will contribute approximately $250 million in assets to the firm.
“Brent and his team bring exceptional technical expertise and an unwavering commitment to serving clients with integrity,” said Justin Russell, president and CEO of Waverly. “This combination of qualities strengthens the firm’s collective ability to deliver outstanding outcomes and a world-class client experience.”
“Partnering with Waverly gives us access to an expanded suite of resources and a national network of professionals, allowing the team to remain focused on the client relationships we have cultivated over the years,” said Cooley. “Our clients will benefit from Waverly’s robust platform capabilities while continuing to receive the personalized service they have come to expect.”
The acquisition of Cooley marks Waverly’s 33rd transaction since accepting an equity investment in December 2021 from Wealth Partners Capital Group (WPCG) and HGGC’s Aspire Holdings platform. The transaction closed on May 29, 2026, and will increase Waverly’s assets under management to approximately $35.5 billion.
Financial and legal terms of the deal will not be disclosed.
Modern Wealth Management Buys $1.1B Flaharty Asset Management
Modern Wealth Management announced an asset purchase agreement with Clearwater, Florida-based Flaharty Asset Management, a holistic wealth management firm overseeing approximately $1.1 billion across advisory and brokerage assets.
Led by Shon Flaharty, CFP, AIF, and Hunter Orr, CFA, Flaharty brings an 18-person team, including nine advisors, to Modern Wealth. The firm serves clients from offices in Clearwater and Punta Gorda, Florida, and has built its business around comprehensive wealth management, high-touch client service and a personalized advice model.
The acquisition expands Modern Wealth’s presence in Florida, a priority market for the firm as it continues building regional offices in key locations across the country. Following Modern Wealth’s April acquisition of South Florida-based Legacy Wealth Management, the addition of Flaharty establishes a presence in the Greater Tampa Bay/Clearwater market and strengthens the firm’s growing Southeast footprint.
“For nearly two decades, we have focused on building a firm that cares deeply about the people we serve and the people we work alongside,” said Flaharty. “As our business has grown, we knew the next chapter required a partner that could help us preserve that culture while continuing to evolve. Modern Wealth understands what makes our firm different and shares our belief that great advice is about much more than investment management alone.”
By joining Modern Wealth, the Flaharty team will gain access to an integrated wealth management platform, backed by centralized support across marketing, technology, compliance, human resources, and operations, as well as premium in‑house capabilities in financial planning, investment management, tax planning and preparation, estate planning and retirement plan management. The team will also have access to Modern Wealth’s Organic Growth Hub, where teams source prospective clients before connecting them with advisers.
“Our objective has always been to grow the right way, with the right clients and without losing the culture that got us here,” said Orr. “Modern Wealth gives us additional capacity to expand the work we believe matters most — helping each client build a financial blueprint that reflects their goals, risks, family dynamics and priorities.”
Flaharty is Modern Wealth’s 22nd acquisition to date and follows the recent addition of Brown and Company in Colorado. Modern Wealth now manages more than $14 billion in assets across 20 offices nationwide.
Soltis Investment Advisors Acquires Artifex Financial Group
Soltis Investment Advisors, LLC, an RIA with approximately $14 billion of client assets, has acquired Artifex Financial Group, a financial planning and wealth management firm based in Dayton, Ohio.
Founded in 2007 by Doug Kinsey and Darren Harp, Artifex advises more than $325 million of client assets and serves over 300 client households and local businesses. Alongside personal financial advice, the firm also offers active investment management, business consulting and tax & accounting services.
“At Soltis, we look for partners who share our belief that great wealth management starts with trusted relationships,” said Clark Taylor, CEO of Soltis. “I’m thrilled to welcome the Artifex team to the Soltis platform. This will enable us to strengthen our support in the Midwest, with Artifex’s clients continuing to work with the advisors they trust while gaining access to the broader planning and operational resources of Soltis.”
Artifex Co-Founders Doug Kinsey and Darren Harp will hold active leadership roles within the organization.
“Since Artifex’s founding, our focus has been helping clients navigate complex financial decisions through thoughtful planning and disciplined investing,” said Doug Kinsey, co-founder of Artifex Financial Group. “This partnership with Soltis allows us to continue serving our clients while giving them access to a deeper investment team and expanded planning resources.”
“Doug and I built Artifex on a shared commitment to client relationships, trust and long-term stewardship,” said Darren Harp, co-founder of Artifex Financial Group. “With Soltis, we are thrilled to continue to support our clients while helping to expand the firm’s presence and growth across the Midwest.”
Alaris Acquisitions, an M&A advisory firm specializing exclusively in the wealth management industry, acted as the advisor for this transaction.
Lincoln Financial Announces Leadership Promotions
Lincoln Financial has promoted three senior leaders to its Senior Management Committee (SMC): Darrel Tedrow as executive vice president, and president of Life Insurance and Retail Shared Services; Curtis Chesney as executive vice president, and president of Annuities; and Paul Spurr as executive vice president and chief risk officer and chief actuary.
All three report directly to Ellen Cooper, chairman, president and CEO.
Each business will now have a dedicated president reporting to Cooper.
Tedrow joined Lincoln 20 years ago and previously served as president of Life. In his expanded role, Tedrow will continue to lead the Life business while also assuming executive oversight of operations and shared services functions that support the company’s Retail businesses.
Chesney brings 17 years of Lincoln experience to his new role leading the Annuity organization. He most recently served as CFO of Lincoln’s Annuity business, and also previously led Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis across all of Lincoln’s business segments. In his new role, Chesney is responsible for delivering on financial and growth objectives, overseeing product strategy and in-force management and ensuring a high-quality experience for customers and advisors across all distribution channels.
Spurr has been with Lincoln for more than two decades, serving in progressively senior leadership roles across finance, risk, and actuarial functions. In this role, he is responsible for advancing Lincoln’s risk management framework, overseeing the company’s risk profile, and ensuring risk considerations are embedded in capital allocation, product strategy, and business planning. He also leads actuarial practices across valuation, reserving, and pricing, further enhancing discipline and consistency across the organization.
These promotions coincide with the planned retirements of Brian Kroll, EVP and president of Retail Life and Annuity Solutions, and Andy Rallis, EVP and chief risk officer — both effective as of June 1.
“These promotions reflect the incredible depth of talent we have developed at Lincoln and our commitment to thoughtful, deliberate succession planning,” said Cooper. “Darrel, Curtis and Paul each bring deep institutional knowledge, proven leadership, and a track record of results that give me tremendous confidence in our path forward. It is genuinely exciting to see leaders of this caliber step into expanded roles, and I look forward to the energy they will bring to our Senior Management Committee as we continue to lead our talented workforce in executing on our strategy and delivering for our customers, partners, and shareholders.”
“We also want to recognize and thank Brian Kroll and Andy Rallis for their significant contributions to Lincoln,” Cooper continued, “I am deeply grateful for their partnership, their leadership, and their commitment to our strategy and our people — and I wish them both the very best in their well-earned retirements.”
Tupelo Wealth Partners Joins Cetera
Cetera welcomes financial advisors Les Benzak, John Gallagher, Lynn Craig, and the Tupelo Wealth Partners team overseeing approximately $490 million in AUA. Tupelo Wealth Partners joined Cetera through its Summit Financial Networks community. Based in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, the practice partners Benzak, Gallagher and Craig bring over 75 years of combined experience and have worked together for more than two decades.
Tupelo Wealth Partners offers comprehensive financial planning and wealth management. The firm specializes in lifetime planning needs including retirement saving, college saving, tax planning, asset protection, legacy planning for heirs and pension optimization. With recently added advisor, Sage Bleakney, and active plans to grow further, the practice is focused on expansion.
The move to Cetera was the culmination of an unexpected transition. After decades at Lincoln Investment, the advisors at Tupelo Wealth Partners deliberately chose to join Commonwealth and had expected to finish their careers at the firm. When LPL acquired Commonwealth, they faced an inflection point they never anticipated.
After evaluating the full landscape of independent broker-dealer options, they concluded that Summit, as part of Cetera, stood apart as the one broker-dealer that matched what Commonwealth had been.
Benzak said: “We didn’t go looking for something close to Commonwealth, we wanted the same thing – experienced advisors, accessible leadership, specialized service, and a firm that actually knows who you are. When we met (community leader) Marshall Leeds and the Summit team, we pretty much knew that was the place.”
For the Tupelo Wealth Partners advisors, the decision came down to culture and the depth of support that Summit provides to its advisors. Technology – including client-facing tools and the advisor portal – mattered, as did access to Cetera’s advanced planning resources, which the practice plans to use to further enhance client service with equity compensation and estate planning needs. But Benzak said that more than infrastructure, it was the character of the people.
“All the companies we talked with were solid options. The difference at Summit was in the details and the people,” Benzak said. “The specialized service within Summit really appealed to us. And if you can’t do right by your clients, everything else is noise. We’re confident we’re in the right place to keep doing that.”
Welcoming the Tupelo Wealth Partners team, Cetera Advisor Channel Leader Tom Halloran said, “When the Tupelo advisors went to Commonwealth, they did it deliberately to build their business for the long term. Following the Commonwealth acquisition, they evaluated their options and determined that Summit best aligned with the qualities that initially attracted them to Commonwealth, something we worked hard to demonstrate and earn. Les, John and Lynn are the definition of advisors Summit was built for – experienced, selective, and uncompromising advisors committed to their clients. We’re proud to be the right answer for Tupelo Wealth Partners.”
HUB Appoints National Chief Cross-Sell Officer
Hub International Limited (HUB) has appointed Kyle Bloemers as national chief cross-sell officer. The newly created role is part of HUB’s broader strategy to help deliver greater value to clients, drive new business generation and accelerate organic growth.
“Our clients are best served when they have access to the full breadth of HUB’s services and solutions,” said Marc Cohen, president and CEO of HUB. “Kyle has spent his career helping businesses see around corners, analyzing exposures, finding the gaps and bringing the right solutions to meet their goals. He has a proven track record of recruiting and developing high-performing sales teams and driving significant new business growth. He is the right leader to build this function, which is a meaningful contributor to HUB’s organic growth.”
Bloemers will spearhead HUB’s enterprise-wide cross-sell strategy to help middle market and upper middle market clients access HUB’s suite of solutions across Commercial Lines, Employee Benefits, Private Client and Retirement & Private Wealth. He will activate HUB’s regional cross-sell leaders across the firm’s 34 geographic regions in North America to implement the national strategy in every market HUB serves.
Bloemers brings more than two decades of insurance sales and leadership experience to the role. Prior to his current role, Bloemers held senior leadership positions at HUB, including chief sales officer and chief marketing officer for the Midwest East region. Before joining HUB, he served as senior vice president at a global insurance brokerage firm, where he began his insurance career as a commercial insurance advisor. Bloemers holds the certified insurance counselor (CIC) designation and a master’s degree. He is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.