TRPG Closes HMC Acquisition
Cetera has announced that its employee-based RIA, The Retirement Planning Group (TRPG), has successfully closed an acquisition of HMC Partners, bringing approximately $425 million to Cetera and TRPG.
HMC Partners is based in Greensboro, NC, and serves more than 500 households across the U.S. HMC Partners’ co-founders John Hardy and Gib McEachran have joined TRPG and were previously affiliated with Summit Financial Networks.
“At TRPG, independent advisors who prioritize client relationships over operational complexities continue to find a strong and supportive home,” said Kevin Conard, CEO at TRPG. “John and Gib exemplify this sprit, bringing wealth management expertise and a deep commitment to serving clients first and foremost. We are proud to welcome them to the TRPG team and look forward to serving clients together.”
“TRPG aligns closely with our values and delivers expanded capabilities that will greatly benefit our business and clients,” said Hardy and McEachran. “We are excited to continue delivering exceptional service to our clients and are confident that the succession plan we’ve put in place will ensure long-term continuity and stability—for our clients, team and the future of our business.”
The acquisition of HMC Partners builds on TRPG’s recent inorganic growth momentum. In August 2025, TRPG successfully closed the acquisition of First Financial Advisors, Inc., bringing more than $300 million to Cetera. In the first quarter 2025, TRPG closed three acquisitions, totaling approximately $180 million in assets.
Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with nearly a decade of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado.
