Acquisition Expands Firm’s Advisor Network and Broadens Platform Offerings for Independent Financial Advisors

Overland Park, Kan. – July 19, 2022 – Mariner Wealth Advisors today announced the acquisition of The Financial Services Network (“The Network”), a national enterprise office that provides a variety of administrative, consulting, compliance and operational services for more than 400 independent financial advisors. The acquisition will expand the reach of Mariner Platform Solutions, an affiliate of Mariner Wealth Advisors that offers a suite of resources to independent financial advisors who seek to scale their businesses and focus on serving clients without the distractions of back-office responsibilities.

After the deal closes, The Network will rebrand as Mariner Advisor Network, a name that reflects the collaborative and complementary nature of both businesses and focus on bolstering the firm’s core offerings of fintech, portfolio consulting, compliance and operations, virtual administration services, and mergers and acquisitions support for independent advisors. The organization will also continue its strategic relationship with LPL Financial giving its advisors further access to the knowledge and resources of one of the nation’s leading RIA custodians and its largest independent broker-dealer.

“We launched Mariner Platform Solutions in 2020 to free independent advisors from back-office responsibilities and return them to what they do best: providing world-class financial guidance to their clients,” said Marty Bicknell, CEO and president of Mariner Wealth Advisors. “Today is a win for advisors who seek to spend more time advising their clients and growing their business and less time managing the day-to-day operations. The depth of experience among the professionals at The Network and the reach and expertise of LPL Financial will enable us to serve more advisors and enhance their access to some of the industry’s best back-office and consulting resources.”

The Network was founded in 1984 and has evolved over the years as an OSJ, RIA firm, and provider of support services demanded by today’s independent financial advisors. The Network is led by Daxs Stadjuhar, Christopher Mercado, and Jeremy Olen, and currently has more than 400 advisors in 20 states with $26 billion AUA. Today’s acquisition marks the next phase of strategic growth and reinforces the team’s commitment to serving the independent advisor community. The Network’s executive leadership team will remain in place and has been asked to lead the combined business offering, continuing the integration of resources and strategically expanding capabilities.

“From the day we met the Mariner team, it was clear that we shared the same advisor-centric mission and passion for helping advisors excel as business owners,” said Christopher Mercado, The Network. “The complementary nature of our expertise, solutions and advisor-centric philosophy will accelerate the expansion of our network, broaden the scope of how we work with advisors, and help advisors overcome the traditional impediments to growth. We’re thrilled to join the Mariner family and look forward to leading and growing the Mariner Advisor Network together.”

Since its inception in 2020, Mariner Platform Solutions has partnered with 33 firms with AUM totaling $2.6 billion and has over 66 advisors and 22 brands leveraging its resources. The acquisition of The Network will add over 400 advisors along with more than 50 associates who make up a highly specialized group of transition, investment, compliance and administrative support professionals dedicated to serving the needs of an elite community of independent financial advisors.

“It’s exciting when you get the chance to align your organization with a firm that shares the same vision and principles for taking care of advisors so they can take better care of their clients,” said Matthew Enyedi, Managing Director, LPL Financial. “Through our partnership with The Network and our new relationship with Mariner Wealth Advisors, we are helping advisors choose the business model, services, and technology that empower them to run a highly efficient and scalable practice.”

Polisnelli PC served as legal counsel to Mariner Wealth Advisors. PJT Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to The Network, and Haynes and Boone LLP served as The Network’s legal counsel.