![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ArtificialIntelligence(1).jpg\"\/)
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We examine the ways in which two major forces at work in wealth management intersect, sometimes in unexpected ways. \t \t \t <\/p>\n
\n Artificial intelligence and mergers and acquisitions are two of
\n the most influential trends determining the course of the wealth
\n management business. M&A transaction volume is
\n continuing\u00a0to set records as consolidation intensifies and
\n valuations remain historically high, while implementing AI in
\n firms” workflows has become table stakes for the modern RIA.
\n<\/p>\n
\n But how exactly has one trend impacted the other?
\n<\/p>\n
\n Industry experts say that RIA sellers who have integrated AI into
\n their workflows, tech stack and data systems can enhance their
\n valuations by improving efficiency, margins and profitability, as
\n well as data quality.
\n<\/p>\n
\n In a seller\u2019s market, however, what\u2019s proving to be even more
\n consequential is the buyer\u2019s ability to demonstrate it has
\n state-of-the-art AI that can differentiate them and attract
\n choosy sellers who want to partner with acquirers who have the
\n most growth potential.
\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAn acquirer who is up to speed on AI is solid
\n gold\u201d
\n \u201cAquirers don\u2019t care what the technology of the seller looks
\n like,\u201d said veteran dealmaker Rush Benton, who now heads the
\n transaction consulting firm Gorman Jones<\/a>. \u201cThey\u2019re
\n going to put the acquired firm on their own tech stack and
\n platform anyway. But an acquirer who can demonstrate they\u2019re up
\n to speed on AI and have the best platform as a result is solid
\n gold. They become much more attractive as a buyer.\u201d
\n<\/p>\n
\n Not coincidentally, several of the industry\u2019s largest firms, and
\n acquirers, have recently announced massive AI investments and
\n build outs. LPL
\n Financial<\/a> has invested nearly $2 billion in \u201cLPL Latitude,\u201d
\n which will embed agentic AI into advisor workflows, Mariner is
\n spending $35 million on a five-year partnership with Humanity
\n Labs that will add 700 bots to an AI platform and Savant Wealth
\n Management is spending $50 million on a new operating system that
\n will add 1,000 \u201cbionic agents\u201d to its workforce. \u00a0
\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAI implementation that allows you to do more with less
\n people will make your business more valuable\u201d
\n Sellers that are embedding agentic AI into their workflows are
\n also benefiting by \u201ccommanding a stronger valuation multiple than
\n less tech-forward peers,\u201d said Harris Baltch, co-head of
\n investment banking for Dynasty
\n Financial Partners<\/a>.\u00a0
\n<\/p>\n
\n It\u2019s possible that innovative sellers may have AI systems that
\n fill a void buyers don\u2019t have yet, but the primary benefit for
\n sellers is being able to improve efficiency and margins, as well
\n as data quality and automating workflows, according to Baltch.
\n<\/p>\n
\n While having advanced AI implementation as a seller doesn\u2019t
\n directly enhance value, \u201cit can certainly indirectly enhance
\n value,\u201d according to David Goldstone, manager of investment
\n research at Condor
\n Capital Wealth Management<\/a>.
\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIf a firm\u2019s AI implementation is allowing you to do more with
\n less people and time you are going to have superior margins which
\n will make your business more valuable,\u201d Goldstone said. \u201cIf AI is
\n improving client outcomes and freeing up advisor time to better
\n serve clients, than your firm is likely performing well, winning
\n referrals, and growing faster.\u201d
\n<\/p>\n
\n And if the acquirer also has a strong AI implementation,
\n employees who are already accustomed to using AI tools may be
\n easier to integrate, Goldstone added.
\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cSellers are beginning to ask about buyer\u2019s AI
\n directly\u201d
\n M&A consultant Allen Darby, CEO of Alaris
\n Acquisitions<\/a>, said he\u2019s \u201cnever had a seller go to market
\n based on an AI-centric model. Creating such an environment would
\n take tens of millions of dollars over many years, and RIA firms
\n under $10 billion are simply not putting money toward that goal
\n at this time. They don’t even know how to think about it.
\n Therefore, today the AI premium is purely theoretical for
\n sellers.\u201d
\n<\/p>\n
\n However, AI is making a big difference for acquiring firms,
\n according to Darby.\u00a0
\n<\/p>\n
\n \u201cI\u2019m already seeing it,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the areas which sellers
\n consider when selecting a buyer, AI is becoming a major factor.
\n Sellers are beginning to ask about AI directly. Buyers who excel
\n are those with actual AI integration that has generated tangible
\n returns on investment or scale within their organizations. These
\n buyers are spending tens of millions of dollars and it\u2019s now
\n differentiating them in the eyes of growth-minded sellers.\u201d
\n<\/p>\n