When it comes to growing its business, Creative Planning is keeping calm and carrying on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The firm is expanding its footprint abroad with the acquisition of the London-based RIA Maseco, a move that will allow Creative Planning to continue expanding services for clients with cross-border wealth management needs. The deal will bring 123 employees and over $5 billion in AUM to the platform of one of the largest RIAs in the US, according to a statement<\/a>. Scale, it seems, is becoming a requirement for serving high-net-worth clients with global needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are seeing more and more clients move overseas,\u201d said Creative Planning CEO Peter Mallouk, adding that they currently serve thousands of US ex-pats. He emphasized further expansion in Europe and said Canada is \u201ca major priority.\u201d \u201cWe are also seeing more and more people overseas reach out to us asking if we can work with them,\u201d he told Advisor Upside.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t Mind the Gap\u00a0<\/p>\n The Maseco purchase marks Creative Planning\u2019s second international acquisition this year following\u00a0the Swiss firm Baseline Wealth Management<\/a> in January, which added 14 employees and more than $1 billion in AUM. Maseco was \u201cthe perfect fit for us,\u201d Mallouk said, adding that of all the firms in the UK, its approach was most similar to Creative Planning\u2019s. Maseco is uniquely positioned with dual registration from the SEC and the UK\u2019s equivalent, the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as expertise in integrating US, UK and offshore financial solutions, said Sam Sphire, vice president of the boutique investment bank Echelon Partners.\u00a0<\/p>\n But the Overland Park, Kan.-based Creative Planning certainly isn\u2019t the only large RIA looking to expand across the pond:\u00a0<\/p>\n Last year, Corient agreed to buy <\/a>UK-based wealth and asset managers Stonehage Fleming and Stanhope Capital Group, ushering in more than $214 billion in client assets. Also in 2025, Marsh subsidiary Mercer acquired<\/a> the UK-based wealth manager Fundhouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n