Creative Planning, a wealth-management firm based in Overland Park, Kan., has acquired roughly 20 small firms in the past two years, largely to increase its presence in local markets, said Chief Executive Peter Mallouk. Having a local presence raises awareness among potential clients, he said. “They’ve heard of the Morgans and Merrills and Goldmans. We’d like to raise our profile to be a true alternative to that locally,” he said.
