Osaic just made a big play in the wealth management space—officially sealing the deal to acquire CW Advisors, a Boston-based registered investment advisor (RIA) managing $14.5 billion in fee-only client assets. The move, announced today, folds 150 professionals across 18 offices into Osaic’s growing network, while letting CW Advisors keep its brand, service model, and operational independence.

It’s a win-win setup: CW Advisors keeps its boutique feel; Osaic gets a broader footprint across the high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth markets without disrupting client relationships.

What’s in the Deal

CW Advisors will operate as a standalone RIA, but now with the backing of one of the nation’s largest wealth management providers. Osaic, a portfolio company of Reverence Capital Partners, says the acquisition bolsters its “supported independence” model—giving advisors flexibility in how they affiliate while tapping into enterprise-level resources.

For context, the “supported independence” trend has been gaining steam in wealth management for years, as firms try to lure top advisors with a balance of autonomy and big-firm muscle. Rivals like LPL Financial and Cetera have been making similar moves to broaden their appeal across advisor segments.

Why It Matters

The deal underscores the consolidation wave sweeping the RIA sector, where scale, technology, and multi-affiliation platforms increasingly separate the big players from the boutique holdouts. By adding CW Advisors’ $14.5 billion AUM, Osaic not only diversifies its asset base but also strengthens its pitch to advisors who want independence without sacrificing infrastructure.

Jamie Price, Osaic’s CEO, calls CW Advisors “an exceptional organization with a talented team and a commitment to delivering outstanding service.” CW Advisors CEO Scott Dell’Orfano says the tie-up “empowers us to deepen the value we deliver to our clients while maintaining independence.”

Both companies are betting the combination will let them punch above their weight in a market where affluent clients expect both white-glove service and cutting-edge digital tools.

As wealth management firms jockey for high-net-worth market share, expect more of these hybrid acquisitions—where the buyer gets scale and reach, and the acquired firm keeps its identity. For Osaic, this could be just the latest in a series of moves aimed at locking in a leadership position across all segments of the wealth spectrum.