MAI Capital Strengthens Southeast Reach with Liberty Private Client Acquisition

MAI Capital Management, a registered investment advisor with a national presence, has further cemented its expansion in the Southeast by acquiring Liberty Private Client, an RIA based in Fort Myers, Florida. The deal adds $245 million in client assets under management (AUM) and brings Liberty’s full advisory team into MAI’s wider platform, reinforcing MAI’s strategy of combining local relationships with institutional resources.

Deal Summary

• Acquirer: MAI Capital Management, headquartered in Cleveland, managing more than $39 billion in total assets.
• Target: Liberty Private Client, LLC - an RIA founded in 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida, serving individuals, families, corporations, and nonprofits.
• Assets: Approximately $245 million in AUM.
• Services: Liberty offers customized wealth management, tax planning, retirement strategies, and legacy planning.
• Team Transition: The full Liberty advisory and support staff will join MAI, ensuring continuity for clients.
• Strategic Rationale: The acquisition gives Liberty’s advisors access to MAI’s broad resources - including fixed income, equity management, and planning expertise - while preserving their client-centered culture.
• Timing: Liberty became part of MAI effective October 24, 2025.

Industry Context

The RIA industry continues to consolidate as independent advisory firms seek both scale and infrastructure - and as larger platforms look to expand regional reach. MAI’s acquisition of Liberty reflects this dynamic, combining Liberty’s deep client relationships and tailored planning model with MAI’s robust asset management, planning, and tax capabilities.

This is also part of MAI’s broader Southeast strategy; Liberty marks its third Florida-based acquisition in the past year.

The move underscores how RIAs are leveraging M&A to accelerate growth, build out capabilities, and diversify geography while retaining the hands-on advisory models clients value.

Lower-Middle-Market Roll-Up Perspective

From a platform M&A standpoint, MAI’s acquisition illustrates several strategic themes:

1. Strategic Local Expansion: Acquiring Liberty gives MAI stronger local coverage in Florida, a key growth market.
2. Preservation of Culture: By integrating Liberty’s team wholesale, MAI retains the firm’s client-service philosophy and personal relationships.
3. Capability Leverage: Liberty’s clients gain access to MAI’s wider suite of services, including planning, tax, and investment management.
4. Scalability Through Integration: Liberty’s infrastructure will be supported by MAI’s national platform - enabling more efficient operations and service delivery.
5. Roll-Up Momentum: This acquisition is consistent with MAI’s M&A strategy, as part of a broader effort to build a national RIA platform through targeted add-ons.

Why This Sector Is Attractive for Roll-Ups

• Regional Footprint Importance: RIAs with local trust are attractive to national platforms seeking to cement presence in high-growth regions.
• Recurring, High-Value Relationships: Wealth advisory, tax, and legacy planning generate deep, long-term client relationships.
• Scalable Services: By combining advisory with planning and investment services, platforms can cross-sell and deepen client engagement.
• Succession & Growth Alignment: For boutique firms, joining a larger platform provides access to infrastructure, brand, and scale to grow without selling out entirely.
• PE-Style Platform Building: While MAI is not a typical PE shop, its aggressive acquisition pace mirrors PE roll-up strategies in the RIA space.

Conclusion

MAI Capital’s purchase of Liberty Private Client is a smart, strategic move that strengthens its Southeast reach while staying true to its client-first philosophy. By integrating Liberty’s team and client base, MAI is not just adding assets - it is enhancing its advisory capabilities and reinforcing its national platform with meaningful local relationships.

For RIA founders and advisors, this deal reaffirms the value of partnering with firms that offer both scale and cultural alignment. For investors in the wealth-management space, MAI’s consistent M&A playbook underscores the durability of roll-up strategies centered on talent, service, and long-term advisory value.