Team to execute national growth strategies, including lift-outs, recruiting and acquisitions

Overland Park, Kan. – February 23, 2021 – Mariner Wealth Advisors, the wealth advisory firm nationally ranked by Barron’s as a top five RIA Firm for the last five years, today announced the establishment of its corporate development team to accelerate the growth momentum of both Mariner Wealth Advisors and Mariner Platform Solutions.

The establishment of the corporate development team exemplifies a concentrated effort to grow and expand the firm, which has been welcoming new advisors and firms at an impressive rate. Since inception, Mariner Wealth Advisors has acquired 24 firms, completed 16 lift-outs and greenfielded 20 locations. Year to date, the firm has already hired 16 wealth advisors. The team will focus on expanding these numbers, spearheading the strategic lift-out of advisors and teams, assessing and identifying key talent for recruiting, as well as RIA firm acquisitions across the United States.

The corporate development team will also seek those who are an ideal fit for Mariner Platform Solutions. Advisors who want to start their own practice, or firms who wish to maintain ownership but need assistance building their business, are the ideal candidates for the full suite of resources. The platform is backed by more than 200 years of combined experience and includes investment models, advisory solutions and robust operational support. “I am proud that we ended 2020 with 41 offices, 350 advisors and $39 billion in assets under advisement,” said Marty Bicknell, CEO of Mariner Wealth Advisors. “With the prowess and deep knowledge that the members of our corporate development team have, I look forward to another year of prosperous growth in the number of exceptional advisors we bring on, the amount of firms we acquire, and the quality of candidates we introduce to Mariner Platform Solutions.”

With the establishment of this team, Brian Leitner has assumed the role of Head of Wealth Management & Corporate Development. In this role, he oversees the corporate development team and is responsible for inorganic growth within the company.

The team is also composed of industry veterans Brian O’Regan, Kevin Corbett, and Jason McElwee, who serve as managing directors of corporate development. Corbett and O’Regan have a history of business development, strategic planning and regional marketing management, having spent 17 and 20 years, respectively, with Fidelity Investments before joining Mariner Wealth Advisors. McElwee is a cofounder of Mariner Wealth Advisors.

“We are interested in speaking with advisors across a variety of business models and institutions throughout the country,” said Leitner. “We focus on recruiting individuals and firms who bring a planning-based mindset, and who want to operate in the best interest of clients at all times while growing their business. With the establishment of this team, I foresee many tremendous opportunities ahead for continuing our growth.”

¹Barron’s awarded the 2020 #5, 2019 #4 and 2018 #3 Top RIA Firms ranking to Mariner Wealth Advisors based on data compiled for Mariner Wealth Advisors and the 2017 #2 and 2016 #1 rankings to Mariner Holdings based upon data compiled for Mariner Holdings’ registered investment adviser subsidiaries. The number of firms included in the rankings were: 20 (2016), 30 (2017), 40 (2018), 50 (2019) and 100 (2020). Barron’s publishes these lists based upon a number of criteria and the firms’ filings with the SEC were used to cross-check the data provided to Barron’s. The listing includes the firms’ numbers of clients, employees, advisors, offices and state locations. The award is not indicative of future performance and there is no guarantee of future investment success. Registration of an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of training or skill.