Alluvial Wealth Surpasses $1.2 Billion with New Partner, Highlighting Rise of Enterprise RIA Model

MIAMI, FL – January 16, 2026 – In a significant move highlighting the accelerating trend of strategic consolidation within the independent wealth management sector, Ohio-based Alluvial Private Wealth has welcomed Bryan Blackburn, CFP®, an advisor managing over $190 million in client assets. The partnership, facilitated by Sanctuary Wealth’s Enterprise Partner Program, pushes Alluvial’s total client assets past the $1.2 billion mark and establishes Blackburn as Vice President, Wealth Advisor, and co-owner of the firm’s expanding Cleveland business.

Blackburn, an experienced independent advisor formerly with Carnegie Investment Counsel, joins the enterprise founded by Lars Olson, CFP®. Olson himself made a notable transition in January 2021, leaving Merrill Lynch with a $435 million practice to launch Alluvial Private Wealth under the Sanctuary Wealth umbrella. The addition of Blackburn’s practice represents a major milestone in Alluvial’s deliberate growth strategy and serves as a powerful case study for the effectiveness of a “partnered independence” model in a rapidly evolving industry.

The Power of Partnered Growth

This move is far more than a simple recruitment; it is an acquisition that underscores a fundamental shift in how independent advisory firms achieve scale. The transaction was made possible by Sanctuary Wealth's Enterprise Partner Program, a framework designed specifically to help its partner firms execute inorganic growth strategies. The program provides both the capital and the crucial operational support needed to identify, vet, and integrate new advisory practices, allowing firm leaders to focus on their clients and core business.

Lars Olson, who was among the first to receive Sanctuary's Enterprise Partner accreditation, has leveraged the program to systematically build his firm. "Bringing Bryan on as a co-owner of our Cleveland business is an exciting step in Alluvial's strategic growth plan, where we look to add at least one successful practice to our team every year," Olson stated. He emphasized the program's value in navigating the complexities of the deal, adding, "We are grateful for the guidance and support we received through Sanctuary's Enterprise Partner Program that made this deal a reality and enabled me to continue running my business while ensuring a smooth transition."

Sanctuary's model distinguishes itself in a crowded market of RIA aggregators and support platforms. Instead of pursuing full acquisitions, which is common for many private equity-backed players, Sanctuary provides capital for a minority stake, allowing the acquiring firm to retain majority control and entrepreneurial drive. This approach avoids saddling partners with significant debt or complex revenue-sharing agreements, aligning interests toward long-term enterprise value.

Vince Fertitta, President of Sanctuary Wealth, commented on the firm's proactive role in this trend. "Many of our partner firms have studied the demographics of the industry and see tremendous opportunity in building an enterprise over the next decade," he said. "We launched our Enterprise Partner Program and have made capital available to them to help them achieve this vision. Bryan is an outstanding financial professional who has achieved success at every stage of his early career. We were pleased to introduce him to Lars Olson and facilitate his joining Alluvial."

A Strategic Union for Enhanced Client Service

For an established advisor like Bryan Blackburn, with nearly two decades of experience at major firms like Charles Schwab and Wells Fargo before going independent, the decision to join an enterprise platform reflects a calculated move to enhance his practice and client offerings. The primary driver was not just growth, but alignment and access to a deeper well of resources.

"When Sanctuary introduced me to Lars and his Alluvial team, I knew we were a perfect match both culturally and from an investment management standpoint," Blackburn explained. This cultural synergy is a critical, often-overlooked component in successful M&A deals, ensuring that philosophies on client service and financial planning are in lockstep.

Blackburn elaborated on the shared vision, stating, "We share a holistic financial planning approach and a focus on helping clients approach wealth management decisions with confidence as opposed to leaving them to chance." The partnership empowers him with institutional-grade capabilities that are difficult to build and maintain as a solo practitioner. "The resources I now have, from comprehensive tax services to multi-generational wealth transfer, will empower me to enhance my services to existing clients while attracting new ones," he continued.

This access to expanded capabilities directly addresses the increasing demand from high-net-worth clients for sophisticated, all-encompassing financial advice that integrates investment management with tax strategy, estate planning, and legacy goals.

Building an Ohio Juggernaut

Alluvial Private Wealth's trajectory offers a compelling blueprint for regional growth. Launching with a substantial $435 million base in 2021, the firm has nearly tripled its assets in five years by executing a clear and disciplined inorganic growth strategy. Olson’s stated goal of adding a new practice annually is proving to be a potent formula for building a regional powerhouse.

Headquartered in Marion, Ohio, the firm’s expansion into the major metropolitan market of Cleveland with Blackburn as a co-owner signifies a strategic push to capture a larger share of the state’s wealth management market. This dual-location presence allows Alluvial to serve a diverse client base, from the business communities of a major city to the growing economic hub of Marion, which is actively promoting a pro-business environment.

The firm's success demonstrates that significant growth is attainable for independent firms that can successfully blend an entrepreneurial spirit with the institutional backing of a strategic partner. Alluvial is rapidly becoming a significant force in the Ohio financial landscape, built one strategic partnership at a time.

A Microcosm of Industry-Wide Evolution

The Alluvial-Blackburn partnership is a microcosm of a much larger story unfolding across the wealth management industry. The RIA space is in the midst of a historic M&A boom, with deal volume hitting record highs year after year. This consolidation is driven by an aging advisor population seeking succession plans, the competitive need for greater scale and technology, and the desire to meet increasingly complex client demands.

Platforms like Sanctuary Wealth, which now includes over 125 partner firms with more than $55 billion in assets, have emerged as critical enablers of this evolution. They provide the infrastructure, capital, and community that allow advisors to break away from traditional wirehouses and build their own enterprises without having to go it entirely alone. Sanctuary’s own growth, including its 2024 acquisition of tru independence to expand its affiliation models, shows its commitment to adapting to the needs of sophisticated advisors.

As Adam Malamed, Sanctuary's CEO, concluded, "With Sanctuary's partnered independence support and Lars' continued embrace of our Enterprise Partner Program, Alluvial is positioned to thrive as the wealth management industry continues to evolve. Bryan made a great choice for his future and that of his clients by joining the leadership of Alluvial."