Carson Group Expands with 40th Wholly Owned Office via ZeroCelsius Acquisition
Event summary
- Carson Group acquires ZeroCelsius Wealth Studio, its 40th wholly owned office, adding $134M in AUM.
- ZeroCelsius, founded in 1998 as Kearsarge Capital Advisors, has been a Carson partner since October 2023.
- The acquisition reflects Carson’s rapid growth, now managing $57B across 165+ partner offices.
- ZeroCelsius leadership cites Carson’s scale, systems, and intentional living philosophy as key drivers.
The big picture
Carson Group’s acquisition of ZeroCelsius underscores the accelerating consolidation in the RIA sector, where scale and operational efficiency are becoming critical differentiators. With $57B in AUM and 40 wholly owned offices, Carson is positioning itself as a consolidator, leveraging its infrastructure to attract independent advisors seeking long-term stability. The deal also highlights the strategic importance of advisor culture fit in maintaining client relationships during transitions.
What we're watching
- Integration Challenges
- How Carson will maintain ZeroCelsius’s relationship-driven model while scaling its systems.
- Advisor Retention
- Whether Carson’s advisor-first culture can sustain its rapid office expansion.
- Market Positioning
- The pace at which Carson can differentiate itself in an increasingly consolidated RIA space.
Related topics