Osaic Adds $500M Wealth Manager to Empowered Independence Channel — Osaic, Inc.

Event summary

$500M AUM Pointes North Wealth Management joins Osaic’s Empowered Independence channel, transitioning from independent to W-2 structure.
Nathan Auclair and Brent Balloch lead the firm, with Auclair having Osaic affiliation since 1994.
Innovative Financial Group facilitated the transition, aligning with Pointes North’s long-term goals.
Pointes North is latest in a series of transitions to Osaic’s channel, following $1.1B Veater and $1.2B Bard Financial Services.

The big picture

This move reflects the ongoing consolidation trend in wealth management, where independent advisors are increasingly opting for hybrid structures that offer operational support while maintaining autonomy. Osaic’s ability to attract firms like Pointes North—with significant AUM and long-standing advisor relationships—demonstrates the strategic value of its Empowered Independence channel. The transition also highlights how established advisory firms are positioning themselves for succession planning while leveraging larger platforms’ resources.

What we're watching

Channel Growth Pace: Whether Osaic can sustain this pace of advisor transitions to its Empowered Independence channel.
Integration Success: How seamlessly Pointes North’s transition will occur and whether it serves as a template for future moves.
Competitive Response: Whether rival platforms will accelerate their own independent advisor acquisition strategies in response.