ECHELON Partners Reports Strong Second Quarter for RIA M&A Activity
In Q2 2026, ECHELON Partners reported a record second quarter in terms of activity within the registered investment advisor (RIA) merger and acquisition market. A total of 120 transactions were announced during the period, down from the first-quarter high but up significantly compared to the same time last year. The value transacted reached $378 billion for the quarter. The report highlights a shift toward larger deals as average assets under management (AUM) per transaction rose close to $2.0 billion and median target size increased 16.6% year-over-year to $733 million, indicating continued demand for high-quality platforms. Private equity-backed buyers dominated the market with over three-quarters of transactions attributed to them. ECHELON's CEO noted that while volume decreased from a record first quarter, it still marked one of the strongest periods on record and pointed toward an increasingly concentrated buyer landscape.
