VestGen lands debt capital from Willow Tree to fuel wealth management M&A
What's the deal? VestGen Wealth PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Chicago-based registered investment advisor platform, has secured growth capital through a debt financing from Willow Tree Credit PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a private credit firm. The money will fund VestGen's mergers and acquisitions activity.
What's the endgame? VestGen offers a platform for retiring advisors looking to exit and younger advisors focused on growth. It acquires businesses from senior advisors, some of which pass to next-gen peers who are mentored before their predecessors leave.
Why now? The firm launched in December 2024 with 10 advisory practices and $5.3 billion in assets. It has since grown to 19 firms representing $8.5 billion in assets.
Founder Josh Gerry stepped down as chief executive earlier this year as part of what the company called a "next-gen executive succession plan." Chief financial officer Jason Hanavan succeeded him.
What they're saying: "Willow Tree is the right partner to help us fulfill our vision and continue our momentum in the quickly consolidating and evolving independent wealth management space," Hanavan said.
Last year, VestGen launched a retirement plan advice division, built in part on the acquisition of a former OsaicDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → team. VestGen Retirement ServicesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → offers fiduciary oversight and participant engagement programs to plan sponsors and participants rolling over retirement assets.
The signal: The financing reflects the ongoing consolidation of independent wealth management, with private credit increasingly stepping in to fund dealmaking as RIA platforms race to scale through acquisitions.
Read more: wealthmanagement.com
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