Prairie Wealth Crosses $1B After McEwen Group Merger

Prairie Wealth Advisors has moved past the $1 billion mark after merging with The McEwen Group, a former RBC Wealth Management advisory team based in Nebraska.

The merger brings a five-person team into Prairie Wealth and expands the firm’s planning, investment and client service capabilities. The move also gives The McEwen Group a path into independence while allowing the team to keep its existing name inside Prairie Wealth.

A Nebraska RIA Builds Scale Through A Former RBC Team

The McEwen Group joins Prairie Wealth with more than $400 million in assets under management and roughly $200 million in 401(k) assets. Prairie Wealth said the combined firm now oversees more than $1 billion in client assets.

The team will continue serving mass affluent, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families. That continuity appears central to the deal, since the group will keep operating under The McEwen Group name while becoming part of Prairie Wealth.

Tim McEwen, CFP, previously led The McEwen Group as managing director. At Prairie Wealth, he will serve as president, managing partner and wealth advisor.

What The McEwen Group Adds To Prairie Wealth

The merger gives Prairie Wealth more than additional assets. It also adds a team with planning and client service experience across several areas.

The new combined firm gains:

• A larger client base: The McEwen Group brings families with complex planning and investment needs.

• Retirement plan assets: The team adds about $200 million in 401(k) assets.

• Expanded planning depth: The group brings experience in estate planning, succession planning, cash balance plans and captive insurance strategies.

• A different investment lens: Prairie Wealth has focused on municipal bonds and alternative investments, while The McEwen Group adds a more equity-oriented approach.

Three additional McEwen Group team members are also joining Prairie Wealth. Jon McGrew, CPFA, will serve as vice president and financial advisor, Brooke Wimes will serve as director of client services and Isabelle McEwen will serve as administrative assistant.

The Move Also Reflects A Shift Toward Independence

The deal is also notable because The McEwen Group moved from the broker-dealer environment into an independent RIA structure.

McEwen said the move involved more than choosing a new platform. Prairie Wealth founder and CEO Craig Hundt had known McEwen professionally for nearly a decade, which helped give the team confidence in the transition.

That relationship makes this merger different from a purely asset-driven acquisition. The firms appear to be combining around succession, culture and planning style, not only scale.

For Prairie Wealth, the deal creates a larger multigenerational business. For The McEwen Group, it offers independence without forcing the team to leave behind the client relationships and identity it has built.

Raymond James Adds Tom Palomares In Arizona

A separate advisor move came from Raymond James Financial Services, which recruited Tom Palomares, CFP, in Tucson, Arizona.

Palomares previously worked at Edward Jones, where he managed $126 million in client assets. He joined SilverTree Wealth Partners through Raymond James’ independent advisor channel.

Palomares has worked in financial services since 2013 and spent seven years with Edward Jones before the move. At SilverTree Wealth Partners, he will serve individuals, families and business owners.

Raymond James said Palomares holds an MBA from Norwich University in addition to the CFP designation. His move was announced by Theresa Schnetz, Western division director for Raymond James Financial Services.

Advisor Growth Is Taking Different Forms

The Prairie Wealth and Raymond James announcements show two different paths for advisor growth.

Prairie Wealth crossed a major asset threshold through a merger that also supports succession and independence. Raymond James added an individual advisor to an existing independent team in Arizona.

Both moves point to a broader theme in wealth management: advisors are not making changes for one reason alone. Some want independence. Others want stronger infrastructure. Some are focused on succession, while others want a platform that can support the next stage of client growth.

For firms, the challenge is whether they can offer scale without weakening the relationships that made those practices valuable in the first place.