Seasoned RIA M&A advisor joins as firm surpasses key growth milestones and expands national footprint

Alaris Acquisitions (“Alaris”), a leading sell-side mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm serving the wealth management industry, today announced the appointment of Tony Leonard as managing director of business development. In this newly created role, Leonard will lead the firm’s continued growth, drive origination of new advisory mandates and deepen relationships with registered investment advisor (RIA) owners nationwide.

Leonard brings nearly three decades of experience in the retirement and wealth advisory marketplace, with deep expertise in M&A, sell-side advisory, diligence, consulting and direct investing. Prior to joining Alaris, he served as a vice president at MidCap Advisors, where he focused on advising retirement and wealth advisory firms on strategic transactions. He previously held a managing director role at Wise Rhino Group and has worked with leading financial services firms, including SEI Investments, Putnam Investments, New York Life Investment Management and OneAmerica Retirement Services.

“Alaris occupies a unique position in the market, with a reputation built on genuine relationships, boutique discipline and a deep understanding of what RIA owners actually need when they consider a transition,” said Leonard. “I’m excited to help accelerate that mission and to work alongside a team that truly puts the advisor’s interests first.”

In his role, Leonard will lead Alaris’ outreach to high-quality RIA firms, advancing the firm’s proprietary benchmarking initiatives and partnering with the senior advisory team to support transaction origination and execution. His work will further strengthen Alaris’ ability to deliver curated, high-conviction outcomes for advisors in an increasingly complex M&A environment.

“Tony’s arrival marks a significant step forward for our team,” said Allen Darby, founder and chief executive officer of Alaris. “His deep industry relationships, command of RIA market dynamics and proven ability to connect with firm owners make him the ideal partner for our growth ambitions. We are confident his leadership will unlock meaningful new opportunities for the firms we serve.”

Leonard joins Alaris at a time of continued momentum, following a period of growth, ongoing investment in its proprietary technology platform and increasing demand from advisors navigating succession and strategic transactions. His appointment builds on a series of milestones as Alaris continues to modernize the M&A process for RIAs.

Over the past year, Alaris has:

• Completed nearly 60 transactions, including partnerships between Modern Wealth Management and Brown and Company, The Family Firm and Beacon Pointe, and Aveo Capital and Carson Group
• Introduced its Lens application, an artificial intelligence-driven matchmaking platform designed to improve cultural and financial alignment in M&A transactions
• Launched its Buyer Portal, a digital hub that enables buyers to showcase their firms to potential sellers in a transparent, data-driven format
• Seen more than 50% of engagements driven by referrals from past clients, underscoring its position as a trusted sell-side advisor

As consolidation across the RIA industry continues at a record pace, Alaris is increasingly positioned as a partner of choice for firm owners seeking a more tailored, outcomes-focused approach to M&A. The firm emphasizes cultural alignment, long-term fit and client continuity – factors that are becoming central to successful transactions. This appointment is driven by a broader shift in the wealth management industry, as advisors move away from traditional auction-based processes toward more curated, relationship-driven approaches to M&A.

Advisors exploring a sale, partnership or succession plan can learn more about Alaris’ approach and connect with its advisory team here.

About Alaris Acquisitions

Alaris Acquisitions is an industry leading sell-side advisory for the wealth management industry. Through its proprietary Deal Advocacy methodology, Alaris pinpoints and aligns partners with their ideal buyers. Unlike legacy approaches focused solely on initial valuation, Alaris, which means ‘matchmaker’ in Latin, analyzes numerous points of alignment, including cultural fit, initial valuation, and post-acquisition economics for the seller. With its unmatched catalog of buyer models in wealth management, Alaris has replaced the financial auction method for buyer identification with a cultural auction. The Alaris approach to RIA firm matchmaking produces a superior post-deal quality of life, heightened valuation, and reduced costs for M&A advice.

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