Balefire Unveils $3.7 Billion Merger as a New Brand in Wealth Management
Deal News | May 06, 2025 | EIN
The merger of VisionPoint Advisory Group and Navitas Wealth Advisors has created a new entity, Balefire, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser dedicated to providing comprehensive wealth management solutions. This merger unites over 60 professionals and combines $3.7 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of January 1, 2025. Balefire aims to enhance service offerings in wealth management, strategic tax planning, and corporate solutions. Its strategic direction is driven by M&A and organic growth, with ambitious goals to grow the AUM to $42 billion and revenue to $215 million within ten years. The formation of Balefire is anchored by a strong cultural alignment and a shared vision for long-term client impact, indicated by the joint leadership of Jason Hester and John Hoffman. The firm benefits from a national footprint with a significant presence across several U.S. states. The merger emphasizes continuity in client services, innovative wealth stewardship approaches, and a values-based advisory model. Advisor Growth Strategies (AGS) played a crucial role as the M&A advisor for the merger.
Sectors
- Wealth Management
- Financial Advising
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Geography
- United States – The article mentions Balefire's presence across 39 states with a significant presence in Texas, Mississippi, Minnesota, Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and South Dakota.
Industry
- Wealth Management – The article discusses a merger in the wealth management sector to form Balefire, which focuses on providing comprehensive financial advisory services.
- Financial Advising – The merger of VisionPoint and Navitas into Balefire emphasizes services like strategic tax planning and corporate solutions, relevant to the financial advising industry.
- Mergers and Acquisitions – The article centers around the merger of two advisory groups to create a newly integrated platform, highlighting its significance within the M&A industry.
Financials
- 3.7 Billion – Combined assets under management (AUM) as of January 1, 2025.
- 215 Million – Targeted annual revenues as part of Balefire's future business expansion strategy.
- 42 Billion – Projected AUM for Balefire in the next decade.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balefire | Target Company | Company | A newly formed SEC Registered Investment Adviser and wealth management firm as a result of the merger between VisionPoint Advisory Group and Navitas Wealth Advisors. |
| VisionPoint Advisory Group | Merging Company | Company | One of the two firms merging to form Balefire, previously providing wealth management services. |
| Navitas Wealth Advisors | Merging Company | Company | The other firm in the merger to create Balefire, also a wealth management service provider. |
| Advisor Growth Strategies (AGS) | M&A Advisor | Company | The M&A advisor facilitating the merger between VisionPoint and Navitas. |
| Jason Hester | Co-Managing Partner | Person | Former CEO of Navitas, now Co-Managing Partner of Balefire. |
| John Hoffman | Co-Managing Partner | Person | Former CEO of VisionPoint, now Co-Managing Partner of Balefire. |
| Stephanie Elton | Chief of Staff | Person | Chief of Staff at Balefire, contributing to its branding and mission communication. |