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Summit Financial Expands National RIA Network With Minority Investment in Ivy Wealth Management

via Business Wire

New partnership adds more than $500 million in assets and strengthens Summit’s growth strategy as advisor platform surpasses $25 billion AUA

Summit Financial, a national investment advisory firm helping independent advisors scale through capital, integrated technology, and family-office services, today announced a minority-interest investment in Ivy Wealth Management. The partnership adds more than $500 million in client assets and deepens Summit’s presence in the Northeast.

Ivy Wealth Management is led by President Brad Ingegneri, CFP®, CRPC®, AIF®, who founded the West Warwick, R.I.-based firm in 2010 after nearly 10 years with Merrill Lynch as a senior financial advisor and assistant vice president. Serving high-net-worth families and business owners across the Northeast U.S., Ivy is known for its disciplined approach, client-first philosophy, and longstanding commitment to community engagement.

Executive Commentary

“Partnerships like these aren’t just about dollars. They enable growth-minded firms to collaborate, innovate, and strengthen our community for the future,” said Summit Financial Holdings Chairman and CEO Stan Gregor. “Brad and his team have built something special, putting clients first, navigating markets with insight, and delivering results with consistency and care.”

“We built Ivy to deliver personalized, sophisticated guidance that brings greater peace of mind for our clients. By partnering with Summit, we’re taking our client-first service to a whole new level,” Ivy’s Ingegneri said. “Ivy can now draw on deeper resources and capabilities, including enhanced technology and investment management platforms, to drive better outcomes for the families we serve.”

Summit’s Partnership Model Drives Growth

The investment reflects Summit’s differentiated strategy of expanding exclusively through minority-stake purchases in independent advisory firms. This approach to M&A enables principals of selling firms to retain control while gaining resources to accelerate growth. Since early 2024, Summit has completed 27 partnership transactions, including 14 this year, and now oversees more than $25 billion in client assets.

“Building a superior wealth management platform starts with investing in the right partners,” said Keith Soltis, ChFC®, Summit’s Head of Growth and Business Development. “Like Summit, Ivy is committed to service, integrity, and excellence. True to its name, Brad and his team have cultivated a business defined by resilience, consistency, and enduring growth for the clients they serve.”

News at a Glance

  • Summit Financial announced a minority-stake investment in Ivy Wealth Management, an RIA based in West Warwick, R.I., that oversees more than $500 million in client assets.
  • Led by Brad Ingegneri, Ivy is recognized for its steady growth, client-first philosophy, and strong community presence throughout the Northeast.
  • The transaction marks Summit’s 14th partnership of 2025 and reinforces its strategy of expansion through minority purchases in advisory firms.
  • Summit has grown rapidly and now oversees more than $25 billion in assets nationwide.

ABOUT SUMMIT FINANCIAL

Summit Financial (“Summit”) is a preeminent investment advisory firm with over 40 years of experience helping advisors elevate their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. Built by advisors for advisors, Summit champions independence while providing the tools, capital, and resources needed to achieve growth and success.

Summit Financial, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“RIA”) established in November 2018, is the successor firm to Summit Equities, Inc. (registered with the SEC in 1991) and Summit Financial Resources, Inc. (registered with the SEC in 1983) for all of their investment advisory and financial planning business. Summit Financial, LLC, is wholly owned by Summit Financial Holdings, LLC ("SFH"), which is owned by Stanley Gregor and Merchant Wealth Management Holdings 3, LLC (“MWMH”). MWMH is wholly owned by Merchant Wealth Partners, LLC, which is wholly owned by Merchant Investment Management, LLC. Minority investments are made by SFH.

A 2025 Forbes|SHOOK® and Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firm, Summit is deeply committed to its founding principles of independence and powerful financial planning. Interested advisors and firm leaders can learn more about Summit’s all-inclusive platform of fully integrated industry-leading services, thought leaders, and innovative technology—known as the SummitVantage™—at www.summitfinancial.com.

Forbes| SHOOK® America’s Top RIA Firms (October 1, 2025), and Barron's 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms (awarded September 12, 2025, based on data as of June 30, 2025). Rankings were determined based on proprietary evaluation processes conducted by Forbes|SHOOK® and Barron’s. Summit Financial, LLC, did not pay a fee to obtain or use these rankings.

Summit Financial announced a minority-interest investment in Ivy Wealth Management, adding more than $500 million in client assets and deepening Summit’s presence in the Northeast

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