The annual Gladstone M&A Conference made its eagerly awaited return May 3-4 after a pandemic-influenced hiatus. This invitation-only boutique event, geared toward founders, principals, CIOs and G2 partners of top wealth management firms, found a fitting venue in Philadelphia’s historic Union League building, which has hosted U.S. presidents and foreign heads of state during a storied 150-year history. Presented by Gregory FCA client Gladstone Group, the event drew more than 100 attendees for a packed agenda featuring premier M&A experts, national RIA aggregators and cutting-edge technology leaders.
Greg King, CFA, founder and CEO of Gregory FCA client Osprey Funds, presided over a “Fireside Chat” on the topic of “Cryptocurrency — Facts, Fantasy and Predictions.” Another offering that naturally drew significant attention was “The Gladstone M&A Session (Trends and Opportunities)” presented by Derek Bruton and Mike Bilotta of Gladstone Associates.
“There have been a lot of new entrants into the marketplace in terms of private equity and banking firms,” said Bruton. “People realize this is a hot space and the RIA is the model of choice.”
“I think 2022 will be another record year for a variety of reasons,” added Bilotta. “It’s astounding how many different players are in the space right now. More interested buyers are chasing a finite number of firms.”
For a glimpse into the energetic atmosphere at the Gladstone M&A Conference, check out our highlight video below!