What Cerity Partners does

Cerity Partners is an independent, SEC-registered investment adviser founded in 2009 and headquartered in New York City, providing comprehensive wealth management, investment solutions, and institutional investment consulting to high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, corporations, and institutions. The firm operates an integrated platform spanning 19 specialized practice areas organized into four sub-brands: Cerity Partners OCIO for outsourced chief investment officer services, Cerity Partners Ventures for corporate venture capital as a service, Cerity Partners Family Office for ultra-high-net-worth families with $25M+ in investable assets, and Cerity Partners Pooled Employer Plan for retirement plan benefits. Core service lines include wealth management, investment solutions, estate and gift planning, tax planning and preparation, trust services, insurance planning, business owner advisory, executive financial counseling, retirement plan consulting, and institutional consulting, with a stated minimum portfolio requirement of $2 million for individuals.

The firm's underlying technology is built entirely on third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Addepar, Orion, and Black Diamond power portfolio management and reporting; eMoney and MoneyGuide Pro support financial planning; ShareFile and Box handle secure document exchange. No proprietary AI/ML systems, patents, or research programs are disclosed. Business operations are run through a distributed advisor network across 20 U.S. states, supported by corporate functions centralized at the New York headquarters.

Cerity Partners generates revenue primarily through recurring advisory fees on assets under management, with disclosed pricing of up to 1.5% of AUM on a negotiable basis and a minimum annual advisory fee of $20,000. The firm was acquired by Genstar Capital in 2022, with Warburg Pincus and Lightyear Capital as additional private equity sponsors; employees hold just over 50% ownership. A $150 million Series 4 funding round from CPP Investments in April 2025 supported a sustained M&A rollup strategy, culminating in the February 2026 Verus Investments merger that scaled combined assets under advisement to approximately $2.5 trillion. The go-to-market model is enterprise field sales targeting HNW/UHNW households, corporate HR/benefits teams, and institutional clients via direct advisor relationships, complemented by a concierge intake program offering complimentary 30-minute discovery calls.

Name

Cerity Partners

Legal name

Cerity Partners LLC

Website

https://ceritypartners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cerity Partners is an SEC-registered, PE-backed wealth management firm founded in 2009 that delivers integrated investment, tax, estate, and retirement advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, and institutions across 20 U.S. states, with combined assets under advisement of approximately $2.5 trillion following the Verus Investments merger.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Assets Under Management (AUM) Fees: Primary revenue from advisory fees calculated as a percentage of client assets under management. Fees are negotiable and range up to 1.5% of AUM with a minimum annual advisory fee of $20,000.
2. Family Office Services: Cerity Partners Family Office services are available to individuals with $25 million or more in investable assets, providing comprehensive wealth management for a minimum threshold client base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cerity Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser that delivers integrated wealth management to high-net-worth individuals and families (minimum $2 million portfolio, $25 million+ for Family Office services), corporations (workplace solutions, retirement plan consulting, corporate venture capital), and institutions (Outsourced CIO and investment consulting for nonprofits and endowments). Services span investment management, financial planning, estate and gift planning, tax planning and preparation, trust services, insurance planning, business owner advisory, and private markets access, delivered by a national team of advisors and specialists.

Product overview

Cerity Partners is an independent wealth management firm offering a comprehensive, integrated platform of financial services for high-net-worth individuals, families, corporations, and institutions. The core offering centers on Wealth Management and Investment Solutions, supplemented by specialized capabilities including Capital Solutions for complex liquidity events, Estate and Gift Planning, Tax Planning and Preparation, and Trust Services. For corporate clients, the firm provides Workplace Solutions including Executive Financial Counseling, Retirement Plan Consulting, and Cerity Partners Ventures (Corporate Venture Capital). Institutional clients are served through Cerity Partners OCIO and Institutional Consulting. The firm also maintains specialized practices for Business Owner Advisory, Family Office services (for $25M+ clients), Cross-Border Planning, Women's Wealth, and Marital Financial Planning. The architecture functions as a unified platform with a team-based approach, connecting specialists across disciplines to deliver integrated advice rather than siloed product categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cerity Partners OCIO: Outsourced Chief Investment Officer services for institutions, foundations, and endowments
• Cerity Partners Ventures
• Cerity Partners Family Office
• Cerity Partners Pooled Employer Plan

Products and services

• Wealth Management Comprehensive wealth management services for high-net-worth individuals and families, integrating planning, tax, investment, and estate strategies under a single advisor relationship. For clients with $2 million or more in investable assets.
• Investment Solutions Disciplined, goal-oriented investment management providing portfolio construction, active and passive strategies, and access to alternative and private market investments for high-net-worth clients.
• Capital Solutions Specialized offering for complex liquidity events, concentrated equity positions, real estate transitions, estate tax exposure reduction, and private markets access for high-net-worth clients.
• Estate and Gift Planning Advanced estate planning and wealth transfer strategies including trust structures, charitable planning, beneficiary coordination, and next-generation education for high-net-worth individuals and families.
• Insurance Planning & Risk Management Comprehensive insurance reviews, advanced asset protection strategies, policy selection and coordination integrated with overall financial and estate planning.
• Tax Planning & Preparation Integrated tax optimization strategies including tax projections, compliance services for personal, business, and trust returns, with specialty planning for real estate, M&A, and succession.
• Marital Financial Planning Financial planning services for couples including prenuptial agreements, comprehensive wealth management for dual-income households, and divorce financial consulting.
• Cross-Border Financial Planning International financial planning for American expats, foreign citizens in the U.S., and non-U.S. residents, addressing cross-border tax complexity and global asset coordination.
• Trust Services Trust administration, estate administration, special asset management, asset protection trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, and special needs trusts.
• Wealth for Women Specialized wealth management services tailored to women's distinct financial needs including life transitions, longevity planning, and gender-specific challenges.
• Business Owner Advisory Comprehensive business transition and exit planning services including enterprise valuation, transaction team formation, and post-transaction wealth management for business owners.
• CFO & Accounting Services Outsourced CFO services, bookkeeping, financial reporting, and business management for privately-held businesses and family offices.
• Family Office Services Comprehensive family office services for ultra-high-net-worth families with $25 million or more in investable assets, including advanced planning, investment management, concierge lifestyle services, trust oversight, philanthropy, and next-generation education.
• Executive Financial Counseling Corporate benefit program providing personalized financial advice to executives, helping maximize compensation packages, equity compensation, and retirement planning.
• Retirement Plan Consulting Comprehensive retirement plan services for corporations including defined benefit, defined contribution, nonqualified plans, ESOPs, and pooled employer plans with fiduciary management. CEFEX-certified.
• Cerity Partners Ventures (Corporate Venture Capital) Venture Capital as a Service offering for corporations to launch and manage corporate venture capital programs, with over 25 corporate partners and 100+ portfolio companies.
• Cerity Partners OCIO Outsourced Chief Investment Officer services for institutions and family offices with typically $100 million or more in assets, providing discretionary investing and fiduciary oversight with GIPS compliance.
• Institutional Consulting Investment advisory services for nonprofit organizations, foundations, endowments, charities, educational institutions, and houses of worship, including investment policy design, fund accounting, and financial administration.
• Private Markets Access to private equity, private debt, physical real estate, and venture capital opportunities through a curated platform leveraging firm scale for favorable terms, including via the Nasdaq Private Market partnership.

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Covenant Partners LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Cerity Partners merged with Covenant Partners LLC, a Nashville-based wealth management firm, marking entry into the Tennessee market. The merger enables Covenant Partners' clients to access Cerity Partners' comprehensive wealth management services while maintaining a high-touch, personalized experience.
• Verus InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Cerity Partners merged with Verus Investments, an institutional investment consulting and advisory firm, creating a combined entity advising on approximately $2.5 trillion in assets. The merger brings together Cerity Partners' wealth management expertise with Verus's four decades of institutional investment consulting experience.
• SOL Capital ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026Cerity Partners merged with SOL Capital Management, a Rockville, Maryland-based investment advisory firm focused on high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutions. The merger expands Cerity Partners' presence in Maryland and the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
• Austin Private WealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 January 2026Cerity Partners merged with Austin Private Wealth, a fiduciary-driven Registered Investment Adviser with approximately $1.4 billion in assets under management. Transaction expanded Cerity's footprint in Austin, Texas market.
• Oak Hill Wealth AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Cerity Partners merged with Oak Hill Wealth Advisors, expanding wealth management and institutional advisory services.
• GraypointcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2025Cerity Partners merged with Graypoint, an Albany, NY-based advisory firm. The merger enhanced Cerity Partners' presence in the Capital Region, with Graypoint's President & CEO Daniel Nolan taking a leadership role.
• Touchdown VenturesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2024Cerity Partners merged with Touchdown Ventures, a provider of advisory services for corporate venture programs. Merger aimed to expand Cerity's access to startups and presence in major markets including Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
• Fishman Block + Diamond LLPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCerity Partners welcomed Fishman Block + Diamond, a full-service accounting, tax, and business advisory firm based in Encino, California, expanding tax planning and compliance capabilities.
• Corporate Venture Capital PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCerity Partners Ventures has partnered with over 25 corporations to help launch and manage their venture capital programs. The portfolio includes over 100 companies across sectors including Ag & Food, Built World, Healthcare, Industrial, and IT & Media.
• Houlihan LokeyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHoulihan Lokey served as exclusive financial advisor and Nelson Mullins as legal counsel for the Verus Investments merger transaction.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mariner Wealth Advisors: Mariner Wealth Advisors is a PE-backed (Leonard Green) national RIA rollup offering comprehensive wealth advisory, investment management, and family office services — directly comparable to Cerity in business model, client segments, and acquisition-driven growth strategy.
• Focus Financial Partners: Focus Financial Partners is a publicly-traded partnership of independent wealth management firms, serving as the largest RIA rollup platform in the U.S. with similar M&A-driven growth, HNW focus, and partner-retention challenges as Cerity Partners.
• Mercer Advisors: Mercer Advisors is a PE-backed (Oak HC/FT, Genstar) national RIA rollup offering wealth management, tax, estate planning, and family office services to HNW clients — closely comparable in scale, service breadth, and PE ownership structure.
• Hightower Advisors: Hightower Advisors is a PE-backed (GTCR, Stone Point) RIA platform built through partnerships with breakaway advisors and small firms, offering wealth management and institutional services — a near-direct peer to Cerity in the consolidator RIA category.

Emerging players

• Creative Planning: Creative Planning is one of the largest independent RIAs with significant AUM growth through both organic and acquisition means, offering wealth management, tax, and estate services to HNW clients — competing with Cerity for advisor talent and HNW prospects.
• Cresset Capital: Cresset Capital is a PE-backed (Genstar Capital) multi-family office and RIA serving ultra-high-net-worth families with integrated wealth management — comparable in target client segment and ownership backing (notably the same PE sponsor).

Broad incumbents

• Bessemer Trust: Bessemer Trust is a long-established, privately-held wealth and investment advisory firm serving ultra-high-net-worth families ($25M+), offering many of the same family office, trust, and investment services as Cerity's Family Office practice — competing for the same UHNW client segment.
• Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management:

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerity-partners
• Xx.com/ceritypartners

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A21 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cerity Partners