Texas-based Avantax, a tax-focused financial planning and wealth management firm, recently acquired Pennsylvania-based GA Investment Management, a wealth management firm.
GA has offices in Pittsburgh and Seven Fields. Ten of the firm’s employees are now Avantax employees, and $400 million in GA client assets have moved to the Avantax platform since the deal closed.
Stephen Gierl, Gary Augustine, and Tim Augustine, the three partners who led GA, searched for a buyer. They selected Avantax because both firms use eMoney for planning, Avantax has deep planning expertise and specialists throughout its home office, Avantax’s in-house asset management, nearly identical approaches to financial planning and investment management, and Avantax’s deep network of tax and accounting firm affiliates.
“Several firms looked good to us, but what set Avantax apart was its incredible network of accounting firms, and its distinct approach of putting tax at the center of financial planning just like we do at GA, and that’s why we chose Avantax,” Gierl said. “We’re confident Avantax Planning Partners will serve our clients the way we want them served forever, including future generations of clients. We feel comfortable Avantax will help us grow the next generation of advisors and associates, and within Avantax, we can have a growth trajectory that will allow our people to continue to prosper.”