Updated
Updated · Wealth Management · Sep 1
Grimes & Company Buys 800-Client Tax Practice, Names Andrew Hamil COO
Updated
Updated · Wealth Management · Sep 1

Grimes & Company Buys 800-Client Tax Practice, Names Andrew Hamil COO

1 articles · Updated · Wealth Management · Sep 1

Summary

  • Grimes & Company, a Massachusetts RIA with about $7 billion in assets, bought the tax practice of Stevens and Ciccone Associates, adding roughly 800 clients and bringing tax planning in-house.
  • The deal is aimed at broadening services for ultra-high-net-worth clients beyond investment management, while S&C will keep operating as S&C Tax Advisors and Grimes says outside tax referral relationships will remain in place.
  • Andrew Hamil was appointed chief operating officer to oversee planning, insurance, tax, operations, data and AI, and growth teams as the firm pursues more acquisitions and expands trust services.
  • The move follows Grimes' early-2025 minority sale to Rise Growth Partners and comes as other RIAs push into adjacent services; $6.9 billion Sowell Management this week launched an estate, tax and advanced planning division.

Insights

Will the aggressive bundling of tax and estate planning by major RIAs ultimately force independent CPAs into extinction or lucrative partnerships?
As wealth firms swallow tax practices, are affluent clients gaining a family office or losing their independent financial checks and balances?