Sammons launches Criterion wealth advisory platform with $27B in assets. The new holding company brings Beacon Capital Management, NorthRock Partners and Wealthcare under one umbrella as Sammons looks to streamline operations and accelerate RIA acquisitions. Diana Britton, Executive Editor, Wealth Management October 13, 2026 Want a quick summary? Sammons Financial Group has launched Criterion, a new wealth advisory holding company under which its three registered investment advisors will operate. Criterion will bring together Beacon Capital Management, NorthRock Partners and Wealthcare, marking the next phase of Sammons' expansion beyond its traditional insurance and annuity businesses. Criterion will have a combined $27 billion in assets under management or advisement, and the three RIAs will maintain their brands and own ADVs, while operating under the Criterion umbrella. This is part of Sammons' long-term plan to expand through acquisitions and invest in the firm's technology and capabilities for advisors. Sammons Financial entered the wealth management space in 2021 with the acquisition of Beacon Capital Management, an RIA and turnkey asset manager with more than $4 billion as of Aug. 31. The insurer followed that move with the 2023 acquisition of RIA NorthRock Partners, with more than $12.4 billion as of Sept. 30, and a 2025 deal for Wealthcare LLC, which now has more than $11 billion, as of Sept. 30. Michael Mock, who was serving as president of Sammons Wealth Management Group, has been appointed president of Criterion. Mock said the firm's strategy has evolved since it entered the wealth market five years ago, and that Wealthcare was the last strategic piece needed to round out the Criterion platform. "We've taken the time to really think about how these three main pieces, Beacon, NorthRock and Wealthcare fit together," he said. "We wanted to signal that within our wealth management business, we do consider them a unified whole. Another part of it for us was to really emphasize that the wealth management business is a business that we at Sammons are in on its own merits. We want to be in the advisory channel. We want to be providing platforms that benefit advisors and their clients." Sammons also wanted to make it clear that its wealth management business wasn't a distribution play for its insurance products, Mock said. The firm hired an outside marketing consulting firm to come up with the Criterion name, which represents setting the standard for supporting advisors. Criterion does expect to centralize some functions across the three entities, starting with finance, accounting, capital management, and deal functions. Mock said they expect to centralize other functions over the next couple of years, including human resources, compliance, legal, and investments. The firm will also bring together some of the advisor support services, including insurance advice, tax and estate planning. Mock said the firm also plans to consolidate some of the tech stack across the three, starting with cybersecurity, data privacy and risk management. Down the line, they will also look to consolidate email functionality, trading and portfolio management systems. Criterion expects to get more aggressive with mergers and acquisitions as it goes to market with one brand and one deal team, while offering advisors flexibility in how they want to structure a deal. But Criterion doesn't expect to acquire a fourth RIA. "We're going to focus on growing through roll-ups and tuck-ins," Mock said. "Between the three of them, they cover a really broad spectrum of the wealth management industry... Right now, between NorthRock and Wealthcare alone, we can probably meet 75 to 80% of the market in terms of advisors or advisory firms that are looking to make some kind of a move. And that's giving us more than enough deal volume to grow the business at the pace we want to grow." After being acquired by Sammons, NorthRock has made several acquisitions, building its AUM to over $12 billion as of this April. The Minneapolis-based RIA offers clients what it calls its Personal Office specialists, who offer wealth services across investments, tax, estate planning, insurance, legal, business services and philanthropy. Wealthcare, a hybrid RIA based in West Chester, Pa., has also been adding advisors and AUM since moving from private equity ownership to Sammons. CEO Matt Regan told Wealth Management shortly after the move that he expected the new owner to further advisor additions across Wealthcare's affiliation options, including 1099 and W-2 options. This follows news in August that Sammons' President Rob TeKolste will become CEO and Chairman of the Board on Jan. 1, 2027. Esfand Dinshaw, current CEO and chair, steps down after 16 years in the job and 27 years at West Des Moines, Iowa-based Sammons. Executive Editor, Wealth Management Diana Britton is the Executive Editor of Wealth Management, covering independent broker/dealers and RIAs from all angles. She's also the host of the Jesse H. Neal Award Winning Podcast, The Healthy Advisor, focused on advisor health and wellbeing. A native of Los Angeles, she now lives in Rocklin, Calif.

IRI honors Tyler Brown with Rising Star Award. April 24, 2026 Tyler Brown,, Vice President, Government Affairs, Sammons Financial Group, (center) receives the the IRI Rising Star Award from Wayne, Chopus, President & CEO, IRI, and Shani Armon, Chief Operating Officer, IRI. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) presented Tyler Brown, Vice President, Government Affairs, Sammons Financial Group, with its Rising Star Award at the association's 2026 Annual Conference. This award recognizes emerging leaders who have demonstrated exemplary service to their profession, colleagues, and the insured retirement industry. "Each year, the Rising Star Award highlights emerging leaders who are making a meaningful impact on the future of the insured retirement industry," said Wayne Chopus, President and CEO, IRI. "Tyler has quickly established himself as a trusted voice on critical policy issues impacting retirement security. His expertise, leadership, and ability to engage policymakers make him a highly deserving recipient of this award." Since joining Sammons Financial Group, Brown has quickly established himself as a knowledgeable advocate on the key issues shaping the insured retirement industry, including tax policy, SEC regulations, state insurance issues, artificial intelligence regulation, and the Department of Labor's fiduciary proposal. His ability to clearly communicate the implications of these issues to both industry and non-industry audiences has made him a highly effective advocate. Brown is widely respected among policymakers and regulators. He has played a key role in communicating industry perspectives to legislators and their staff, becoming a trusted resource on retirement policy matters. In 2024, he organized a Washington, D.C. fly-in that brought senior executives from Sammons Financial Group together with key lawmakers and staff. He led a second fly-in in 2025 focused on proposed tax legislation, facilitating multiple meetings that contributed to a more favorable outcome for the industry. Within Sammons Financial Group, Brown is recognized as a leader and strategic communicator. He provides timely updates on legislative and regulatory developments, launched a quarterly Government Affairs newsletter, and regularly engages employees and distribution partners through webinars, podcasts, and in-person discussions. He also coordinates opportunities for elected officials to connect directly with company stakeholders, strengthening relationships across the policy landscape. "Tyler exemplifies what it means to be a Rising Star in our industry," said Wayne Chopus. "His passion and commitment are helping to advance retirement security for all Americans. We celebrate his achievements and look forward to his continued contributions." Brown represents the next generation of leadership in the insured retirement industry. Through his advocacy and expertise, he advances IRI's mission to promote retirement security and drive meaningful progress on behalf of consumers and the industry alike. April 24, 2026 TAMPA, FLORIDA - The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) announced that 16 members of its board of directors were elected to... April 23, 2026 TAMPA, FLORIDA - The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) named Ben Huneke, Head of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, as the 2026... April 23, 2026 TAMPA, FLORIDA - The Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) presented its Leadership Award to Annie Webb, Associate Vice President, Government Relations,...