By Kenneth Corbin

Creative Planning, one of the largest independent registered investment advisors in the U.S., is expanding its international footprint with the acquisition of Maseco, a London-based wealth management firm that manages more than $5 billion in client assets.

The deal marks Creative Planning's second international acquisition, following the addition of Switzerland's Baseline Wealth Management in January. Creative Planning declined to say when it expects to secure the regulatory approval to close the acquisition.

Maseco was founded in 2008 amid the global financial crisis. The firm sought to help families navigate the challenges of managing their wealth across borders and provide tax-advantaged investment advice.

Nearly two decades later, Creative Planning is working with clients with similar needs, according to CEO Peter Mallouk.

"We're expanding globally because our clients are," he says. "More and more Americans are choosing to live and work abroad, and they deserve the same world-class financial planning they've come to expect from Creative Planning, no matter where life takes them."

"At the same time," Mallouk adds, "we've seen incredible demand from international clients who want access to our services. We plan to continue to open offices wherever there are potential clients reaching out to us to learn more about our offering."

The deal brings 123 employees and will add to Creative Planning's sizable client assets. The Overland Park, Kan.-based firm had $217.4 billion of assets under management, according to its latest Form ADV regulatory filing, which was made last December. The firm says its assets under management and advisement totaled around $700 billion at that time. Creative Planning was Barron's No. 3 mega RIA firm in its 2025 ranking.

Part of Maseco's founding mission was to help U.S. families living overseas connect with a custodian in the U.K., U.S., or offshore. "Maseco was founded as a planning-led, highly tax-aware wealth management firm designed so that investment management and financial planning work seamlessly together with the aim of delivering superior outcomes for U.S. and internationally mobile clients," say Josh Matthews and James Sellon, Maseco co-founders and managing partners.

They say that Creative Planning has a similar ethos, noting its fiduciary culture and efforts to deliver comprehensive wealth management capabilities to its clients, regardless of where they live.

Teaming with Creative Planning will give Maseco access to sophisticated technology and a broader operational scale that will "raise the standard of advice and broaden the range of services available to U.S. citizens and international families living outside the United States," say Matthews and Sellon.

Write to advisor.editors@barrons.com

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March 26, 2026 09:30 ET (13:30 GMT)

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