Cetera Financial’s Employee RIA Unit Acquires $400M Texas Firm

Cetera Financial Group has acquired an independent Texas-based practice, which oversees about $400 million in assets under management, adding the firm to its registered investment advisory model. 

Plains Wealth Management was formerly affiliated with Cetera’s Avantax from 2018 until 2023 and was affiliated with Raymond James’ independent channel from 2023 until 2025, a Cetera spokesperson confirmed to Connect Money. 

The Houston-based team, which is led by Ronn Kudlacek, Brad Wilson, and Savara McDaniel, has joined The Retirement Planning Group, which is Cetera’s employee-based RIA, and has offices in Cypress, Texas, Cetera said. 

The Retirement Planning Group, which launched in June, is designed to serve financial advisors operating across a spectrum of affiliation models—including independent RIAs, Cetera’s W-2 RIA structures, and its supported independence framework.  

“We are excited to join TRPG – a powerful and collaborative financial planning-first organization that values the importance of wealth management and tax planning capabilities,” Kudlaceksaid. “Holistically integrating these capabilities is core to how we serve our clients, and we feel fully supported at Cetera and TRPG.” 

Recently, Cetera acquired Louisiana-based Darnall Sikes Wealth Partners, which oversees about $1.9 billion in total client assets. The firm, which had a longstanding affiliation with Cetera’s Avantax, has also joined the firm’s RIA & Branches channel. 

Cetera Financial Group oversaw more than $284 billion in assets under management as of September 31, the company said.