Creative Planning Buys Mesirow’s $13B Retirement Division 

Creative Planning LLC, the registered investment advisory and retirement plan services firm, has acquired Mesirow Financial Inc.’s retirement plan advisory division.  

The deal will bring Overland Park, KS-based Creative Planning more than 350 retirement plans and $13 billion in assets under advisement and management.  

Chicago-based Mesirow divisional leaders David Dermenjian, Chris Pohlman, Vince Allegra and Chuck Lawless will join Creative Planning in the transaction. 

“Their (Mesirow) commitment to tailoring financial solutions while championing social responsibility aligns perfectly with our values. They are well-equipped to address the retirement needs of plan sponsors, plan participants, investors, and non-qualified plans,” said Creative Planning CEO Peter Mallouk. 

Mesirow’s retirement division serves plan providers, sponsors, advisers, and participants with service and fiduciary solutions. Other activities of the firm include global investment management, capital markets and investment banking, and consulting services. 

The transaction adds to CEO Peter Mallouk’s and the firm’s aggressive acquisition phase, which is backed by private equity behemoth General Atlantic.   

Creative Planning is also nearing completion on a deal to acquire United Capital Financial Partners Inc., a personal financial management division of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. This transaction, which will target high-net-worth investors, is slated to close in the fourth quarter of 2023. 

As of July 1, 2023, Creative Planning’s assets under management were more than $245 billion, which includes about $137 billion in retirement plan assets under advisement.