Creative Planning to Acquire RVK, Adding $4.3T in Institutional AUA
Creative Planning has agreed to acquire RVK Inc., a Portland, Oregon-based institutional investment consultant, in a transaction that would substantially expand the registered investment advisor’s presence among pensions, endowments and other large asset owners.
RVK advises more than 200 institutional clients representing approximately $4.3 trillion in assets. Its clients include public and private retirement plans, foundations, endowments, insurance companies, and health systems.
“RVK has built an exceptional reputation by providing thoughtful, objective advice to some of the country’s most complex institutional investors,” Creative Planning President and CEO Peter Mallouk said. He added that the firms’ combination would provide institutions with greater scale, resources and investment insights.
Founded in 1985, RVK provides nondiscretionary investment consulting, meaning clients retain responsibility for investment decisions. Its services include investment-policy development, asset allocation, asset-liability studies, manager research and selection, performance measurement, operational due diligence and governance consulting.
RVK is employee-owned and maintains offices in Portland, Boise, Idaho, Chicago and New York. Its current management team, led by CEO Josh Kevan, will remain in place following the acquisition.
Kevan said becoming a Creative Planning affiliate would allow RVK to preserve its client-focused consulting model while gaining access to additional technology, resources and capabilities.
The transaction extends Creative Planning’s expansion beyond its traditional wealth-management business into retirement and institutional markets. Recent acquisitions include SageView Advisory Group, which had approximately $250 billion in assets under management or advisement, as well as U.S. and European wealth-management firms.
Creative Planning reported more than $780 billion in assets under management or advisement as of June 30. Its affiliates include United Capital Financial Advisors, Creative Planning Institutional Advisors, Baseline Wealth Management and MASECO.
Financial terms of the RVK deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in January 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
Goldman Sachs is serving as Creative Planning’s exclusive financial adviser on the RVK transaction.