Wealthspire Advisors’ Ground Control Acquires Arena Wealth

Wealthspire Advisors has acquired a United Kingdom-based management firm through Ground Control Business Management, marking the division’s second transaction in the European market. 

Arena Wealth, founded in 2010 by Philip Barker, offers “comprehensive” business management services, including bill pay, bookkeeping, invoicing, credit control, and tax consulting and preparation to professional golfers in the U.K. 

The firm also specializes in assisting clients in navigating multi-jurisdictional tax exposure, international tournament income, sponsorship contracts, and appearance and performance-related fees, Wealthspire said. 

As part of the acquisition, Barker will continue to lead the firm, and all 15 Arena Wealth employees will integrate into the Ground Control team and will be working alongside the firm’s president Nick Parkinson. 

Additionally, upon completion of the transaction, the firm will rebrand to Ground Control. 

“We’ve built our business around understanding our clients’ day-to-day realities, and it was important to find a partner who approaches that work the same way,” Barker said. “Ground Control brings additional depth and experience, and they share our focus on what matters to our clients and how we work with them.” 

Ground Control’s latest addition comes after the firm’s first U.K.-based acquisition of Clay GBP, a business management firm, in October 2024. The acquisition was made prior to Wealthspire’s $2.7 billion buyout by Madison Dearborn Partners in November. 

Last month, Ground Control Business Management acquired Los Angeles-based RSL and Company, which deepens its tax and complex-client capabilities while expanding its national footprint. 

Wealthspire says it oversees more than $600 billion under management across all its subsidiaries, with over 1,200 financial professionals across over 40 offices.