Mercer Global Advisors has expanded its North Florida presence with the acquisition of Paragon Wealth Strategies, an RIA with about $495 million in assets under management and more than 400 clients, according to a Mercer statement.
Paragon, in Jacksonville, was founded in 2008 by Jonathan Castle and Michelle Ash, both of whom are certified financial planners. They were joined by Scott Snider and Ian Aguilar, who became partners in 2021, according to the firm’s latest Form ADV filing.
The filing noted 10 employees, with eight acting as advisors, and a service options that include financial planning services, portfolio management for individuals and small businesses, and education seminars and workshops.
According to the firm’s website, it’s part of the Paragon’s service model that all of the advisors attain and maintain the CFP designation, and retirement planning and income are a major focus of their work. In addition, the firm services its clients through a team approach rather than create relationships as individual advisors, the Mercer statement said.
“We were looking to join a national firm that added not only scale and additional support for our team, but also added new services that we could share with our clients,” said Ash in the statement. “In this regard, Mercer Advisors was a perfect fit for us.”
Denver-based Mercer said the acquisition continues to build out its presence in North Florida.
“Jon, Michelle, Scott and Ian have built a high-quality comprehensive wealth management firm standing out as market leaders in North Florida,” said Mercer vice chairman David Barton. “Their significant footprint and prestige bolster our already strong Florida presence. We are thrilled to be partnering with them.”
Dave Welling, CEO of Mercer, added that Paragon was an “excellent fit for our culture and growth plans for Florida.”