Blurring Lines Between M&A Investment Bankers and Business Brokers for RIAs?

As the lines between M&A investment bankers and business brokers continue to blur in the RIA space, AdvisorHub tapped Green Sail Capital Partners Co-Founder Ryan Kaminski as one of three industry experts for a September 2025 deep dive into the topic. In the interview, Kaminski drew a sharp distinction between the two: business brokers act as matchmakers within a narrow segment, while investment bankers create bespoke, strategic solutions that unlock value through complex transaction structures. With private equity capital flooding the wealth management landscape, Kaminski emphasized that RIA owners seeking optimal outcomes need an advisor who understands the PE playbook, not a broker showing their business to a handful of the most acquisitive firms.