# Chicago's VestGen takes Willow Tree credit capital to fund acquisitions

URL: https://www.financialadvsr.com/article/chicagos-vestgen-takes-willow-tree-credit-capital-to-fund-01888d
Published: October 14, 2026
By: Grant Whitmore, Moves Correspondent
Section: Moves
Publisher: Financial ADVSR (https://www.financialadvsr.com)

VestGen Wealth Partners has taken growth capital from Willow Tree Credit Partners to fund mergers and acquisitions, with the amount undisclosed and sources disagreeing on its asset size.

Chicago-based VestGen Wealth Partners has taken growth capital from Willow Tree Credit Partners, the firm announced on October 14, 2026. According to WealthManagement.com, the funding will support VestGen's mergers and acquisitions activity. Citywire RIA covered the transaction the same day, but its headline also named nFleXion Capital as an investor. No other source reviewed confirms a role for nFleXion, so this article attributes no investment to that firm.

The public terms are limited. InvestmentNews reported that the size of the credit facility was not disclosed, and none of the sources reviewed gives a price or deal value. Citywire RIA reported that VestGen had been looking for a capital partner since 2025 and had hired Raymond James as its investment banker to lead the process. InvestmentNews identified Raymond James & Associates as financial adviser to VestGen.

InvestmentNews also named the legal advisers on the transaction. It said White & Case represented Willow Tree, while Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff represented VestGen.

In the firm's announcement, CEO Jason Hanavan said institutional capital would allow VestGen to continue an aggressive growth strategy. Willow Tree founder and CEO Tim Lower praised VestGen's track record of sourcing, closing and integrating acquired firms. InvestmentNews reported that Hanavan signaled near-term announcements are on the way, but the outlet noted that the firm has not given a target asset level or a number of deals it expects to complete.

The scale figures in the coverage do not agree. The firm's own figures say it began in late 2024 with ten advisory practices and $5.3 billion of assets under management. Citywire's headline and WealthManagement.com both cite $8.5 billion, and WealthManagement.com described that total as spanning 19 firms. None of the sources reviewed reconciles the two numbers, so the $8.5 billion figure should be read as reported rather than confirmed.

The founding date is also disputed. WealthManagement.com says the firm was founded in December 2024. PitchBook, however, lists the firm as established in 2003 with an address on South Clark Street in Chicago. The 2003 date may reflect a legacy entity, and the discrepancy has not been resolved in the sources.

According to WealthManagement.com, the platform is intended for two groups: advisers who are looking to retire and exit, and next-generation advisers who prioritise growth. The same outlet reported that founder Josh Gerry stepped down earlier in 2026 as part of an executive succession plan. The firm's team page lists Jason Hanavan as CEO.

Private credit has become a common source of funding for consolidators that buy advisory firms, and capital of this kind is typically used to finance acquisitions and integration. Whether VestGen's new funding translates into a faster pace of deals will depend on the announcements Hanavan has signaled and on whether the firm clarifies its asset base and founding history.

Readers should watch for named acquisitions, any disclosure of the facility's size, a reconciliation of the $5.3 billion launch figure with the $8.5 billion now in circulation, and any clarification of nFleXion's role.

Key facts:
- Willow Tree Credit Partners provided growth capital to VestGen Wealth Partners, announced October 14, 2026 (firm announcement)
- The size of the credit facility was not disclosed (InvestmentNews)
- VestGen says it began in late 2024 with ten advisory practices and $5.3 billion of assets under management (firm figures)
- Raymond James & Associates was financial adviser to VestGen (InvestmentNews)
- VestGen is headquartered in Chicago (WealthManagement.com)

Why it matters: For advisers weighing a sale, acquisition capital on the buyer side can affect how quickly a consolidator moves and what terms it can offer. For recruiters and firm leaders, a newly funded acquirer is a potential competitor for practices and talent, and the unresolved asset and founding figures are worth confirming before relying on either number.

Sources:
- Citywire RIA: https://citywire.com/ria/news/8-5bn-vestgen-takes-investment-from-credit-shops-willow-tree-nflexion-capital/a2500128
- WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ria-news/vestgen-receives-growth-capital-from-private-credit-firm
- prnewswire.com: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vestgen-wealth-partners-receives-growth-capital-from-willow-tree-to-advance-succession-strategy-302907902.html
- investmentnews.com: https://www.investmentnews.com/ria-news/vestgen-lands-institutional-capital-to-fuel-midwest-wealth-rollup/268585
- vestgen.com: https://vestgen.com/team/
- pitchbook.com: https://pitchbook.com/profiles/limited-partner/708127-84