# Creative Planning vs. Mariner: Two Kansas RIA giants compared

URL: https://www.financialadvsr.com/compare/creative-planning-vs-mariner
Updated: 2026-10-10
Publisher: Financial ADVSR (https://www.financialadvsr.com)

Creative Planning and Mariner are both Overland Park, Kan.-based RIAs that grew largely through acquisitions and remain controlled by their CEOs. Creative Planning reported more than $780 billion in assets under management or advisement as of June 30, 2026, while Mariner reported more than $632 billion in assets under advisement as of Dec. 31, 2025. Both have private equity minority investors, General Atlantic and TPG at Creative Planning and Leonard Green and Neuberger Berman at Mariner. Mariner also supported independent advisors through Mariner Independent, though it sold its Mariner Advisor Network to LPL Financial in 2026.

## Key differences

- Size: Creative Planning reported more than $780 billion in assets under management or advisement as of June 30, 2026. Mariner reported more than $632 billion in assets under advisement as of Dec. 31, 2025. [1] [2]
- Ownership: Creative Planning is majority owned by CEO Peter Mallouk, with minority stakes held by General Atlantic (since February 2020), TPG (announced September 2024) and employee partners. Mariner is controlled by CEO Marty Bicknell, with minority stakes held by Leonard Green & Partners (since 2021) and Neuberger Berman Capital Solutions (since October 2024). [3] [4]
- Recent deals: Creative Planning closed its purchase of Goldman Sachs' Personal Financial Management unit in 2023 and announced a deal for institutional consultant RVK on Sept. 15, 2026. Mariner bought First National Advisors and Strava Wealth (about $1.8 billion combined) in January 2026 and Wealth Conscious Management (about $320 million) in May 2026. [1] [5] [6] [7]
- Independent advisors: Mariner Independent lets advisors keep ownership of their practices while using Mariner's support. Mariner sold its Mariner Advisor Network, 367 advisors with about $31 billion, to LPL Financial in a deal announced April 14, 2026, and closed by July 30, 2026. Creative Planning's advisors work as employees. [8] [9] [10]
- Equity for advisors: Creative Planning offered partnership stakes to 86 employees, about 10% of its workforce, in March 2021 and said it would offer equity in future acquisitions. [10]
- Branding of acquired firms: Firms Mariner buys generally adopt the Mariner name. Creative Planning runs some acquired businesses under their own names, such as United Capital and RVK. [7] [5]

## Questions

**Is Creative Planning bigger than Mariner?** Yes, by reported assets. Creative Planning reported more than $780 billion in assets under management or advisement as of June 30, 2026. Mariner reported more than $632 billion in assets under advisement as of Dec. 31, 2025. The figures use different dates and definitions.

**Who owns Creative Planning and Mariner?** CEO Peter Mallouk is Creative Planning's majority owner, with General Atlantic, TPG and employee partners holding minority stakes. CEO Marty Bicknell controls Mariner, with Leonard Green & Partners and Neuberger Berman Capital Solutions as minority investors.

**Can independent advisors join Creative Planning or Mariner?** Mariner has offered Mariner Independent, a supported-independence channel in which advisors keep ownership of their practices; in 2026 it sold its Mariner Advisor Network, 367 advisors with about $31 billion, to LPL Financial. Creative Planning's advisors work as employees, and it adds advisors mainly by buying firms.

**Do Creative Planning advisors get equity?** Some do. Creative Planning began granting or selling equity to selected long-tenured employees in 2021, offering stakes to 86 people that March, and said it planned to open partnership to a limited group each year.

Sources:
[1] Creative Planning: Creative Planning to Acquire RVK, Expanding Its Institutional Investment Consulting Capabilities (https://creativeplanning.com/press/creative-planning-to-acquire-rvk-expanding-its-institutional-investment-consulting-capabilities/)
[2] Mariner (via National Law Review): Mariner Welcomes Two Advisor Teams, Adding $500M in Assets (https://natlawreview.com/press-releases/mariner-welcomes-two-advisor-teams-adding-500m-assets)
[3] InvestmentNews: PE giant TPG takes strategic stake in Creative Planning (https://investmentnews.com/rias/pe-giant-tpg-takes-strategic-stake-in-creative-planning/257448)
[4] ThinkAdvisor: Mariner Says Neuberger Berman Is Its New Minority Investor (https://thinkadvisor.com/2024/10/29/mariner-says-neuberger-berman-is-its-new-minority-investor)
[5] WealthManagement.com: Creative Planning Closes on Acquisition of Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management (https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ria-news/creative-planning-closes-on-acquisition-of-goldman-sachs-personal-financial-management)
[6] Mariner: Mariner Starts 2026 With $1.8 Billion Dual Acquisition as Advisor Growth Accelerates (https://www.marinerwealthadvisors.com/newsroom/2026/01/06/mariner-builds-on-inorganic-growth-trajectory-starting-2026-with-1-8-billion-dual-acquisition/)
[7] Mariner: Mariner Expands Into Entertainment Industry Wealth with $320M Acquisition Serving Top Talent (https://www.marinerwealthadvisors.com/newsroom/2026/06/02/mariner-expands-into-entertainment-industry-wealth-with-320m-acquisition-serving-top-talent/)
[8] WealthManagement.com: Mariner Independent Snags Northwestern Mutual Team in Baton Rouge (https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ria-news/mariner-independent-snags-northwestern-mutual-team-in-baton-rouge)
[9] LPL Financial: LPL Financial Announces Second Quarter 2026 Results (https://www.lpl.com/content/dam/edam/corporate-communications/press-release/monthly-metrics/lpl-financial-q2-2026-earnings-release.pdf)
[10] WealthManagement.com: Peter Mallouk's Employees Take Equity in Creative Planning (https://www.wealthmanagement.com/investment-news/peter-mallouk-s-employees-take-equity-in-creative-planning)