An Activist SCOTUS Could Shake the Regulatory Landscape, Devoe’s Take on M&A Marketplace, and the Latest People Moves and Acquisitions

Wealth Solutions Report
To My Fellow WSR Community Members:
Except for our Canadian friends (whom we appreciate very much!), our readership primarily sits under the gavel of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). Most of the headlines generated by an increasingly activist conservative majority court are related to hot button cultural and social issues.
But even when it comes to regulatory actions, SCOTUS appears determined to dramatically shift the status quo, and this potentially includes wealth management rules and regulations.

Look no further than a major SCOTUS decision from the end of last month to see the shape of things to come.
Regulators that recently held carte blanche now find their authority questioned, with the Supreme Court having curtailed the EPA’s authority with carbon emissions.

Will this conservative, activist Court kneecap regulators and self-regulators in the name of limited government? Today we peer into the crystal ball to examine where this road goes.
In addition, we cover the latest hiring and M&A news.
This Week’s Issue
Here’s what we have on tap:

- Will SCOTUS change the game for financial regulation? In Beltway & Beyond, Sander Ressler of Essential Edge, our Expert Columnist on Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, examines the recent SCOTUS ruling limiting the authority of the EPA with a view to how the Court’s current thinking may play out in financial regulation – especially with the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule and Regulation BI.
- In our Capital Connections section, Wealth Enhancement Group expands its Northern California presence to eight offices with the acquisition of pre-retirement and retirement-focused Titus Wealth Management, adding to WEG’s strength in the retirement space.
- We cover SageView’s hiring of Goldman Sachs veteran Jorge Bernal as COO in the Newsmakers Roundup section, the latest in a string of senior executive appointments enhancing the Aquiline Capital-backed firm’s leadership bench, as well as two new additions expanding its retirement consulting team.
- In our Capital Connections section, we cover M&A trends for the second quarter from DeVoe & Company’s latest RIA Deal Book. This follows last week’s coverage of ECHELON Partners’ quarterly M&A report.
And just in case you missed it, last week we explored alternative investment ideas with two guest editorials and covered Sanctuary Wealth’s recent M&A activity:
- In our Capital Connections section, we brought you the latest M&A activity by Sanctuary Wealth: an investment in independent firm Marriott Advisors through Sanctuary’s minority stake acquisition program for partner firms and its acquisition of retirement plan specialist GoalPath Solutions.

- Is there a mythology surrounding inflation? Dave Scranton, Founder and CEO of Sound Income Group, cautioned us against the myth that gold, cryptoassets and real estate are good investments during inflation in the Investment Solutions & Gatekeepers section and counseled us to look towards bonds, dividend stocks and bond-like instruments for growth and income in inflationary times.
- Is there an alternative to refinancing when mortgage rates soar? Also in our Investment Solutions & Gatekeepers section, Ashley Bete, Founder and CEO of Leap, explained home equity agreements, in which a financial institution buys part of a client’s home equity, freeing cash to lower debt and raise FICO scores, and described the potential pitfalls.

What changes do you think SCOTUS will cause to our industry? Let us know, along with your other ideas, thoughts and questions!
Share these stories via email or social media, especially LinkedIn!
Have a great week!
Cheers!
Larry Roth, CEO
Wealth Solutions Report