Hightower Merges Partner Firm Boston Hill Into Hightower Signature

Hightower Advisors has continued to expand its employee W-2 channel, Hightower Signature Wealth, by absorbing Boston Hill Advisors in Massachusetts, which had been part of the Hightower community as an independent partner firm since 2023. In its news release today, Chicago-based Hightower, which manages more than $350 billion in client assets, said merging the partner practice Boston Hill into the Signature Wealth ecosystem adds about $1.6 billion in assets under management and a staff of 18, including 11 advisors, to the rapidly expanding platform. Since launching Hightower Signature Wealth last fall, Hightower’s CEO Larry Restieri has been growing the brand through acquisitions and partnerships of practices inside and outside the Hightower network. Last month the serial RIA acquirer added more than $2.5 billion in assets to the Signature Wealth practice, which serves advisors with integrated investment management, financial planning, operations, technology, compliance, marketing and client services on one platform. Most recently, Hightower snapped up Valley Financial Group, an independent external wealth management practice managing about $275 million in assets, and early last month the RIA added another former Hightower independent partner, North Carolina-based Stearns Financial Group, which brought about $2.5 billion in AUM and 30 team members to the brand. After the closing of the Boston Hill deal late last month, Signature Wealth has more than $40 billion in assets under management, more than 130 advisors and more than 30 locations nationwide, said Hightower. The firm expects to announce new acquisitions to the channel throughout 2026. In the release, Restieri said Boston Hill’s talented team, extensive investment experience and a longstanding commitment to clients make the practice a strong addition to the channel. “As we continue to build HTSW as an integrated national practice, we are focused on bringing together teams that share our commitment to a highly personalized advisory approach,” he said. “Boston Hill Advisors embodies that vision and will further strengthen the collective capabilities we bring to clients.” Founded in 2006, Boston Hill provides wealth management, investment solutions and financial planning to individuals, families and institutions throughout the greater Boston area from offices in North Andover and Natick, Hightower said. Both locations remain in place. “Our partnership with Hightower over the past three years has given us a clear view of what we can accomplish together,” said Michael F. Edwards, wealth advisor and managing director at Boston Hill, in a statement. “Joining [Hightower Signature Wealth] strengthens our ability to carry on our mission of helping clients navigate complexity with confidence and clarity.”