Independent RIAs with the right stuff to explore advanced strategies for organic growth, M&A, technology, and private investing

Summit Financial, ​​a preeminent investment advisory firm empowering advisors to optimize business growth and deliver the sophisticated services of a family office, has announced details for its fifth annual Summit Growth Partners Summit in Phoenix, Ariz., November 10–13, 2025.

Summit’s cornerstone advisor event brings together the Summit Growth Partners (SGP) community of elite independent advisors, Summit and Merchant Investment Management executives, and other strategic collaborators. This year’s theme, “Fueling the Future,” highlights how RIAs can ignite transformative ideas, build momentum, and achieve sustainable growth.

SGP Summit is a Must for Entrepreneurial Advisors

The SGP Summit is an invitation-only gathering for SGP’s partner firms. Over the course of two and a half days, attendees will have access to:

• Sessions on organic and inorganic growth strategies
• Practice management workshops to enhance enterprise value and optimize earnings
• Technology insights for scale, efficiency, and client engagement
• Special programming for advisors considering joining Summit
• Networking events with growth-minded peers

Attendees can also visit the Innovation Lab, where technology providers will be on site to demonstrate their latest solutions and services for financial advisors.

Keynote Speaker is a Top Gun Fighter Pilot, Professional Golfer, and Author

This year’s keynote speaker is Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, a decorated U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter pilot who not only served three combat tours and twice earned honors as a “Top Gun” flyer, he’s also a PGA professional golfer, motivational speaker, and author of two best-sellers: Fly Into the Wind and A Patriot's Calling.

Rooney is also the founder and CEO of Folds of Honor, a foundation that has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled service members. As a motivational speaker, Lt. Col. Rooney offers his perspective on leadership that combines precision, purpose, and passion.

Summit CEO Commentary

“We’re incredibly proud of the success and momentum our partners have achieved in recent years; we can’t wait to see what comes next,” said Stan Gregor, Chairman and CEO, Summit Financial. “This year’s event is all about fueling the future: showing advisor partners how to compound their asset and revenue growth by adopting Summit’s technology, leveraging our bespoke family-office services, and onboarding more advisory teams.”

SGP Partners Provides Unique Growth Opportunities

Summit Growth Partners offers a unique partnership program with a transparent structure designed to align advisors’ interests with Summit’s resources. Advisors who partner with SGP represent some of the fastest-growing independent RIAs in the United States.

SGP makes minority investments in high-quality advisory firms and then provides the resources and long-term support that empower growth in assets, revenue, and enterprise value. Summit’s transparent partnership approach is aligned with the interests of RIAs who want to take their firms to the next level while fueling the continued national expansion of Summit.

Advisors can contact Summit to learn more about Summit Growth Partners.

SGP Powers Summit Financial’s Growth

Summit Financial has emerged as one of the fastest-growing national firms in the RIA industry. Since 2020, the firm has increased assets under administration fivefold to nearly $24 billion and grown its national network to 150 financial advisors across 23 states. Summit’s growth strategy, fueled by minority purchases, tuck-ins, and organic expansion, has earned recognition from two independent industry watchers.

Recently, Summit rose 15 spots to No. 35 on Barron’s 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms rankings, now in their 10th year, reflecting the firm’s growth, quality of practice, and other key metrics. Summit has now been recognized for four consecutive years on the prestigious list. In addition, Summit on Oct. 1 climbed three spots to Number 31 on the 2025 Forbes Top RIA rankings, developed by Forbes and SHOOK^® Research to spotlight the industry’s top firms based on revenue growth, AUM, compliance, industry experience, quality of practice, and other factors.

News at a Glance

Summit Financial to host its 5th Annual Growth Partners Conference in Phoenix, Nov. 10-13. This year’s theme, “Fueling the Future,” focuses on equipping independent RIAs with strategies for organic and inorganic growth, practice management, and technology-driven scale. The conference features keynote speaker Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder of Folds of Honor, alongside interactive sessions, networking receptions, and exclusive resources for advisors. Summit has grown to oversee nearly $24 billion in assets, 150 advisors in 23 states, and recently ranked No. 35 on Barron’s 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms list, up from No. 50.

ABOUT SUMMIT FINANCIAL

Summit Financial (“Summit”) is a preeminent investment advisory firm with over 40 years of experience helping advisors elevate their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. Built by advisors for advisors, Summit champions independence while providing the tools, capital, and resources needed to achieve growth and success.

Summit Financial, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“RIA”) established in November 2018, is the successor firm to Summit Equities, Inc. (registered with the SEC in 1991) and Summit Financial Resources, Inc. (registered with the SEC in 1983) for all of their investment advisory and financial planning business. Summit Financial, LLC, is wholly owned by Summit Financial Holdings, LLC ("SFH"), which is owned by Stanley Gregor and Merchant Wealth Management Holdings 3, LLC (“MWMH”). MWMH is wholly owned by Merchant Wealth Partners, LLC, which is wholly owned by Merchant Investment Management, LLC. Minority investments are made by SFH.

A 2025 Forbes|SHOOK^® and Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firm, Summit is deeply committed to its founding principles of independence and powerful financial planning. Interested advisors and firm leaders can learn more about Summit’s all-inclusive platform of fully integrated industry-leading services, thought leaders, and innovative technology—known as the SummitVantage™—at www.summitfinancial.com.

Forbes|SHOOK^® (October 1, 2025) America’s Top RIA Firms and Barron's 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms (September 12, 2025). Rankings were determined based on proprietary evaluation processes conducted by Forbes|SHOOK^® and Barron’s. Summit Financial, LLC, did not pay a fee to obtain or use these rankings.

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Summit Financial announces its fifth annual Summit Growth Partners Summit in Phoenix, Ariz., November 10–13, 2025