Merchant Welcomes Rich Policastro as Managing Director to Advance Growing Network of Essential Advisor Services

Merchant, a global operating company that provides growth capital, strategic resources, and support to independent financial services firms, today announced the appointment of industry veteran Rich Policastro as Managing Director. In this role, Rich will help deepen engagement across Merchant’s expanding ecosystem of service partners, supporting advisors with access to best-in-class solutions across the wealth management value chain.

With over 30 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, Rich brings extensive expertise in helping Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) drive growth, improve operations, and implement strategic initiatives. He has held senior positions at Schwab Advisor Services and Fidelity Institutional and most recently served as Executive Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at Hightower Advisors, where he played a key role in advancing the firm’s acquisition strategy.

“Rich’s addition reflects our ongoing commitment to surrounding advisors with not only top-tier resources but also the people who’ve been in the trenches with them,” said Tim Bello, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Merchant. “He brings the insight, empathy, and execution mindset that defines the type of leadership we’re proud to welcome into our community.”

Rich’s arrival coincides with Merchant’s deepening commitment to the services side of the independent wealth management industry. In recent years, Merchant has curated a differentiated and connected community of essential service providers, including AdvisorAssist, which supports compliance and RIA operations; Republic Capital Group, which offers investment banking and valuation advisory; Fin.Link, a fintech platform transforming advisor-client connectivity and helping firms pursue business expansion and succession planning opportunities; TAG Intel, a provider of geopolitical analysis; Mosaic Advanced Planning, which delivers advanced tax and estate planning strategies; and Venning Advisors, which offers integrated CPA solutions.

Additionally, Merchant has supported the launch of outsourced CFO services and a cybersecurity solution tailored for advisory firms. Upcoming areas of focus include trust services and enhanced valuation capabilities, which will complement existing partnerships and further expand the firm’s holistic offering.

“Our goal is to be embedded across the scaffolding of the industry—supporting advisors not just with capital but with the infrastructure to grow, protect, and evolve their firms,” added Bello. “That’s how we become true lifecycle partners.”

About Merchant:

Merchant is a private partnership that provides life cycle growth capital and strategic guidance to independent financial services companies, particularly those focused on wealth and asset management. Merchant’s ecosystem comprises 100+ partner firms and RIA practices in six countries, collectively managing more than $230 billion in assets. For additional information, please visit merchantim.com.

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Rich's addition reinforces Merchant’s ongoing evolution from a minority investor to a Lifecycle Equity Partner, offering flexible capital solutions and long-term strategic support to help firms grow at every stage of their journey.