Veteran RIA founder, M&A executive and strategic advisor brings firsthand perspective from both sides of the transaction table

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Alaris Acquisitions (“Alaris”), a leading sell-side mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm serving the wealth management industry, today announced Jon Dubravac has joined the firm as senior deal leader. Dubravac brings extensive experience to the role, with a background as an RIA founder, wealth management operator, M&A executive and strategic advisor. At Alaris, Dubravac will guide advisory firm owners through the full M&A process, from initial planning and preparation through closing. He will work closely with founders to understand their financial and personal objectives, prepare their businesses for market, evaluate prospective partners, compare transaction structures and negotiate the terms that matter most.

Throughout his career, Dubravac has built, scaled, sold and acquired advisory businesses. Prior to Alaris, Dubravac co-founded WealthSource Partners, growing the firm to approximately $2.5 billion in assets under management and nearly 90 employees before its acquisition by OneDigital. He played a significant role in integrating WealthSource into OneDigital, supporting the continued expansion of the organization’s wealth management platform through M&A, execution, integration and organizational growth. After OneDigital, Dubravac founded Blueprint Strategies, an independent M&A and strategic advisory firm focused on helping wealth management founders prepare for transactions, understand their strategic options and identify the right long-term partner. Alaris subsequently acquired Blueprint, bringing Dubravac’s seller-focused advisory expertise, relationships and firsthand transaction experience directly into its platform.

“Jon brings an incredibly rare perspective to the M&A process because he has lived nearly every chapter of it himself,” said Allen Darby, founder and chief executive officer of Alaris. “He understands what it means to build an RIA from the ground up, sell a business, integrate it into a larger organization and then sit across the table from other founders as their advisor. That experience makes him uniquely equipped to help our clients navigate the complexities of a transaction and, most importantly, understand what happens after the deal closes. We are thrilled to have him on the Alaris team.”

At Alaris, Dubravac will also help RIA owners evaluate the broader implications of an M&A transaction, including cultural alignment, client continuity, employee considerations, leadership, control, integration and the owner’s role following a transaction. His firsthand experience allows him to help founders anticipate issues that can arise during diligence and integration while making informed decisions about their businesses and their futures.

“I’ve experienced this process from virtually every angle,” said Dubravac. “My experience has reinforced for me that a successful transaction is about far more than valuation. It’s about understanding what an owner actually wants to accomplish and finding a partner and structure that supports the business, its people and the owner’s vision for the future. That is what makes Alaris’ approach so compelling, and I’m excited to work closely with the firm and the founders we serve.”

Dubravac joins Alaris at a time of sustained activity across the RIA M&A market, which experienced a 19 percent increase in transactions in the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2025. As transaction activity continues to accelerate and deal structures become more sophisticated, Alaris is continuing to expand the depth of its senior advisory team. Dubravac’s appointment follows the firm’s April 2026 onboarding of Tony Leonard as managing director of business development, strengthening Alaris’ capabilities across both relationship development and transaction advisory. Together, the appointments reflect Alaris’ continued investment in serving RIA owners with experienced, relationship-driven guidance throughout the M&A process.

Advisors exploring a sale, partnership or succession plan can learn more about Alaris’ approach and connect with its advisory team here.

About Alaris Acquisitions

Alaris Acquisitions is an industry leading sell-side advisory for the wealth management industry. Through its proprietary Deal Advocacy methodology, Alaris pinpoints and aligns partners with their ideal buyers. Unlike legacy approaches focused solely on initial valuation, Alaris, which means ‘matchmaker’ in Latin, analyzes numerous points of alignment, including cultural fit, initial valuation, and post-acquisition economics for the seller. With its unmatched catalog of buyer models in wealth management, Alaris has replaced the financial auction method for buyer identification with a cultural auction. The Alaris approach to RIA firm matchmaking produces a superior post-deal quality of life, heightened valuation, and reduced costs for M&A advice.

Fonte: Business Wire