Avantax Acquires Assets of WealthCare Financial with Approximately $180 Million in Assets Under Administration

Tax and financial planning firm deepens partnership with Avantax to help ensure a consistent experience for clients and positive futures for employees

DALLAS, May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Avantax^® Inc. (Avantax), a unique community within Cetera and a leader in tax-focused financial planning and wealth management, has acquired the assets of WealthCare Financial Group LLC, an Indianapolis-based tax and financial planning firm whose representatives have affiliated with Avantax since 2019.

Founded in 1997 by Jeffrey Watson, CFP^®, WealthCare Financial had approximately $180 million in total assets under administration as of February 28, 2025.* Watson founded the firm in response to demand from his clients for independent, tax-smart financial planning. Through the acquisition, two WealthCare Financial staff members joined Avantax Planning Partners™, the W-2 model of Avantax, as employees of the financial planning team and the operations team supporting financial planning consultants on client-related matters; they continue operating from their Indianapolis office.

Watson said that after evaluating succession options he decided to stay with Avantax because it was the most seamless option for his clients and employees.

"Serving clients is the most important and rewarding aspect of this business, and it quickly became clear that expanding our relationship with Avantax would help ensure the best experience for our clients," Watson said. "In addition, our team members have bright career paths ahead as Avantax employees, and this new relationship chapter expands the services we provide clients while leveraging Avantax's tools, technologies and resources."

Avantax Wealth Management President Andy Watts noted the significance of Watson engaging Avantax in formal succession planning, stating, "Our Corporate Development team had an initial discussion with Jeff about the future of WealthCare Financial, and the dialogue grew from there. The discussions confirmed that keeping the practice within the Avantax Community was important to Jeff, his team and his clients. We are pleased to have helped Jeff realize the value of his business through this transaction with Avantax, and we look forward to serving his clients for years to come."

Tax and financial professionals can learn more about Avantax by clicking here.

*Value approximated based on asset-holding details provided to Avantax.

About Avantax^®
Avantax, a unique community within Cetera Holdings, delivers tax-intelligent wealth management solutions for financial professionals, tax professionals and CPA firms, supporting its goal of minimizing clients' tax burdens through comprehensive tax-intelligent financial planning. Avantax has two distinct, but related, models within its business: the independent Financial Professional model and the employee-based model. Avantax refers to its independent Financial Professional model as Avantax Wealth Management^®. Avantax Wealth Management (AWM) works with a nationwide network of Financial Professionals operating as independent contractors and offers its services through its registered broker-dealer, Avantax Investment Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, registered investment advisor (RIA), Avantax Advisory Services, Inc., and insurance agency subsidiaries. We refer to our employee-based model as Avantax Planning Partners℠. Avantax Planning Partners offers services through its RIA, insurance agency, and affiliated broker-dealer, Avantax Investment Services, Inc., and partners with CPA firms to provide their consumer and small-business clients with holistic financial planning and advisory services. For additional information, please visit www.avantax.com.

SOURCE Avantax