Cetera Welcomes Primacy Financial, Led by Advisor Ryan P. O'Connor, with Approximately $450 Million in AUA
Multi-specialized team joins Cetera in search of growth, independence and a wider array of resources
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cetera welcomes Primacy Financial®, a 9-member, multi-specialized wealth management team that joins Cetera from Northwestern Mutual. Led by Founding Partner Ryan P. O'Connor, CFP®, the Buffalo, New York-area team oversees approximately $450 million in AUA1 and joins the Cetera Financial Specialists community.
Joining O'Connor in the move to Cetera are Founding Partner Christopher J. Williams, CFP®; Principal Owner Tony Blasting, CFP®, Wealth Management Advisor; and Deanna M. McCarthy, Partner and Chief Operating Officer. The Primacy Financial team's deep bench, which enables the firm to provide superior client service, includes Colleen Was, Director of Client Services; Jeremy Evens, Wealth Management Advisor; Sam Stoddard, Director of Employer and Participant Operations; Sean Thompson, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer; and Tess Steele, Director of Insurance Services.
As part of its move, the team aligns with one of Cetera's large enterprise-level independent offices, Patriot Financial Group, which will offer the Primacy Financial team with support alongside resources from Cetera.
Primacy Financial primarily works with business owners, physicians and medical professionals, as well as individuals nearing or in retirement. Primacy Financial specializes in business succession planning, tax-efficient investment and retirement income strategies and multigenerational wealth transfer strategies.
"Our firm's name is Primacy because we put clients first, and we pursue client services in a bold way," O'Connor said. "We chose Cetera because of what we believe makes them unique – their focus on advisor growth, and their willingness to trust advisors and their decisions about the best way to run their business."
O'Connor said moving to Cetera – the fourth-largest independent broker-dealer in the country2 – gives his team more flexibility to serve clients the way they want, including a robust roster of support staff.
"If you look at our team relative to other similar-sized firms, you'd see it's not uncommon to have half the number of staff we have, but we invest in people and services to give the best deliverables for our clients, and that makes us unique," O'Connor said.
Deanna McCarthy emphasized the team's culture is built around people, both its staff and among clients, saying: "We are a people-first organization with an experienced, licensed team whose expertise and commitment to our clients set us apart."
The team has a longstanding relationship with the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. That relationship is directly supported by Colleen Was, and O'Connor who has regularly spoken at the school about education around managing student loans, financial planning and wealth management.
While the team serves clients nationally, its roots are in Buffalo, where the team's deep philanthropic commitment includes working with the community's youth and people with developmental differences.
In welcoming Primacy Financial, Cetera Tax Channel Leader Andy Watts said, "Ryan and his team relentlessly put clients first, and that shows up across their firm, from how they've structured their team to the depth of specialties they bring to the table. We're proud to welcome Primacy Financial to Cetera, and we're looking forward to supporting their next chapter of growth."
For more information about Primacy Financial, visit www.primacyfinancialgroup.com.
About Cetera
Cetera is the premier financial advisor Wealth Hub, empowering independent advisors and institutions with personalized support, flexible affiliation models, and end-to-end growth solutions. Home to approximately 12,000 financial professionals and institutions, Cetera's multi-channel ecosystem enables financial professionals to grow, scale or transition their businesses on their own terms.
Unlike traditional IBDs, Cetera offers true choice – blending modern technology, integrated wealth solutions, and a community-driven culture. Cetera's five-channel model and commitment to long-term advisor value provide a scalable blueprint for consistent, repeatable growth.
As of June 30, 2026, Cetera firms manage approximately $688 billion in assets under administration and $330 billion in assets under management. Its Voice of the Customer program has captured more than 50,000 advisor reviews, and over 45,000 five-star ratings, giving Cetera a 4.7 out of 5 satisfaction score.
Learn more at www.cetera.com and follow Cetera on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Cetera is a network of independent retail firms, including FINRA/SIPC member firms Cetera Advisors LLC, Cetera Wealth Services, LLC (formerly known as Cetera Advisor Networks), Cetera Investment Services LLC (marketed as Cetera Financial Institutions or Cetera Investors), and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. SEC-registered investment advisers include Cetera Investment Management LLC, Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, and Cetera Planning Partners within Cetera Holdings, an affiliate of Cetera. All referenced entities are under common ownership. Cetera's principal office is located at 655 W. Broadway, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101.
Cetera exclusively provides investment products and services through its representatives. Although Cetera does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Cetera representatives may offer these services through their independent outside businesses. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.
1 Value approximated based on information provided to Cetera for asset holdings as of Oct. 2, 2026.
2 Based on 2025 annual revenue, as published in Financial Planning's IBD Elite 2026 rankings (Aug. 19, 2026), which is available at: https://www.financial-planning.com/list/ibd-elite-2026-the-largest-independent-brokerages.
SOURCE Cetera Financial Group
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