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AnalysisDeals & PEthe-ledger

Apella buys Blue Spark for $261 million

Blue Spark is Apella's 30th acquisition since 2014 and MCS is Waverly's 37th since a 2021 minority investment.

At a glance

  1. CohnReznick, the New York tax and consulting firm, announced a mid-December deal to bring in Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, including a wealth practice sized at $8 billion.
  2. The combination adds about 48 partners and more than 500 employees.
  3. Across the three transactions, the reported asset figures total roughly $8.4 billion, with $8 billion in the Aldrich practice and $412 million across the two RIA deals.

Apella is acquiring Blue Spark at $261 million and Waverly is acquiring MCS Family Wealth Advisors at $151 million. Blue Spark is Apella's 30th acquisition since 2014, and MCS is Waverly's 37th since a 2021 minority investment, according to the deal coverage.

CohnReznick, the New York tax and consulting firm, announced a mid-December deal to bring in Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, including a wealth practice sized at $8 billion. The combination adds about 48 partners and more than 500 employees.

FirmTransactionSize
ApellaAcquires Blue Spark; 30th since 2014$261M
WaverlyAcquires MCS Family Wealth Advisors; 37th since 2021$151M
CohnReznickMid-December deal to add Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, including its wealth practice$8B

Across the three transactions, the reported asset figures total roughly $8.4 billion, with $8 billion in the Aldrich practice and $412 million across the two RIA deals.

Reported by the Deals & PE desk from PWD deal coverage, week of Oct. 16, 2026, SEC EDGAR Form D, Crystal Creek Capital Growth & Income Fund, LLC and SEC EDGAR Form D, Empros Technologies Fund XLVII, LLC. Published . Updated Oct 28, 2026 · 2:57 p.m. ET. Corrections

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