LEAWOOD, Kan., Jan. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Mariner Wealth Advisors, as part of its national growth initiative, today announced it has acquired a majority interest in Vantage Investment Advisors, LLC, located in State College, Pennsylvania.

The Vantage Investment Advisors team is comprised of 14 experienced professionals who manage more than $1 billion in assets. The team has a particular focus on ensuring each client’s investment portfolio is expertly tailored and specifically developed with the client’s long-term goals in mind.

“We are extremely pleased with the opportunity to partner with Mariner Wealth Advisors,” said Robert R. Thomas, CFA, CFP, president and chief executive officer of Vantage Investment Advisors. “Mariner is an industry leader that will provide Vantage and our clients with a wide range of additional resources, products and support. This partnership will allow the whole Vantage team to continue on our growth trajectory while focusing, first and foremost, on serving clients.”

Founded with a mission of helping individuals and families achieve and maintain financial peace of mind, Mariner Wealth Advisors provides financial advice based purely on the needs and interests of clients. To continue improving upon its ability to deliver fully customized wealth planning solutions to clients across the country, Mariner Wealth Advisors is pursuing an aggressive expansion plan. It has widened its national footprint through the acquisition of several leading regional advisory firms that each shares the same client-centric philosophy of Mariner Wealth Advisors. The partnership with Vantage will strengthen Mariner Wealth Advisors’ existing presence in the Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey areas.

In addition to geographic growth, Mariner Wealth Advisors has purposefully broadened the menu of services its advisors are able to offer clients. Vantage, as a Mariner Wealth Advisors partner, will benefit from the full range of these services, which now includes: trust and estate planning, tax advisory services, retirement plan services, investment banking, valuation advisory and forensic accounting services, and insurance consulting.

“I am thrilled Rob and his team have made the decision to join the Mariner Wealth Advisors family of companies. Vantage represents a great cultural fit and their growth orientation aligns perfectly with our goal to increase the number of clients we are able to serve in the Northeast. Above all else, though, I am pleased to have found another partner who shares our commitment to delivering exceptional client service,” said Martin C. Bicknell, chief executive officer of Mariner Wealth Advisors.

Silver Lane Advisors acted as financial advisor to Vantage Investment Advisors.

About Mariner Wealth Advisors
Mariner Wealth Advisors is an independent, national wealth advisory firm that provides unbiased financial advice focused on meeting client needs. Mariner’s expert wealth advisory teams strive to help clients achieve and maintain financial peace of mind – preserving the wealth they have created and building a legacy for future generations of family and business leaders. The firm was nationally ranked #2 on Barron’s list of Top Independent Wealth Advisors in both 2013 and 2014,* and its wealth advisory services include:

• Financial planning
• Investment advisory services
• Multi-generational wealth planning
• Risk management
• Philanthropy
• Executive compensation planning
• Business succession planning
• Family office services
• Retirement planning services
• Insurance consulting

Visit www.marinerwealthadvisors.com for more information.

About Vantage Investment Advisors
Founded in 2000, Vantage Investment Advisors is a State College, Pennsylvania-based registered investment advisory firm that provides comprehensive investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, non-profits, businesses and pension plans. Through its fee-based, open architecture platform, Vantage provides clients with personalized, unbiased investment advice, extensive research, and professional portfolio management and asset allocation services. Vantage’s team of experienced professionals focuses on delivering customized solutions specifically designed to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.

Visit www.vantageadvisors.com for more information.

* Barron’s ranked CEO Marty Bicknell and the teams at Mariner the #2 independent wealth advisor nationally in 2013 and 2014. Barron’s also ranked Bicknell the #1 advisor in the state of Kansas for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Barron’s recognitions are based upon information compiled using data for Mariner Holdings, a global financial services firm that owns and manages both Mariner Wealth Advisors and its affiliate, Montage Investments, an independent asset management firm.

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SOURCE Mariner Wealth Advisors