Omaha, Neb. – Sept. 14, 2026 – Carson Group, a leading wealth advisory firm with over $65 billion* in assets under management (AUM), today announced the acquisition of Elios Financial Group, marking the company’s 50th integrated office. Led by Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor James Elios, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, AIF®, the Ohio-based wealth management firm serves approximately $367 million AUM and will become a Carson Wealth office in Westlake.
“Reaching our 50th integrated office is a tremendous milestone in our journey and reflects the caliber of people and firms that have chosen to build their future with Carson Wealth,” said Burt White, CEO of Carson Group. “Advisors are choosing our platform because it gives them the scale, planning capabilities, technology and specialized expertise to grow while preserving the culture and client relationships that made them successful. Jim has built a highly successful practice, and we’re proud to welcome Elios to the Carson community. We’re excited about what we can build together.”
Founded more than 25 years ago, the Elios team has built a reputation for serving clients through proactive retirement planning, personalized service and deep community ties. The team, which also includes Partner and Wealth Advisor Brandon Steinhagen, CFP®, CRPC®, and three client support staff members, is known for its high-touch, education-driven model and boutique approach for families preparing for and navigating retirement.
“Since founding Elios Financial Group, our mission has been to help families make wise financial decisions and feel confident about their future,” said Elios. “My relationship with Carson began through its coaching and practice management program, giving me nearly two decades to see firsthand how the firm will support that mission and empower our people to continue it. As we planned for the future of our clients, our team and the legacy we’ve built, Carson became the clear long-term partner to support us.”
As a Carson Wealth office, Elios and team gain access to Carson’s integrated platform,
bringing additional resources to both the advisor and client experience. Those capabilities include advanced financial planning, investment management, tax and estate planning resources, private client offerings, marketing, technology and operational support. The model is designed to give advisory teams greater capacity to serve clients, pursue growth and spend more time on the work where they can have the greatest impact.
“Jim knew Carson well through our coaching program, but we never took that relationship for granted,” said Michael Belluomini, SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions at Carson Group. “He did what a good business owner should do: He explored his options, brought in outside representation and took a hard look at what would be best for his clients, his team and the business he spent decades building. We stayed close, kept earning his trust and gave him the opportunity to experience where Carson is today. In the end, culture and fit mattered. That makes this one particularly meaningful for our team and is a great example of why we believe relationships and credibility built over time matter in this business.”
Alaris Acquisitions served as exclusive M&A advisor to Elios Financial Group.
The acquisition reflects the continued growth of Carson Wealth and the firm’s focus on partnering with growth-oriented, high-performing advisory businesses seeking greater resources, scale and opportunities for long-term success.
About Carson Group
Carson Group manages over $65 billion* in assets and serves more than 60,000 client families among its advisory network of 165+ partner offices, including more than 50 Carson Wealth locations. For more information about Carson Group and partnership opportunities, visit https://www.carsongroup.com/work-with-us/
Carson offers investment advisory services through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. *AUM amount is based on total assets under Carson Group Holdings, LLC., which include CWM, LLC and Northwest Capital Management, Inc.
