WTL and Merchant Wealth Partners JV Accelerates with Dual Hubco Platform and Rushby Financial Acquisition
Jane Morgan Management
Sydney, Australia – WT Financial Group Limited (ASX: WTL) has today announced a significant expansion of its joint venture with Merchant Wealth Partners Pty Ltd (“Merchant”) through the incorporation of its first investment platform, Titan Advice Group, and the launch of a second, Hubco2, alongside the acquisition of Queensland-based Rushby Financial.
The 50/50 joint venture entity, WTL & MWP Investco Pty Ltd (“Investco”), was established to provide patient capital and operational support to high-growth financial advice businesses, with a focus on scalable, corporatised groupings of advice practices.
Titan Advice Group – Hubco1 Established
Investco’s inaugural platform entity, Titan Advice Group Pty Ltd (“TAG”), has been formally incorporated, consolidating Titan Financial Planning, Darwin Financial & Retirement Services, and Wealth Connect Financial Services under a scalable structure. David McLean has been appointed Executive Director and CEO, with Investco Director and Merchant Wealth Partner David Haintz, AM, named as Non-Executive Chairman. Investco holds 35% of TAG, with WTL directly holding an additional 5.4%. TAG is debt-free.
Rushby Financial Acquisition
TAG has executed a Heads of Agreement to acquire 100% of Rushby Financial Pty Ltd, a Queensland-based financial advisory firm, at a $2.8 million valuation. The transaction, targeted for settlement by 1 October 2025, will be fully debt funded. Principal Richard Rushby will remain with the business to drive continued growth and mentor new advisers. The opportunity was originated by WTL, which is also providing advisory and due diligence services.
Formation of Second Hubco
Investco has also initiated the establishment of a second platform, “Hubco2”, to bring together Select Advice Group and Newleaf Tailored Financial Solutions. With a combined valuation of $7.8 million, Investco will hold approximately 36%, while WTL will hold a further 6% directly. Select co-founder Eric Bohl will take on the role of CEO, with existing shareholders retaining majority ownership. Hubco2 will also be debt-free at launch and is positioned for further acquisition-led growth.
Strategic Vision
WTL and Invesco Managing Director, Keith Cullen, said the expansion reflects the company’s ability to source and integrate high-quality advice businesses into a scalable, high-growth investment platform.
“These partnerships represent landmark steps for Investco. They underscore WTL’s position at the centre of a high-growth investment platform and reflect our ability to identify and originate high-quality opportunities and help oversee their integration. Through Investco, we’re building a scalable platform, with each Hubco becoming a launchpad for further acquisitions, and operational efficiencies that will enable advisers to thrive.
The strength of our model is in partnering with ambitious advice practices, providing them with patient capital in partnership with world-leader Merchant Wealth, and supporting them to grow and corporatise without sacrificing their entrepreneurial character. We have a very powerful combination that we believe will deliver exceptional long-term value creation - for both the practices we partner with and WTL shareholders alike.”
For more information, please visit https://www.wtfglimited.com
ENDS
About us:
About WT Financial Group Limited (ASX: WTL)
WT Financial Group Limited has established itself as amongst the very largest financial adviser networks in Australia. Its wealth management, retirement planning and personal risk insurance advice services are delivered primarily through a group of around 400 privately-owned advice practices whose advisers operate as authorised representatives under its Wealth Today, Sentry Advice, Synchron Advice, and Millennium3 subsidiaries.
WTL’s B2C division delivers a range of financial advice services directly to wholesale and retail clients through its Spring Financial Group brand.
The Group’s Wealth Adviser division is the Company’s central services and support hub and also offers marketleading services and solutions to advisers and their clients outside of WTL’s subsidiary cohorts including through regular in-person and livestreamed seminar and professional development programs and the publication of a library of more than 100 financial literacy handbooks and manuals in both digital and printed formats.
WTL has recently established WTL & MWP Investco Pty Ltd (Investco), a 50/50 joint venture with Merchant Wealth Partners Pty Ltd—the Australian subsidiary of the New York-based financial advice investor, Merchant Wealth Partners, LLC. Investco has been established to provide strategic growth capital to high-potential financial advice practices within the WTL network and beyond. In line with Merchant Wealth’s global model, Investco will take significant non-controlling interests, offering the practices it partners with long-term, patient capital - differentiating itself from traditionally time-limited private equity.
Contact details:
Jane Morgan
Investor and Media Relations
M +61 405 555 618
E [email protected]