Apella Wealth Acquires Kilner Capital, Pushing AUM Past $12.5 Billion

Apella Wealth has acquired Kilner Capital Advisors, a Gaithersburg, Maryland firm with roughly $332 million in assets under management, in a deal effective October 23, 2026. The acquisition lifts Apella's total assets under management above $12.5 billion.

The transaction is Apella's 31st addition overall and its 20th completed alongside Wealth Partners Capital Group, which invested in Apella in September 2021. Founder Joseph F. "Joe" Kilner, CPA, joins Apella as a Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor, bringing his team with him.

Who is Joe Kilner and what does his firm do?

Kilner founded his practice on an integrated wealth management model that combines investment management, tax planning, and estate planning. Apella said his approach aligns with its own emphasis on evidence-based investing, comprehensive financial planning, and long-term client relationships.

"Joe has built his practice around truly knowing his clients and what matters most to them," said Jim Scanlan, CEO of Apella. "He brings a thoughtful, personal approach to financial advice and a genuine commitment to the people he serves."

For Kilner, the deal was about finding cultural and philosophical alignment. "Throughout our search for the right partner, we focused on finding a firm that shares our commitment to evidence-based investing, comprehensive financial planning, and always putting clients first," Kilner said.

The structure is familiar in the RIA consolidation wave: Kilner keeps his personalized client approach while gaining access to Apella's broader operational resources, investment capabilities, and national wealth management platform.

Why does this deal matter for Apella's map?

The addition strengthens Apella's footprint in Maryland and the broader Mid-Atlantic region. It also adds another experienced advisory team to the firm's expanding national network.

Founded in 2014, Apella operates as a national registered investment advisor serving individual and institutional clients through offices across the U.S. After the Kilner transaction, the firm serves thousands of clients as a sizeable national RIA platform.

Wealth Partners Capital Group, Apella's private equity backer, supports wealth management firms with capital, strategic M&A expertise, advisor recruiting, and growth resources. Madison Snider, a director at the firm, framed the deal as evidence of Apella's pull in the advisor market.

"This milestone reflects the momentum Apella has built as a destination for advisors seeking the resources of a national platform," Snider said.

What comes next?

The Kilner transaction marks another step in Apella's ongoing acquisition and partnership strategy. The firm continues to build scale through the addition of independent advisory practices, and with 20 deals now completed alongside Wealth Partners Capital Group since the September 2021 investment, the Mid-Atlantic expansion shows no sign of being the last move.