Summit Financial has announced a minority investment in Signet Financial Management, a New Jersey-based RIA managing $1.2 billion in client assets, as part of its continued national expansion strategy. The partnership, completed in collaboration with Merchant Investment Management, adds one of the largest advisory firms to Summit’s growing platform.
Founded in 1988, Signet Financial Management serves families, individuals, and business owners with comprehensive financial planning and investment management services. The firm is led by Eugene Yashin, Steve Tuttle, and Shawn Hirsch, and operates across New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida. It has also been recognized among the top advisory firms in the U.S., including a ranking on CNBC’s Financial Advisor 100 list.
The partnership underscores Summit Financial’s strategy of aligning with growth-oriented RIAs by offering access to institutional resources, advanced technology, and integrated wealth management capabilities while allowing partner firms to maintain operational independence and brand identity. Signet joins other billion-dollar advisory firms that have recently partnered with Summit, reinforcing its position as a national growth platform.
Through the collaboration, Signet advisors will gain access to Summit’s professional strategy teams, including specialists in financial planning, investments, and tax, along with broader institutional investment resources. The firms will also explore integrating Signet-developed technology, including Holistico, an AI-driven investment research and portfolio workflow solution designed to enhance advisor efficiency and personalization.
Summit’s expansion reflects a broader trend in the RIA industry, where firms seek strategic partnerships that provide scale and expertise without requiring a full sale. Since 2020, Summit has significantly grown its business, increasing assets under management to approximately $24 billion through a mix of mergers and acquisitions and organic growth. During the same period, revenue has quadrupled and headcount has expanded to more than 525 professionals.
The firm’s approach enables advisory businesses to scale while preserving their entrepreneurial culture, supported by centralized infrastructure, capital, and technology resources.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are honored and humbled that Signet has agreed to partner with Summit. Eugene, Steve, and Shawn have done an amazing job taking their business from where it began to here, building a top-tier firm. By joining Summit and gaining access to all of our wealth management, technology, and business resources, we’re excited to see Signet achieve even greater heights.”
Stan Gregor, Chairman And Chief Executive Officer, Summit Financial
“Strong partners deliver more than capital when investing in advisory firms. They bring sustained support, deep expertise, and a clear vision that empowers growth-minded advisors to elevate their businesses. We believe Signet is well-positioned to accelerate its momentum through the Summit growth engine. Together, the firms can expand their impact and further enhance the lives of the families they serve.”
Tim Bello, Co-Founder And Managing Partner, Merchant Investment Management
“We are thrilled to join Summit to take our firm to the next level. Our collaboration enables us to further enhance our top-tier service offerings, helping us meet the evolving needs of clients who rely on Signet to help them achieve their financial and life goals.”
Eugene Yashin, Co-Founder, CEO, And Chief Investment Officer, Signet Financial Management
“For many advisors, the challenge is how to grow without signing away their legacy or incurring the expense of building out the required infrastructure from scratch. Summit’s partnership approach enables advisors to remain entrepreneurs while tapping into the growth resources of a national firm.”
Keith Soltis, Chief Business Development Officer, Summit Financial
