Houlihan Lokey Advises Gilbert & Cook

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Gilbert & Cook, Inc., a leading Iowa-based registered investment advisor (RIA) with approximately $2 billion in assets under management, has agreed to merge with Cerity Partners LLC, one of the nation’s largest RIAs. The transaction is expected to close at the end of September.

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, Gilbert & Cook is dedicated to empowering clients to Live a Life of Abundance® through comprehensive, integrated wealth management solutions, including financial planning, investment management, business owner advisory, multigenerational estate planning, private family office services, divorce financial planning, and private markets investing. Gilbert & Cook oversees approximately $2 billion in assets and has earned national recognition for serving individuals, families, and business owners. Through the merger, Gilbert & Cook will operate under the Cerity Partners name, enhancing access to a comprehensive suite of wealth management services.

Headquartered in New York, New York, and founded in 2009, Cerity Partners is a nationally recognized financial and wealth advisory firm serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, business owners, and institutions with comprehensive financial planning, investment, tax, and retirement solutions. The merger marks Cerity Partners’ entry into the Iowa market.

“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for both firms,” said Claire O’Keefe, Partner and Head of Partner Development at Cerity Partners. “Gilbert & Cook has built an outstanding reputation based on trust, expertise, and an unwavering dedication to their clients. By bringing our teams together, we are strengthening our ability to deliver deeply personalized, integrated wealth advice while expanding our reach into the Des Moines community. We’re thrilled to welcome such a talented team to Cerity Partners and look forward to the impact we can make together.”

“For more than 30 years, our mission has been centered on building relationships—with our clients, with one another, and with the community we are proud to call home—to help clients navigate life’s financial decisions through trusted and thoughtful guidance,” said Linda Cook, Founder and Managing Partner of Gilbert & Cook. “Joining Cerity Partners is a natural next step in that journey. At the heart of the decision to join Cerity Partners was a strong alignment in values and philosophy. This partnership allows us to preserve the values and personalized service our clients have always counted on while opening the door to expanded resources, specialized expertise, and new opportunities. We’re incredibly excited about the future and what this means for our clients, our team, and the broader community we serve.”

Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Gilbert & Cook.

If you would like more information about Houlihan Lokey or have questions regarding the firm’s role in this transaction, please contact the team member listed below.

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