Wealthspire’s Ground Control Business Management Acquires London-Based Atlantic Swiss

Key Points

• Transaction Details:Ground Control Business Management, a division of independent wealth management firm Wealthspire, has acquired London-based private wealth manager Atlantic Swiss.
• Assets Under Management: Atlantic Swiss manages and administers over $1 billion (£800 million) in client assets as of 30 December 2025.
• Sector Focus: Atlantic Swiss specialises in providing personalized financial planning and investment management to professionals across the sports, music, film, television, and fashion industries in the UK and Western Europe.
• Operational Continuity: Founder Craig Bell will remain as president of Atlantic Swiss, overseeing a 20-plus person team—including eight financial advisors—alongside Nick Parkinson, president of Ground Control’s UK division.
• Strategic Growth:The deal expands Wealthspire’s international footprint and reinforces its recently established Sports & Entertainment practice.
• Advisors: Berkshire Global Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Wealthspire for the transaction.

London (The Londoner News) October 20, 2026 – Ground Control Business Management, a specialized business management division of Wealthspire, has formally acquired Atlantic Swiss, a London-based private wealth management firm overseeing more than $1 billion (£800 million) in assets under management and administration. Following the completion of the transaction, Atlantic Swiss will collaborate closely with Ground Control to expand Wealthspire’s global reach and build upon its existing operational infrastructure in the United Kingdom. The strategic transaction significantly enhances Wealthspire’s specialized wealth management capabilities serving high-profile individuals across the film, television, sports, music, and fashion sectors across Western Europe.

What Are the Key Strategic Objectives Behind the Atlantic Swiss Acquisition?

The acquisition allows Wealthspire to extend its international wealth management footprint into key European markets while strengthening its recently launched Sports & Entertainment practice. Atlantic Swiss brings an established portfolio of high-net-worth clients primarily located across the UK and Western Europe.

The firm utilizes a proprietary “family CFO” service model, designed to integrate comprehensive financial planning with active investment management to address the complex, non-linear earnings structures common among professional athletes, entertainers, and creative artists.

As reported by official corporate statements, Mike LaMena, Chief Executive Officer of Wealthspire, highlighted the cultural and strategic alignment between the organizations:

“Craig and his team have built lasting relationships by paying close attention to each client. As part of Wealthspire, they will serve their clients directly, with added depth and support behind them as the business grows.”

How Will Atlantic Swiss Operate Under Wealthspire’s Business Structure?

Under the terms of the agreement, Atlantic Swiss founder Craig Bell will maintain his executive role as president, continuing to lead the firm’s day-to-day operations and its team of more than 20 personnel, which includes eight dedicated wealth advisors. Bell will work in direct partnership with Nick Parkinson, president of Ground Control’s UK division, to oversee regional growth and client service delivery.

Reflecting on the formal consolidation of the two firms, Craig Bell, founder and president of Atlantic Swiss, emphasized the existing relationship between the entities:

“We have been partnering successfully with Ground Control for years now, so joining Wealthspire is the natural step in elevating our client service to the next level.”

Investment banking firm Berkshire Global Advisors served as the exclusive corporate advisor to Wealthspire throughout the deal negotiations. Financial terms of the transaction were not publicly disclosed.

What Is the Regulatory and Compliance Standing of the Merged Entities?

The transaction brings together distinct regulatory frameworks across international jurisdictions. Atlantic Swiss Private Clients, operating as a trading style of ASFC LLP, remains fully authorized and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

On the American side, Wealthspire operates through a network of separately registered investment advisers (RIAs) and subsidiary entities—including Wealthspire Advisors LLC, Wealthspire Institutional, LLC, and Wealthspire Retirement, LLC—under the overarching corporate umbrella of Wealthspire, LP. The combined corporate footprint now provides unified business management, family office, institutional advisory, and retirement planning services across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

What Is the Background of Wealthspire’s Expansion in Sports and Business Management?

The acquisition of Atlantic Swiss is part of a deliberate, multi-year expansion strategy by Wealthspire to capture market share within the specialized business management and sports wealth management verticals. Historically, wealth management for elite athletes and entertainment professionals required niche expertise in royalty tracking, cross-border tax compliance, endorsement handling, and career-transition financial planning.

To address these needs, Wealthspire established its Ground Control Business Management division, subsequently completing targeted acquisitions such as Arena Wealth and RSL and Company to establish a strong transatlantic foothold. Coupled with the formal launch of Wealthspire’s Sports & Entertainment practice, the firm has systematically integrated specialized business management capabilities with institutional-grade investment strategies.

How Will This Development Affect Sports and Entertainment Clients?

This strategic acquisition directly impacts high-net-worth professionals, wealth managers, and sports agencies across the cross-border financial services sector:

• For Entertainment, Fashion, and Sports Professionals: Clients of Atlantic Swiss gain immediate access to Wealthspire’s broader institutional advisory resources, North American family office networks, and advanced technology infrastructure. Athletes and artists operating internationally between Europe and North America receive streamlined, multi-jurisdictional tax, accounting, and financial planning support.
• For Wealthspire and Ground Control Teams: The integration adds $1 billion (£800 million) in assets under management and administration while solidifying Ground Control’s presence in London as a premier hub for international business management.
• For the Broader Wealth Management Industry: The deal illustrates the growing trend of consolidation among boutique, niche-focused wealth advisory firms into unified, capital-backed global platforms capable of providing seamless transatlantic financial services to high-net-worth clients.