The Simplicity Group, a leading holistic financial planning firm headquartered in Summit, is rapidly cementing its status as a national powerhouse. In a flurry of recent activity, the firm announced the acquisition of CPS Horizon Financial Group (Horizon), marking its latest move in a multi-state growth strategy that has spanned from the Midwest to the Deep South.
This latest transaction follows the recent acquisitions of Texas-based Insurance Planners and Advisors Group (IPAG), Alabama’s LeSourd Partners, and the prominent Wholehan Marketing.
The acquisition of the Milwaukee-based Horizon brings Mike Smith into the Simplicity partnership. Horizon has built a reputation as a premier brokerage general agency (BGA) specializing in life insurance, annuities, disability, and long-term care.
By joining the Summit-based firm, Horizon gains access to Simplicity’s institutional scale, including proprietary lead-generation tools and advanced sales training.
“Mike has built an exceptional business focused on providing ‘white-glove’ service and deep technical expertise,” Bruce Donaldson, partner and CEO of Simplicity said. “Their commitment to advisor education and holistic planning aligns perfectly with our core values.”
The Summit firm’s “aggressive growth mode” has seen it planting flags in key markets across the country over the last few months:
| Acquired Firm | Location | Key Focus | Leadership Change |
| CPS Horizon | Milwaukee, WI | Life, Annuities, LTC | Mike Smith joins as Partner |
| IPAG | Fort Worth, TX | Mass Affluent Planning | Jim & Mike Tucker join; rebranded to Simplicity Fort Worth |
| LeSourd Partners | Birmingham, AL | Premier BGA Services | Integrated into Simplicity National |
| Wholehan Marketing | National | Life & Disability Solutions | Expanded Simplicity’s BGA reach |
The acquisition of IPAG in Texas is particularly notable for Simplicity’s branding strategy. The Fort Worth office will officially rebrand as Simplicity Fort Worth, highlighting the firm’s transition from a backend support provider to a unified national brand catering to the “mass affluent” clientele.
For the acquired firms, the appeal of joining the Summit-based giant lies in the ability to navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape.
“Simplicity’s institutional scale and industry-leading platform will allow us to deliver even greater value,” Mike Smith said. “We are excited to leverage these resources to help our clients achieve their long-term goals.”
With four major acquisitions finalized in the first half of 2026, Simplicity Group is positioning itself as one of the most active players in the New Jersey financial services sector, proving that “holistic planning” is a high-growth commodity in the current economic climate.
