Florida Outlook Weekly “FLOW”.
Weekly Financial Summary of Florida
Oct 26 2025 — Florida’s financial ecosystem continued its torrid expansion this week as national wealth managers deepened their Sunshine State roots, insurers handed back billions to consumers and activists in the state flexed their influence on national bank mergers.
MAI Capital Management adds Fort Myers team
Cleveland‑based MAI Capital Management announced the acquisition of Liberty Private Client LLC, a Fort Myers registered investment adviser overseeing $245 million in assets. The transaction, completed Oct 24, is MAI’s third Florida addition in a year. Liberty founder Michael McCort said MAI’s national resources will improve client experiences while preserving Liberty’s culture, and MAI CEO Rick Buoncore added that the firm continues to invest in high‑quality teams to expand its footprint. MAI now oversees $39.4 billion in total assets and $34.0 billion in AUM across 34 offices.
Hightower invests in Orlando’s Resource Consulting Group
Chicago‑based Hightower Advisors revealed a strategic investment in Resource Consulting Group (RCG), an Orlando fee‑only RIA managing roughly $2.5 billion. RCG CEO Gregg Biro said Hightower’s partnership will help the firm grow while continuing the client‑centric service it has provided for 35 years. Hightower chairman Bob Oros noted the deal underscores the firm’s people‑first culture, and founder Mike Davis emphasized that RCG will maintain autonomy while accessing new resources.
Progressive refunds and insurance reforms
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky highlighted continued progress in Florida’s insurance market. The state’s tort reforms have allowed auto insurers to reduce rates by more than 6 % on average, prompting Progressive Insurance to set aside nearly $950 million in policyholder credits and issue refunds to about 2.7 million Florida drivers. Seventeen new property insurers have entered the market, bringing $574 million in surplus, and 33 companies have filed for homeowners‑rate decreases. The average homeowners’ rate filing now shows a –1.3 % change over 30 days and –0.1 % over 180 days.
Fiscal discipline call
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia called on Miami’s government to curb spending. He noted the city’s budget has grown 44 % since FY 2019‑2020 to roughly $1.2 billion, an increase of more than $15,000 per new resident. Ingoglia urged commissioners to cut the millage rate by 0.50, estimating it would save homeowners about $251 annually on a $500,000 home. His plea highlights efforts to translate insurance‑reform savings into property‑tax relief.
Dynasty Financial Partners taps equity‑compensation expert
St. Petersburg‑based Dynasty Financial Partners announced the appointment of equity‑compensation veteran Brian McDonald as a senior advisor. With decades of leadership experience at Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab, McDonald will help Dynasty develop solutions for advisors serving employees with stock‑based compensation. CEO Shirl Penney said McDonald’s expertise will accelerate Dynasty’s growth; the firm will also take a minority stake in his AI‑driven equity compensation platform Grantd.
Activist investors from South Florida shape bank M&A
A Reuters report noted that HoldCo Asset Management, a South Florida‑based hedge fund with about $2.6 billion in assets, spurred the $10.9 billion sale of Texas‑based Comerica to Fifth Third Bancorp by pressuring Comerica to put itself up for sale. HoldCo is now pushing Eastern Bankshares and First Interstate BancSystem to consider sales, illustrating how Florida‑based activists are influencing the national banking landscape.
About Florida Outlook Weekly (FLOW)
FLOW is a collaboration between Florida International Funds and industry researchers to capture the state’s fast‑paced financial developments. Each week we spotlight major moves in asset management, wealth management, insurance and public policy. For more information or to join our growing network, visit Florida International Funds.
