Webber Wealth Partners Joins Citizens Private Wealth

The Newport Beach-based advisory team transitions its $1.2 billion in client assets to the firm.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Financial Planning

Isometric editorial illustration of modern geometric architectural forms, symbolizing a financial firm's strategic expansion in a coastal region. — Citizens Financial Group expanded its wealth management footprint in California by acquiring Newport Beach-based Webber Wealth Partners, representing $1.2 billion in assets. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Webber Wealth Partners has officially joined Citizens Private Wealth, moving its practice from Ameriprise Financial. The Newport Beach team manages $1.2 billion in client assets.

Why it matters

The move is part of a broader expansion strategy by Citizens Financial Group to grow its private wealth headcount and assets under management throughout California. The firm aims to combine wealth management with private and commercial banking.

Citizens has added 13 advisory teams representing $13.2 billion in assets over the last two years. This follows the addition of Bradley Wealth Partners, which managed $880 million in assets, to the firm in 2025.

The players

Matt Webber

He is a lead advisor at Webber Wealth Partners who transitioned his practice to Citizens.

Chris Illiano

He serves as a lead advisor alongside Matt Webber at the Newport Beach advisory team.

Citizens Financial Group

This is a large banking institution that provides integrated wealth management and commercial banking services.

The details

Led by Matt Webber and Chris Illiano, the team will continue operating out of Newport Beach. Citizens integrates this new talent into its existing framework, which includes private banking operations in hubs like San Francisco and Beverly Hills.

Bradley Wealth Partners joined the firm in 2025.
Webber Wealth Partners joined Citizens Private Wealth in October 2026.

Market Dynamics

The move follows the broader industry trend of major banking institutions absorbing independent wealth management firms to capture higher-net-worth market share. This consolidation intensifies competition for advisory talent as banks seek to provide integrated financial services.

Clients of the former Ameriprise team will now access the expanded private and commercial banking capabilities offered by Citizens. The transition is designed to provide these households with a more integrated wealth management and banking experience.

The takeaway

The move underscores how established banks are prioritizing the acquisition of successful advisory teams to scale their private wealth footprint. Clients should review how their existing service models change under the new bank-owned management structure.