Longtime Osaic-affiliated Cincinnati team enters W-2 channel to support continuity, succession planning and long-term client service

Osaic, Inc. (“Osaic”), one of the nation’s largest providers of wealth management strategies, today announced that Tri-State Financial Group (“Tri-State”), a Cincinnati-based advisory team overseeing approximately $575 million in assets under advisement, has transitioned to Osaic’s Empowered Independence (W-2) channel. The team has been affiliated with Osaic through its legacy Lincoln business, with Michael “Mike” George, CLU, ChFC affiliated since 1981 and Michelle “Shelly” Metzger, CFP®, CRPC® since 1999.

Tri-State includes two advisory practices operating from the same branch location, led by George and Metzger, alongside advisors Rhonda Matarese and Michael Metzger. The team serves individuals, families and businesses with personalized financial planning and wealth management guidance, with a focus on long-term relationships and continuity across generations.

The transition to Empowered Independence reflects the team’s desire to continue serving clients while building a thoughtful path for the future. For George and Metzger, this model provides the structure and support to remain focused on clients while creating a more seamless succession framework. For Matarese, it also provides a glidepath to take on additional client relationships and responsibilities over time without the upfront requirements often associated with traditional succession transactions.

“Our clients have trusted us through many important life and financial decisions, and we take seriously the responsibility of ensuring they continue to receive the same level of care and attention well into the future,” said Michael George, managing director at Tri-State. “Osaic’s Empowered Independence model gives us the ability to keep doing the work we love while putting a strong plan in place for continuity, succession and the next generation of client relationships.”

Empowered Independence is designed for advisors who want the flexibility and client focus of independence with the added support, resources and continuity benefits of a W-2 affiliation model. The channel offers advisors a pathway to grow, transition or plan for succession while maintaining a strong connection to their clients and practice legacy.

“Tri-State Financial Group is a powerful example of how Empowered Independence can help experienced advisors continue serving clients while planning thoughtfully for the future,” said Cindy Hamel, head of Empowered Independence at Osaic. “Mike, Shelly, Rhonda and Michael have built deep client relationships over many years, and this transition gives them a flexible structure to support continuity, create opportunity for next-generation leadership and preserve what makes their practice meaningful.”

Tri-State is the latest experienced advisory team to join Osaic’s Empowered Independence channel reflecting Osaic’s continued momentum with advisors seeking flexible affiliation models that support long-term business continuity and client service. The movement follows the recent transitions of $500M Pointes North Wealth Management and $1.5B Gateway Investments. Another longstanding Osaic affiliate, Bard Financial Services, made the move to this channel earlier this year.

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