M&A roundup: Hancock Askew adds Becker; WWS merges with KWSB; and BSSF Wealth combines with Lighthouse Wealth

M&A roundup: Deals across the East and Southeast

Becker CPA joined Hancock Askew & Co.; Watkins, Ward and Stafford combined with Kemp, Williams, Steverson and Bernard; and BSSF Wealth merged with Lighthouse Wealth Management.

Hancock Askew adds Becker

Details: Hancock Askew & Co. LLP, a regional firm based in Savannah, Georgia, has expanded in Florida by adding Becker CPA PA, a tax and advisory firm in Tampa, Florida.

As part of the deal, William Becker will join Hancock Askew as a principal and his staff will relocate to Hancock Askew's Tampa office. Becker's firm specializes in tax services for individuals and businesses in the real estate and professional services sectors.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hancock Askew ranked No. 18 on Accounting Today's 2022 Regional Leaders list for the Top Firms in the Southeast, with $28.92 million in annual revenue, 19 partners and approximately 200 employees.

"This merger allows our firm to further expand our reach into the Tampa area and Bill's tax expertise will further strengthen our local tax team," said managing partner Michael McCarthy in a statement. "We are excited to have Becker CPA become a part of the Hancock Askew family."

WWS merges with KWSB

Details: Watkins, Ward and Stafford has combined with Kemp, Williams, Steverson and Bernard, growing both their presence in Mississippi.

WWS, based in West Point, dates back to 1949 and is the second largest accounting firm in the state, according to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, which reported on the deal last month. WWS started out in West Point and later expanded to offices in Amory, Calhoun City, Columbus, Eupora, Houston, Kosciusko, Louisville, Macon, Okolona, Oxford, Philadelphia, Pontotoc, Ridgeland and Tupelo. KWSB is based in Meridian. The two firms worked together professionally prior to the merger. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

WWS ranked No. 17 on Accounting Today's 2022 list of Regional Leaders in the Gulf Coast region, with $15.8 million in annual revenue, 25 partners and 137 employees.

BSSF Wealth combines with Lighthouse Wealth

Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz's offices in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Details: BSSF Wealth LLC merged with Lighthouse Wealth Management LLC, while adding an additional advisor, Teancum Light.

Under the deal, BSSF Wealth is assuming the name of Lighthouse Wealth Management, which is a registered investment advisor. Its partnership with the accounting firm Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz will remain, however, and BSSF is retaining majority ownership of Lighthouse Wealth Management.

"It is exciting to see the growth of our wealth advisory services," said Ken Wolfe, president and managing principal at BSSF, in a statement in August. "Teancum brings an extra layer of experience to the team as well as the capacity to serve more clients."

Teancum Light is president of Lighthouse Wealth Management. Prior to forming Lighthouse, he was vice president at a Mechanicsburg-based firm, helping to manage over $300 million in assets as well as providing estate and tax planning services.

Light is joining James Adams, who will be chief investment officer at the firm.

BSSF, based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, ranked No. 35 on Accounting Today's 2022 Regional Leaders list for the Top Firms in the Northeast, with $21.62 million in annual revenue, 24 partners and 131 employees.

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