David Wood, founder and chief visionary officer of Gateway Financial Partners, has built a differentiated M&A engine that prioritizes cultural fit and post-deal growth over aggregation. His “supported independence” model pairs advisors with a deep bench in operations, marketing, technology, and transition so they can focus on client-facing growth from day one. The results are measurable: a recent acquisition transitioned 110% of the seller’s assets in six weeks, uncovering additional wallet share, while another advisor quadrupled revenue on an acquired book within the first year and scaled six times over three years with Gateway’s backing. Wood’s track record leading transformational combinations illustrates a consistent ability to source, structure, and integrate deals that compound enterprise value for advisors and clients alike.