RIA Edge

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Jim Kaufman, managing partner and senior wealth management advisor at OpenArc Corporate Advisory, about leading one of the largest breakaways in the wealth management industry and what the future looks like for the independent firm.. He shares how years of due diligence, a deeply rooted client-first culture, and a strong int...

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Andrea Broughton, CEO and founder of WealthCrossing, about the firm’s growth from an Ernst & Young spinout to a $1.5 billion RIA. Andrea shares how the firm grew through client referrals, built tax planning into its client experience, and recently expanded its growth strategy through branding and digital marketing....

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong sits down with Marty Bicknell, president and CEO of Mariner Wealth Advisors, to discuss how the firm has grown into one of the biggest RIAs in the country. Marty shares how Mariner approaches acquisitions with a strong focus on culture, builds in-house capabilities across tax, trust and insurance services, and structures business develo...

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Randy Morris, founder and CEO of Summit Wealth Group, about the firm’s transition from a long-standing broker/dealer affiliate to launch its own independent RIA platform. He explains how the decision was shaped by a desire for greater autonomy, improved client experience and long-term growth potential. Randy also shares how...

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Phil Fiore, co-founder and CEO of Procyon, about how he and his team transitioned from a wirehouse environment to build a fast-growing independent firm. He shares how that growth has been driven by a commitment to delivering fully integrated client services, a disciplined approach to scaling resources to enhance the client e...

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Oliver Cross, founding partner, senior advisor and head of growth at Verum Partners, about the firm’s path from a breakaway team to a rapidly growing independent RIA managing over $1 billion. He shares how early growth was driven by focusing on a core group of founding clients, building a strong internal structure through sy...

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Stephen Rigali, executive managing director at Kayne Anderson Rudnick, about the firm’s evolution from a family office into a $55 billion platform and how it has approached growth with intention over four decades. He shares how the firm prioritizes organic expansion, structured advisor development and long-term client relati...

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews Peter Mallouk, president and CEO of Creative Planning, about his journey from leading a small company with 30 clients to becoming one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the United States.  He talks about how that growth was fueled by a focus on consistent, repeatable workplace processes, turning clients int...

What does it really take to grow an advisory firm without losing control of culture or client experience? Growth can look attractive from the outside, but building something sustainable requires discipline, structure and long-term thinking. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews JC Abusaid, president and CEO of Halbert Hargrove, about building a $4.2 billion RIA t...

Modern advisory firms are being reshaped by technology, changing client expectations and the need for deeper personalization. How do firms scale while keeping the advisor-client relationship at the center? What role does technology really play in growth without replacing the human element? In this episode, host David Armstrong speaks with Alex Farman-Farmaian, CEO of Compound Planning, about build...

Growth can mean very different things depending on how a firm is built and who it is built for. What does it really take to evolve from a small advisory practice into a professionally managed firm without losing culture, client focus or identity? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Tom Orecchio, CFA, CFP, ChFC, AIF, chief executive officer, wealth manager and...

How do advisory firms continue growing once scale introduces complexity? What does it take to build a structure that supports independence, client experience, and long-term flexibility? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Jordan Raniszeski, CFP, CPA,  senior managing partner at Carnegie Private Wealth, about the strategic decisions behind the firm’s rapid grow...

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Arthur Ambarik, CEO of Perigon Wealth Management, about the firm’s growth from a small Bay Area RIA into a multi-state, $12 billion firm with a partnership-driven model and large ambitions for the future. Ambarik shares how cultural alignment shapes mergers, why specialization within firms is becoming a critical growth drive...

How do leaders of wealth management firms balance advisor independence with the need for centralized efficiency? What does it take to build a platform that serves both traditional RIAs and advisors seeking a more integrated model? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews Larry Restieri, CEO of Hightower Advisors, about Hightower’s evolution from a wirehouse li...

Cresset’s rise from a family-led vision to one of the nation’s leading multifamily offices shows how purpose and culture can shape enduring organizations. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Eric Becker, co-founder and co-chairman of Cresset, about the firm’s mission to build a 100-year wealth management business focused on families, not just finances. Eric sh...

The future of RIAs is being shaped by technology, talent, and a renewed focus on client-centric leadership. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Jon Beatty, head of advisor services at Charles Schwab, on the eve of Schwab Impact, about how the industry is adapting to the accelerating pace of technological change and what qualities differentiate the most successf...

Balefire Wealth’s transformation from two thriving RIAs into a unified enterprise business with national ambitions showcases the strength of shared vision and cultural alignment. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Jason Hester and John Hoffman, co-CEOs of Balefire Wealth, a new RIA born earlier this year from the merger of their two established firms. The epis...

Wealthcare Capital Management’s evolution from a software pioneer to a national advisory platform reveals the power of strategic reinvention. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Matt Regan, president and CEO of Wealthcare Capital Management, about Wealthcare’s journey from its roots in Richmond, Va., to its sale to Sammons Financial. Matt shares how the firm i...

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Kay Lynn Mayhue, president of Merit Financial, about the firm’s approach to growth as it reaches $24 billion in assets under management and celebrates its 50th acquisition. Mayhue discusses Merit’s recent capital partnership with Constellation Wealth and how the firm balances aggressive M&A activity with organic gr...

Is true independence possible at scale? In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Concurrent CEO Nate Lenz about how his fast-growing RIA platform is helping advisors stay independent while accessing the scale, capital and talent needed to grow.  From multi-custodial flexibility to a unique minority partnership model, Lenz shares what is energizing younger advisors l...

Scaling growth isn’t just about getting bigger; it’s about vision, discipline and striking the right balance between legacy and innovation. So how does a $30 billion-plus RIA navigate the complexities of rapid acquisitions, evolving culture and the disruptive promise of AI? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong sits down with John Bunch, CEO of Allworth Financial, to unpack...

Explosive growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s fueled by intentional partnerships, strategic resources, and cultural alignment. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong sits down with Stan Gregor, CEO of Summit Financial, who shares how his firm has grown from $3 billion to nearly $25 billion in assets since 2020.  He reveals the minority investment model that prioritizes p...

James Bogart, founder of Bogart Wealth, has created an organic growth machine, going from $526 million to $3 billion in assets in less than 10 years—client by client, no M&A.  His story shows the benefits of putting in place a strategic, repeatable and intentional growth program (especially for smaller entrepreneurial advisors) and focusing on a distinct niche where those efforts are more easi...

It’s not surprising that tech-native firms see the wealth management industry’s high margins and sticky revenue, even with its notoriously disjointed and sometimes subpar tech stacks, and think, “Good business. But it could be better.”  At the recent WealthManagement EDGE conference in Boca Raton, Fla., David Armstrong, director of editorial strategy and operations for the Wealth Management Group...

Join host David Armstrong, fresh off the Wealth Management Edge Conference in Boca Raton, Fla., as he interviews Michael Henley, founder and chief executive officer of Brandywine Oak Private Wealth. Michael talks about the firm’s rapid growth since leaving Merrill Lynch in 2018 with the help of Dynasty Financial Partners and the focus that helped the firm double its AUM to $1.5 billion since break...