Month: May 2022

RIA Edge Podcast: Sanctuary Wealth’s Jim Dickson on Balancing M&A and Organic Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Sanctuary Wealth’s Jim Dickson on Balancing M&A and Organic Growth

While M&A activity gets the majority of the attention in the RIA industry, strategic and sustainable organic growth is actually the secret to success for the industry’s top firms. 

The fastest growing and most influential RIAs have a balanced approach to M&A and organic growth. They are always thinking about how the two forms of growth can complement and accelerate one another.

Sanctuary Wealth is writing the RIA playbook on how to balance organic and inorganic growth. In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, managing director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Jim Dickson, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Sanctuary Wealth, about how RIAs can strategically approach mergers, acquisition, recruiting and sustainable organic growth. .

Specifically, in this episode of RIA Edge, Mark and Jim discuss:

  • How Sanctuary Wealth is providing growth opportunities to its advisors and acquisition targets
  • Key factors that contribute to valuation and differentiation in the RIA channel
  • How does Sanctuary Wealth assess the quality of a firm’s growth and what does “good growth” look like?
  • Why “growth” and “talent” are the two most important factors to consider in M&A deals and how is it embedded into the mindset of your team.

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Jim Dickson: 

About Our Guest:

Jim Dickson is the visionary who led the founding, development, and launch of Sanctuary Wealth as an innovative, partnered independence network for elite advisors. Jim spent 20+ years in numerous senior leadership roles at Merrill Lynch. Reporting directly to the CEO, Jim spent the last six years as a divisional executive and member of the firm’s executive committee. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Jim was actively involved in spearheading Bank of America’s leadership development program and helped inspire and train the next generation of the firm’s managers. Having begun his career at Ernst & Young, Jim has gained a distinctive perspective and valuable experience in developing and optimizing organizations of all sizes.

Known throughout the financial services industry for his thought leadership, Jim is an active and highly sought-after speaker, recognized for his insights on delivering growth in the wealth management space.



RIA Edge Podcast: Cresset’s Doug Regan on Strategic, Purposeful Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Cresset’s Doug Regan on Strategic, Purposeful Growth

While market appreciation, traditional referrals and word-of-mouth marketing has driven growth for a number of RIAs, the industry’s largest and most successful firms are strategically leveraging M&A, digital marketing and data to drive their next wave of growth. 

Cressit, the $23 billion RIA based out of Chicago, may be one of the industry’s best examples of how to drive purposeful, scaleable – and consistently thoughtful growth. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, managing director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Douglas Regan, founder and co-chairman of Cresset, on growth within the RIA channel and zeroes in on mergers and acquisitions, organic growth tactics and the importance of ensuring cohesion when acquiring firms and talent.

Specifically, Mark and Douglas discuss:

  • The role Cresset plays in the RIA ecosystem, and how it is unlocking growth potential for its recently acquired firms
  • How M&A has – and will continue to transform the RIA industry
  • How Cresset looks at their talent acquisition strategy – and how it balances hiring and acquiring talent
  • How Cresset has leveraged digital marketing to drive over $1 billion in new client assets to the firm

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Douglas Regan:

About Our Guest:

Doug Regan is a founding partner & co-chairman, executive managing director of Cresset. Doug is responsible for Cresset’s Wealth Advisory Practice; Wealth Strategy and Planning; and Family Governance and Education. He works directly with Cresset Advisors, centers of influence, and most importantly, clients.

Doug spent 27 years at Northern Trust in a variety of executive positions including president of the Global Family Office business. Prior to that position, Doug was chairman and chief executive officer for the Southeast Region of Northern Trust, N.A., with responsibility for 29 offices throughout Florida, Atlanta, Georgia.