Category: INFORMA
RIA Edge Podcast: Redefining Growth in Wealth Management

RIA Edge Podcast: Redefining Growth in Wealth Management

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David Armstrong talks with Jim Gold, CEO of Steward Partners, about the firm’s growth trajectory. Steward Partners, originally founded by wirehouse breakaways, has cultivated a unique approach by tapping experienced advisors with the independence of RIAs. With over $40 billion in assets, Jim shares insights into their robust M&A strategy and the importance of succession planning in an aging industry.

The main takeaways include:

  • Steward Partners’ M&A philosophy and its pivotal role in addressing the “succession crisis.”
  • The changing mix of advisor recruits and firm acquisitions as growth levers.
  • How Steward designs equity and partnership structures to attract and retain advisors.
  • Future growth ambitions and potential needs for additional capital.
  • Strategies for organic growth and how they differentiate Steward.
  • The importance of keeping advisors happy and well-resourced for their own success.

Resources:

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Connect With Jim Gold:

About Our Guest:

Jim Gold serves as CEO, is a Founding Partner, a Board Member, and a member of the Executive leadership team at Steward Partners Global Advisory. He has extensive experience in the Financial Services industry, having held several senior-level roles, most recently as Executive Director at Morgan Stanley. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Gold ran the Southern Connecticut Complex, headquartered in Greenwich, Conn. Mr. Gold spent 18 years with Smith Barney, beginning in 1995 as a financial advisor. He went on to hold numerous management positions at the firm, including National Training Officer, Assistant Branch Manager, Branch Manager, and Complex Manager. Mr. Gold received numerous accolades from the firm during his tenure, most recently, he was recognized for his accomplishments in Diversity.

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RIA Edge Podcast: CEO Michael Nathanson Pulls It Together, Putting Focus Back on Fast Growth Track

RIA Edge Podcast: CEO Michael Nathanson Pulls It Together, Putting Focus Back on Fast Growth Track

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In this episode, host David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, sits down with Michael Nathanson, CEO of Focus Financial Partners, to discuss Focus’ pulling out of the public markets in favor of private equity partners, their recent rebranding and the team’s hub consolidation strategy. 

Michael reveals how Focus is evolving its approach from a consortium of 90 independent firms into efforts to bring at least some of them together under one roof, which, he bets, will pay off in greater efficiencies, a wider set of services for clients and accelerated organic growth. 

Highlights include:

  • The rationale behind Focus’ recent rebranding, its “hub” organization strategy and the continuing consolidation among firms
  • What “interdependence” means for Focus advisors, and how Nathanson’s team thinks about balancing efficiencies against advisor autonomy
  • Focus’ experience as a publicly traded company and the bet that the firm’s private equity backers are making.
  • How the firm plans to drive organic growth.
  • What he looks for when hiring executive leaders or partnering with RIAs.
  • What to expect from Focus now when it comes to M&A.  

Resources:

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Connect With Michael Nathanson:

About Our Guest:

Michael is a highly respected and experienced leader in the wealth management industry. As Chief Executive Officer, he plays a pivotal role in driving organizational change and spearheading a range of firm-wide initiatives. He is relentlessly dedicated to bringing meaning and joy to the lives of clients, his team, and throughout the Focus Partnership, by fostering a culture that values lifelong learning, cultivates innovation, and offers opportunities to live lives full of passion and purpose.

Michael’s passion is reflected in the recognition he has received, having been selected ten times by Barron’s magazine as one of the top 100 independent financial advisors in the nation, included in Worth magazine’s list of the country’s top 250 wealth advisors and recognized as one of ThinkAdvisor’s 2022 LUMINARIES winners for Executive Leadership. He also was selected six times as a “Super Lawyer,” as published in Massachusetts Super Lawyers. During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer and Chair of The Colony Group, he is most proud of the firm being named one of 50 firms as a Best Place To Work for Financial Advisors by InvestmentNews.

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