Tag: ClientBase

RIA Edge Podcast: Matt Cosgriff on the Journey to $2 Billion in AUM

RIA Edge Podcast: Matt Cosgriff on the Journey to $2 Billion in AUM

Leaders of RIA firms have a number of strategic options to consider when evaluating organic growth opportunities. When your RIA is part of a broader national tax planning business, however, the opportunities for growing a wealth management business can be plentiful – provided you have the right strategies and processes in place. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Matt Cosgriff, Director of Wealth Management at Bergen KDV, on the growth strategies used by Bergen KDV to expand its wealth management business into a firm that now advises on over $2BN in assets.

Specifically, Mark and Matt discuss:

  • How Matt and his group have been leveraging Bergen KDV’s accounting and tax planning businesses to drive scalable, repeatable growth
  • How Bergen KDV’s wealth business has also successfully leveraged custodial referral programs
  • The role M&A could play in Bergen KDV’s future growth in in wealth management
  • What is EOS and why are more firms embracing it within the wealth management space

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Matt Cosgriff:

About Our Guest:

Matt leads the wealth management group and is passionate about ensuring the team is constantly focused on its mission to positively impact the lives of its clients. As the group director, Matt works to ensure that the Private Client, Retirement Plan Solutions, and Investment Management teams are working diligently to exceed client expectations at every opportunity.

Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in economics with a concentration in finance from Saint Olaf College and serves on the Breck School Alumni Council. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a certified plan fiduciary advisor. Matt has been featured in numerous industry publications, most recently being named to the 2019 40 Under 40 class by InvestmentNews.

RIA Edge Podcast: The RIA M&A 2022 Mid-Year Outlook

RIA Edge Podcast: The RIA M&A 2022 Mid-Year Outlook

For the longest time, mergers and acquisitions have been one of the most dominant, if not the most dominant, themes within the RIA channel. During the last quarter, however, the market and economy have changed substantially — throwing potential challenges into the red-hot RIA M&A market. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Allen Darby, CEO of Alaris Acquisitions, on the current state of M&A activity and valuations, and offer perspectives on how the remainder of 2022 will take shape. 

Specifically, Mark and Allen discuss:

  • How deal structures are changing and evolving
  • Are RIA valuations still at record high levels?
  • How many high quality acquisition targets currently exist on the market and how does the supply side of M&A impact the future of the market
  • What the future of RIA M&A holds

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Allen Darby:

About Our Guest:

Allen Darby managed the outbound sourcing and negotiation on 32 acquisitions for United Capital. After United sold to Goldman Sachs in 2019, Allen formed Alaris Acquisitions. As a buyer advisor, Alaris represents multiple National and regional firms in the Wealth Management industry seeking to grow via acquisitions. 

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.



Build or Buy – or Both? Wealthstream’s Michael Goodman on building a $1BN RIA

Build or Buy – or Both? Wealthstream’s Michael Goodman on building a $1BN RIA

The leaders of RIA firms have more options than ever before when evaluating growth opportunities in today’s market. M&A activity continues at an accelerated pace – and technology is allowing advisors to extend their services to an ever-increasing number of investors and clients.  

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, managing director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Michael Goodman, founder and president of Wealthstream Advisors, about the keys to building a successful and consistently growing RIA. Wealthstream, which recently crossed the $1BN threshold, has grown through a mix of strategic acquisitions, marketing and business development. 

Specifically, Mark and Michael discuss:

  • How an independent RIA can compete with increasingly influential professional buyers in the M&A market
  • The keys to evaluating the right acquisition opportunities
  • Creating a repeatable, scalable, business development process
  • Acquiring vs. hiring talent to drive growth

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Michael Goodman:

About Our Guest:

Michael Goodman is the founder and president of Wealthstream Advisors, Inc. As the company’s leader, he spearheads business development, designs and implements the firm’s strategic direction, and builds and manages client relationships. His passion is helping Wealthstream’s clients articulate their financial goals, then helping them find solutions and build plans in order to reach those goals.

After gaining experience in a variety of areas within the financial industry, Michael realized he could best serve clients in the way he wanted by striking out on his own. In 1996, he founded the independent practice that would eventually become Wealthstream Advisors. Michael’s goal then—as it remains today—is to embrace and deliver a “total financial strategy” for clients.