Tag: M&A
RIA Edge Podcast: Raj Bhattacharyya: The State of Play in RIA M&A

RIA Edge Podcast: Raj Bhattacharyya: The State of Play in RIA M&A

By |

RIA mergers and acquisitions have been re-shaping the industry for the last several years. But after years of record deal-making activity, how have the declining market conditions and rising interest rates impacted RIA M&A in 2022?

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Raj Bhattacharyya, CEO of Robertson Stephens, on the latest trends in the M&A market and how an increase in deals within the past year might impact the future needs and wants of buyers.

Specifically, Mark and Raj discuss:

  • The primary drivers and changes in 2022 M&A activity levels
  • How the types of deals and buyers are likely to evolve in 2023
  • Where Robertson Stephens sees opportunity in the RIA market
  • Key questions all sellers or potential sellers should ask prospective buyers during a deal process

 Resources:

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Raj Bhattacharyya:

About Our Guest:

Raj has over 27 years of experience in the financial services industry, leading large franchises across trading and capital markets.

Raj spent 17 years at Deutsche Bank, in both New York and London, in various senior roles.  Most recently, he was the head of the Foreign Exchange Franchise in the Americas, as well as the head of the Latin American Markets business.  Previously, while based in London, he ran Capital Markets and Treasury Solutions for Western Europe, which covered all European corporations and financial institutions for their financing, risk management and treasury needs.  



Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS
RIA Edge Podcast: SVB Private’s DeChellis on Embracing a Growth Mindset

RIA Edge Podcast: SVB Private’s DeChellis on Embracing a Growth Mindset

By |

There is a “CEO state of mind” that some leaders of advisory firms have adopted to ensure that growth is front-and-center for all of its team members every day. SVB Private is one of the best examples of this and their growth mindset can provide a blueprint and framework for hundreds of RIAs to learn from. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Anthony DeChellis, CEO of SVB Private Bank, on growth within the RIA market. Anthony reveals how a client’s financial planning needs influence who they go to for financial advice, and how RIAs can expand through organic and inorganic strategies. 

Mark and Anthony discuss:

  • How does SVB approach the market given its history in the RIA space and what are some of the unique problems it solves for.
  • What drew SVB to acquire Boston Private in 2021 and how it’s transforming the company.
  • How SVB Private approaches M&A activity and evaluates acquisition opportunities
  • Best practices for creating truly strategic – and repeatable – organic growth

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Anthony DeChellis:

About Our Guest:

Anthony DeChellis is the Chief Executive Officer of SVB Private. He served as the CEO and President of Boston Private and President and a member of the Boston Private Board of Directors for 2 years prior to the close of SVB Financial Group’s acquisition of the firm in 2021.

Anthony has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before joining Boston Private, he was President of OurCrowd Venture Capital, an equity capital crowdfunding platform. From 2006 to 2013, Anthony was the CEO of Credit Suisse Private Banking, Americas, where he led dramatic growth of the Private Banking & Wealth Management businesses across North and South America.

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS
RIA Edge Podcast: Beacon Pointe’s Matt Cooper on Driving Exponential RIA Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Beacon Pointe’s Matt Cooper on Driving Exponential RIA Growth

By |

From one small firm in 2011 to a national RIA with 36 offices in 2020, Beacon Pointe has experienced tremendous growth within the industry in a short period of time.

Beacon Pointe’s M&A strategy has played a large role in its growth and they have evolved into one of the leading, most active – and most strategic acquirers in the industry.

In this episode, Mark Bruno, managing director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Matthew Cooper, Founding Partner, President, Beacon Pointe Advisors to discuss the firm’s growth strategy, and best practices for buying and selling a business.

Mark and Matt discuss:

  • How the challenges of smaller RIAs, the competition for talent, and the evolution of technology all influenced Beacon Pointe’s M&A strategy
  • The profile of an ideal acquisition for Beacon Pointe
  • What are the primary motivators for RIAs that are looking to exit their market
  • When bringing firms together under Beacon Pointe what happens “after the close.”  More specifically, how Beacon Pointe approaches operational and cultural integration to create new growth and value

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Matt Cooper:

About Our Guest:

Matt is a founding partner of Beacon Pointe Advisors and oversees the firm’s strategic plan focused on mergers and acquisitions, creating synergistic partnerships between Beacon Pointe and other wealth managers across the country. He regularly speaks on a host of wealth management and industry-related topics across various national conferences. Matt has a passion for continuous lifetime learning with a focus on the wealth management and financial life management industries. At a time when the RIA industry is changing more rapidly than any other point in history, his focus is on building the best possible business to serve clients and to assist other wealth advisors in meeting their lifetime goals. Matt graduated from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with a BS in Finance and Business Economics.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS
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

By |

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS
After the Close: Building a Truly Integrated RIA Following a Merger or Acquisition

After the Close: Building a Truly Integrated RIA Following a Merger or Acquisition

By |

Mergers and acquisitions are becoming a more common way for larger RIAs to grow. But successfully managing a merger or acquisition after the deal closes is anything but a straight line — and many RIAs are looking for guidance on how to build a “culture of one.” 

In this episode, Mark Bruno, managing director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Greg Friedman, chief executive officer & founder of Private Ocean Wealth Management and Cynthia Greenfield, chief experience officer at Private Ocean Wealth Management about strategies for successfully navigating a company merger or acquisition. Greg and Cynthia discuss their most recent book, Integrating Culture in Successful RIA Mergers and Acquisitions, as a way to share their experience and expertise.

Mark, Cynthia and Greg discuss:

  • The importance of culture in the success of a merger or acquisition  
  • Strategies that have worked for Private Ocean in the past to build a active employee-employer relationship through mergers and acquisitions
  • How coaches and facilitators can help in developing more proactive and rewarding meetings 
  • Strategies to bring employees together after a merger  
  • What Private Ocean is doing today to enhance the culture they want to create in their workplace

Resources:

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Greg Friedman and Cynthia Greenfield:

About Greg Friedman: Greg Friedman is the CEO of Private Ocean, an innovative West Coast wealth management firm, and the founder of Junxure, a CRM platform that defined technology for financial advisors. In 2007, Charles Schwab honored him with its prestigious IMPACT Award® for “Best in Tech.” In 2008, Financial Planning Magazine included Greg in its elite list of financial “Movers and Shakers”. Greg was also recognized in InvestmentNews’ 2017 Class of Icons and Innovators for his contribution to the advancement of the financial advice profession and for conceiving new ideas and tools that have propelled the industry forward. In 2018, Greg was named CEO of the Year at the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards.

About Cynthia Greenfield: Chief Experience Officer, Leadership Coach and Author. Cynthia develops strategies that deliver on a company’s mission and enhances the employee and client experience through organization, communication and engagement. She combines over a decade of experience in the financial services and technology industries with life coaching techniques to help build people stronger relationships that lead to successful partnerships. She is a community liaison who strives to partner firms with non-profit organizations and external vendors and she spearheads the event strategy for a $2B+ RIA firm. An advocate of healthy company culture, she helps drive cultural integration efforts during times of growth and transition and is responsible for developing and training staff on how to deliver a consistent client experience. In 2021, Cynthia co-authored the book, Integrating Culture in Successful RIA Mergers and Acquisitions, aimed toward business leaders within the financial services industry.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Archives

Categories