Tag Archives: mergers and acquisitions

The RIA Edge Podcast: An Inside Look at an RIA Edge 100 Firm: RMB Capital’s Don Bechter

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RMB Capital has become one of the largest and most successful RIA firms in the wealth management industry – with its own, at times, under-the-radar approach to growth. A strategic approach to M&A, organic growth and management of all things capital has fueled the firm’s success over the years, landing RMB on the inaugural RIA Edge 100 list of the industry’s top firms. 

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, Informa Wealth Management’s Mark Bruno interviews Don Bechter, Managing Partner of RMB, about the primary contributors to the firm’s growth since inception. Specifically, Mark and Don discuss:

  • What role M&A has played in accelerating RMB’s growth and reach
  • How RMB has created a scalable, repeatable strategy for growing through both marketing and business developments
  • New roles and development programs that RMB has added to help the firm continue to grow and attract new talent

Resources:

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RIA Edge Podcast: The Rise of Alternatives in the RIA Channel: Brookfield’s David Levi

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With heightened market volatility and uncertainty significantly impacting client portfolios over the last year, RIAs have been leaning more on alternative investments to present their clients with new sources of return, income and downside protection. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, David Levi, Managing Partner at Brookfield and Head of Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions, shares his perspective with Informa’s Mark Bruno about the rise of alternatives in the RIA channel and the increased number of alternative offerings now directly available to high-net-worth investors. Specifically, Mark and David discuss:

  • Macro-challenges and opportunities across the RIA landscape – What are the most successful RIAs doing to drive growth, attract and retain clients in a challenging market
  • Why alternatives, why now: How alternatives have shifted from institutional to individual investors and the major driving forces behind this shift 
  • What types of problems are advisors largely looking to solve now that has prompted a heightened interest in a broader set of alternative investment options? 
  • How advisors can now access new real estate, infrastructure and private credit offerings for their clients

Resources:

 RIA Edge Podcast

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The RIA Edge Podcast: One-on-One with AlTi CEO Michael Tiedemann

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The RIA Edge Podcast: One-on-One with AlTi CEO Michael Tiedemann

At the start of 2023, Michael Tiedemann and his namesake wealth and asset management firm – Tiedemann Advisors – completed one of the largest and most unique mergers to-date in the wealth management industry. Tiedemann combined his firm with Alvarium Investments and the Cartesian Growth Corp., a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, to form Alvarium Tiedemann, or AlTi, a publicly traded firm with more than $60 billion in AUM and one of the largest publicly traded wealth managers on the globe. 

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, Tiedemann goes behind the deal with Mark Bruno, Managing Director of the Informa Wealth Management Group, to discuss the strategy and vision behind the deal. Specifically, Mark and Mike discuss:

  • The growth opportunities public markets present to AlTi, given its position as both a wealth and asset management company
  • How AlTi is evaluating growth opportunities moving forward, both through M&A and organic growth strategies
  • How AlTi defines “quality growth” and assigns value across the wealth management market
  • The role technology can play in creating scale and unlocking new growth opportunities

 Resources:

 RIA Edge Podcast

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RIA Edge Podcast: Wealth Enhancement Group’s Jeff Dekko: The True Drivers of RIA Growth

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When Jeff Dekko took the helm at Wealth Enhancement Group, it was a regional player with roughly $600 million in assets. Fast forward to 2023, and WEG is now one of the largest players in the RIA space with more than $60 billion in assets under management and a rapidly growing national footprint. 

While WEG has grown considerably through M&A, organic growth has played an important role in the company’s rise as well. In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Jeff Dekko, CEO of Wealth Enhancement Group, on how to build a solid foundation for scalable growth. 

Specifically, Mark and Jeff discuss:

  • What value the Wealth Enhancement Group can deliver to firms it acquires, and how it differentiates in a competitive buyer’s market
  • What is driving the overall M&A market in 2023
  • How to build a framework for scalable growth
  • The importance of constantly changing and updating marketing and growth strategies based on the businesses and client needs – as well as market opportunities

Resources:

 RIA Edge Podcast

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Connect With Jeff Dekko:

About Our Guest:

Jeff has more than 20 years of business experience in marketing, technology, operations and finance. He is responsible for overall leadership, growth and development of Wealth Enhancement Group. Jeff began his career with General Mills, Inc., where he served in a variety of marketing management positions. In 1994 he joined Recovery Engineering, Inc., where he was instrumental in the development and branding of the PUR water filtration system. Jeff was a key member of the team that successfully sold the company to Procter & Gamble for a 100% premium over market value. Through his work in technology and management consulting firms, Jeff has helped numerous organizations realize greater levels of success. Jeff provided consulting services to Wealth Enhancement Group before being asked to join the organization as CEO in 2003.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Emigrant’s Karl Heckenberg: Behind the Scenes of RIA M&A

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While M&A activity levels across the industry have generally cooled in recent months from a record pace, the minority investment market is heating up and continues to re-shape the RIA landscape.  

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Karl Heckenberg, CEO and President of Emigrant Partners, on the rise of minority investors and how they are deploying capital, resources and intelligence to drive growth in challenging markets. 

Specifically, Mark and Karl discuss:

  • What are the characteristics of an ideal minority investor and partner
  • How are minority deals structured
  • Where are M&A activity levels currently at and where will they go in 2023  
  • How post-deal integration impacts the success of a merger or acquisition

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About Our Guest:

Karl Heckenberg is the President and CEO of Emigrant Partners and its affiliated company Fiduciary Network. In addition, he sits on the Board of Managers of the aforementioned companies. Karl has worked in financial services throughout his entire career and has previously worked for Merrill Lynch, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Wells Fargo and Charles Schwab. He also serves on the boards of Sarasota Private Trust Company, New York Private Trust Company and Cleveland Private Trust Company, and is Vice Chairman of Emigrant Bank. Karl was raised in the Washington, D.C. area and graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.



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RIA Edge: AssetMark’s Natalie Wolfsen and Adhesion’s Barrett Ayers

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Whether you are looking to buy, sell or build a partnership with another company, finding the right fit for your vision is essential.

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Natalie Wolfsen, CEO of AssetMark, and Barrett Ayers, CEO of Adhesion Wealth, on their recently closed merger – highlighting their motivations for the deal, as well as their long-term vision. 

Specifically, Mark, Natalie, and Barrett discuss:

  • Why AssetMark and Adhesion Wealth decided to enter a partnership
  • How outsourcing is improving growth rates for RIAs
  • What RIAs should consider when buying, selling or considering a partnership to grow their businesses

Resources:

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Connect with Barrett Ayers:

About Our Guests:

Natalie Wolfsen is the Chief Executive Officer at AssetMark. Prior to being named CEO, she led the strategy and execution for AssetMark teams spanning digital channel development, corporate strategy, thought leadership, marketing, and product development. Natalie has more than 20 years of leadership experience across six financial services organizations, where she directed teams who collectively brought to life more than 50 financial services products, platforms, and programs, including the design of one of the industry’s first-ever mobile trading platform.

Barrett Ayers joined Adhesion Wealth in 2004 and is one of the original founders of Adhesion Wealth. As President of Adhesion Wealth, Barrett oversees the strategic direction and long-term growth plans for the organization. During his time at Adhesion Wealth, Barrett has overseen the firm’s Product, Relationship Management, Investment Consulting, Model Management, and Portfolio Management groups.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Savant’s Brent Brodeski: How M&A is Accelerating the Evolution of Advice

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M&A activity has re-shaped the wealth management industry in recent years – but it also accelerating the evolution of the business, and ultimately access to financial advice. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Brent Brodeski, CEO of Savant Wealth Management, about the firm’s inorganic and organic growth, as well as its objective to extend advice to millions of new investors. 

Specifically, Mark and Brent discuss:

  •  How Savant Wealth evaluates potential acquisitions and what a good fit looks like
  •  Where the overall industry is currently in the M&A cycle
  • The difference between return on investment and return on “impact”
  •  What do RIAs need to attract more talent in the future

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Connect With Brent Brodeski:

About Our Guest:

Brent is the CEO and a founder of Savant. He has been involved in the financial services industry since 1988 and previously taught investment and finance courses at Rock Valley College, Rockford University, and Northern Illinois University. Brent earned a bachelor of science degree in finance and economics and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from NIU. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®).



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RIA Edge Podcast: Wealth Enhancement Group’s Jim Cahn: The Drivers of RIA M&A in 2023

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In reviewing the past year, advisors are looking for more ways to grow their business. How will they take the first step into 2023 with a growth mindset?

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Jim Cahn, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Business Development Officer for Wealth Enhancement Group, about WEG’s M&A strategy — and the role M&A could continue to play in the firm’s growth next year. 

Specifically, Mark and Jim discuss:

  • How Wealth Enhancement Group’s platform differs from other active, professional buyers
  • How the 2022 market downturn has impacted M&A activity and smaller, less experienced buyers
  • How WEG is driving organic growth for advisors outside of M&A
  • How growth in the RIA industry will take shape in 2023

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

Jim brings significant financial services experience along with the investment management industry’s best thinking and best practices to his role as Chief Investment Officer of Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services. Throughout his professional career, Jim’s philosophy on investing has centered on providing clients with cost-effective, well-diversified portfolios and investment strategies that fit within a specific risk tolerance in order to help clients pursue their financial goals. Prior to joining Wealth Enhancement Group, Jim served as chief investment officer and portfolio manager for a Chicago firm, where he oversaw investment programs, launched a hedge fund-of-funds and consulted with clients. A frequent contributor to financial media, he has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business and BloombergTV, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He has also written a monthly column for Forbes.com since 2013.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Content is King: Jackson Wood on Creating Persona and Meaningful Marketing Opportunities

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The way advisors market their services has changed over the years, from one-to-one word-of-mouth and cold-calling to mass market approaches across Instagram and LinkedIn. Having more options than ever is inherently good for advisors looking to grow their businesses – but understanding how to appropriately use each platform is a key to successful marketing and business development. 

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Jackson Wood, financial advisor and portfolio manager at Freedom Day Solutions, about how he and his firm have used podcasts, YouTube and Instagram to connect with NextGen investors in need of financial advice – and how it has accelerated the growth of Freedom Day in recent years.  

Specifically, Mark and Jackson discuss:

  • The most frequently asked questions about financial planning and investment management from younger investors
  • How to effectively and efficiently create content that engages target audiences and clients
  • How smaller firms can see major returns on their marketing efforts and initiatives

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

Jackson is focused on serving his clients through diligent planning and brings a wealth of experience to many families, as a trusted advisor.  He has always had an interest in investing and began his career as an advisor at Fidelity Investments in Salt Lake City, UT.  Jackson moved to Idaho to raise his young family and was the founder of an independent registered investment advisor. 

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RIA Edge Podcast: Brandon Odell on the State of Advisor Compensation & Staffing

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With the intense competition for talent in the wealth management industry, leaders of RIAs need to be more strategic than even when developing compensation, talent development and retention programs.

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, Managing Director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Brandon Odell, Partner and Director of Business Consulting at The Ensemble Practice, about the evolution of staffing and compensation in the RIA industry – and how the most successful firms are winning the war for talent. 

Specifically, Mark and Brandon discuss:

  • How RIAs are changing the way they hire and train new employees with a focus on retention 
  • How base and bonus compensation have evolved to ensure RIAs are paying competitively — without over-committing to long-term direct expense obligations
  • How RIAs are evaluating their organizational structures to align with future growth opportunities and client need

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

As Partner and Director of Business Consulting, Brandon Odell works directly with clients on strategy development and growth planning and serves as faculty for the Ensemble Management Institute, the company’s intensive program of business management classes for independent advisory firms. Brandon also contributes his research expertise to our ongoing efforts to benchmark the growth of the industry, including participating in the leading advisor compensation and staffing study, which Ensemble conducts in partnership with InvestmentNews.

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