Tag: RIA Edge
RIA Edge Podcast: Ryan Parker on Organic Growth and Acquisitions in a Competitive Landscape

RIA Edge Podcast: Ryan Parker on Organic Growth and Acquisitions in a Competitive Landscape

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Ryan Parker, CEO of EP Wealth, sheds light on the firm’s intentional M&A strategy and what it means for the company’s development.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, talks with Ryan Parker, CEO of EP Wealth, on the company’s robust growth in recent years by thinking big but keeping small. Smart acquisitions and steering their focus toward offering family-office level services has made comprehensive financial planning attractive to a broader clientele.  

Specifically, David and Ryan discuss:

  • His professional journey from the asset management side of the business to the advisory side, with stints at LPL Financial and as CEO of Edelman Financial Services.
  • The challenges of combining an M&A strategy with a double-digit organic growth rate that has seen the firm grow in AUM by almost 10X in six years. 
  • How the firm approaches acquisitions, balancing local autonomy for the acquired firms with a structure of a national RIA, and embedding transition teams with the targeted RIA before the deal closes.
  • The vision to become the “family office” for the “millionaire-next-door,” in part by bringing tax preparation and trust and estate services in house. 

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Ryan Parker:

 About Our Guest: 

As CEO of EP Wealth, Ryan is energized by the opportunity to create conditions for others’ success, which he considers the greatest contribution any leader can make.

Ryan joined EP Wealth Advisors in 2021 and has been passionate about helping people achieve their goals for over twenty-five years. Previously, Ryan was President and CEO of Wealth Management at Citizens Bank, CEO of Edelman Financial Services, and a Managing Director at LPL Financial. Before turning his focus to wealth management, he began his career on the asset management side at Putnam Investment, Franklin Templeton Investments, and Russell Investments. Ryan has been active in other parts of the industry as well, previously serving as Vice Chairman for Lefteris Acquisition Corp. and as an advisor to various private equity, venture capital, and management consulting firms.

Ryan earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Finance and Accounting from Stanford Graduate School of Business

Ryan lives with his wife and three children in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  



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RIA Edge Podcast: Insights With Lisa Salvi on Unlocking Growth and Talent Acquisition

RIA Edge Podcast: Insights With Lisa Salvi on Unlocking Growth and Talent Acquisition

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Lisa Salvi shares how successful firms leverage a comprehensive approach to long-term success.

In this episode, David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, talks with Lisa Salvi, Managing Director, Advisor Services, Charles Schwab, about Schwab’s RIA Benchmarking Study that highlights industry performance and where advisory firms achieve efficiency in sustainable growth. The conversation sheds light on the essential role of strategic planning, mentorship programs and specialized roles in nurturing talent. 

Specifically, David and Lisa discuss:

  • How benchmark studies reveal the industry’s significant growth, requiring firms to strategically plan for expansion.
  • Why talent acquisition and development are top priorities for financial advisory firms.
  • How successful firms implement strategic planning that attracts talent and leverages M&A for sustainable growth.
  • The three-part process of M&A: envision, prepare and connect.

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Lisa Salvi:

 

About Our Guest: 

Lisa Salvi is a member of the Advisor Services leadership team and is responsible for Schwab’s Business Consulting and Education offer. Her team develops and manages programs and one-on-one consulting engagements designed to help independent advisors make lasting and significant improvements within their firms by focusing on key business, technology, and cybersecurity issues. Salvi’s team leads the annual RIA Benchmarking Study, the Compensation Study, and programs that support the development of advisor talent through executive education and student initiatives. They also provide insights and tools that help the Advisor Services sales and support teams deliver outstanding client service to independent advisors.

Salvi has worked with fee-based advisors since 2003. Since joining Schwab in 2007, she has held several positions, including Chief of Staff to Bernie Clark, head of Advisor Services.

Salvi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Series 7 and Series 24 registrations.  



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RIA Edge Podcast: Hirtle, Callaghan & Co.’ and Jon Hirtle: Pioneering the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer Business Model

RIA Edge Podcast: Hirtle, Callaghan & Co.’ and Jon Hirtle: Pioneering the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer Business Model

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Jonathan Hirtle, founder and chairman of Hirtle, Callaghan & Co., has been called the “Oracle of Outsource” by Pension & Investments magazine for his work pioneering the “outsourced chief investment officer” business model for families and institutions. 

Here, Hirtle speaks with Wealth Management’s David Armstrong about the opportunity he saw to start the firm 35 years ago to bring  investment management services out of the banks, brokerages and product shops and offering it directly to wealthy families and institutions that aren’t quite wealthy enough to support their own in-house investment teams, and doing so without the conflicts of interest that often come with using traditional financial services.. 

Hirtle speaks about growing the firm to $20 billion in AUM, his team’s approach to the markets, how he builds portfolios and why the need for unconflicted and actively managed portfolios are even more important today than they were when he founded the company. 

Specifically, David and Jon discuss:

  • How Hirtle, Callaghan & Co, took inspiration from the likes of Yale University’s  “endowment model” and Arthur Miltenberger, the chief investment officer for the Richard K. Mellon family office, and wanted to bring a similar level of dedicated investment management to a broader swath of clients. 
  • The market taxonomy his team uses when evaluating all investment opportunities.
  • His thoughts on John Bogle, founder of Vanguard. 
  • How the investable market is tilting ever more heavily toward private companies, and far less toward publicly traded firms, and the opportunities – and risks – that exist for clients in alternatives. 
  • How his firm charges clients, and why it’s important:. “We may be wrong, but we’ll never be conflicted.” 
  • The attraction of “mission-oriented” clients and how his firm helps those clients navigate the balance between good returns and good impact. 
  • Why the firm has been adamant about avoiding the red-hot M&A market for RIAs, but has started to pursue a strategy of finding smaller “lift outs” of like-minded advisors across the country that fit the firm’s ethos and value proposition.  

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With John Hirtle:

About Our Guest:

Jon is the Executive Chairman of Hirtle Callaghan. He also chairs the board of directors and serves on the Investment Policy Committee. Prior to founding Hirtle Callaghan in 1988, Jon worked at Goldman Sachs advising family groups and institutions on investment strategy and securities selection. He received his Bachelor of Science and M.B.A. degrees from Penn State. Jon served as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1975 to 1982 and is a member of the Governing Council of the Miller Center for Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Alison Burkett on Snowden Lane’s Boutique Culture for Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Alison Burkett on Snowden Lane’s Boutique Culture for Growth

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Snowden Lane Partners: A calibrated blend of autonomy and support. 

In this episode, David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, talks with Alison Burkett, head of enterprise development at Snowden Lane Partners, about the firm’s approach to growth: A carefully calibrated blend of autonomy and support. Targets for acquisition are largely experienced advisors with more sophisticated client relationships, eager to continue their trajectory but at a point where they are too large to run the business independently. Burkett says despite the slowdown in the economy, the pace of partnerships at Snowden Lane will continue, and the firm continues to find some of its best candidates coming out of captured environments at the wirehouses, even as there are increasingly suitable prospects in the independent space.

Specifically, David and Alison discuss:

  • Why Snowden Lane’s investment solutions platform is key to attracting advisors with more sophisticated clients and portfolios, giving them access to the same kinds of portfolios, alternatives, and lending options that traditionally were only possible in the larger wirehouses, but without the inherent conflicts in that channel.
  • Why a large part of her job is managing for future growth, in that the firm needs to ensure the internal structure and staff are in place to accommodate growth six months before it occurs to avoid logjams that would slow down the trajectory.  
  • How the firm still sees the wirehouses as the most fertile ground for bringing in new advisors, and why Snowden Lane executives increasingly eye teams with broader tenures and more complex books of business, and is starting to eye more family office, private banking components to its mix of services. 
  • How Snowden Lane’s compensation structure is unique, allowing each team to participate in their own P&L as well as benefit from broader firm equity.
  • Why Burkett thinks Snowden Lane is still far away from not being considered a boutique investment advisory firm, and how the firm can likely grow three-fold while keeping the same culture intact. 

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Alison Burkett:

About Our Guest: 

Alison is a founding team member of Snowden Lane. She ensures that Snowden Lane clients and advisors have a superior experience through consistent service, dynamic technology, and custom investment solutions. As Head of Enterprise Development, she is responsible for the Snowden Lane’s operating platform, human resources, advisor transition, and for driving enterprise innovation.

Alison leads efforts to develop next-generation advisor tools and client service models incorporating leading-edge technology. In addition, she plays a central role in the recruitment and transition of advisory teams to Snowden Lane. She brings extensive experience working with ‘advisors in transition’, integrating custodial technology and service offerings to support their client and business needs in an independent business model. Previously, Alison held business development and client service positions at Clearbrook Global Advisors. She received her BA in Political Science from Princeton University, and studied finance at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Alison holds Series 7, 66, 24, and 79 registrations. Alison and her husband, Erik, have two children and reside in San Diego, CA.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Connectus Wealth’s Molly Bennard on Bringing Different Connections into Focus

RIA Edge Podcast: Connectus Wealth’s Molly Bennard on Bringing Different Connections into Focus

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This episode of the RIA Edge podcast features a conversation between David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, and Molly Bennard, the CEO of Connectus Wealth Advisers. Connectus Wealth is a Focus Financial Partners-owned firm, but, unlike others inside that network, it acts more like a collective of smaller RIAs that benefit more from a shared back-office, while still maintaining their client-facing team and unique brands. It’s a model that falls somewhere in between the large aggregators of $1+ billion firms, and smaller acquisitions, which bring advisory practices completely into the fold. Since its founding in 2020, Connectus has grown to include 17 brands in the portfolio with some $12.5 billion in client assets, with the vast majority in the United States.

Specifically, Molly and David discuss:

  • Molly’s background in financial services and how she found a home at Focus Financial on the acquisition team before joining Connectus.
  • What kind of firms best fit the Connectus business model, and why there are no shortage of them in the marketplace. 
  • Why it’s important each Connectus firm keeps its unique branding and client-facing services, like financial planning and portfolio reporting, while sharing back-office functions and, increasingly, shared services like tax planning and accounting.
  • The “killer app,” the firm’s home-grown technology, called MyConnectus, which lets advisors and clients share the same platform from different “sides” of the portal (under the advisor’s brand and control) to work together in what Bennard calls a “single point of truth.”

Molly and David also talk about how organic growth is more important for Connectus than growth via acquisition, and how she is hiring talent and organizing the team for that strategy. In addition, they discuss Connectus Wealth’ hands-on, documented approach to onboarding like-minded advisors and firms, and how, given the dynamics of the market, there is no shortage of opportunities in front of them. 

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Molly Bennard:

 About Our Guest: 

Before joining Connectus, Molly was a Managing Director at Focus Financial Partners, responsible for leading business development and acquisition activities across both the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States. She also oversaw various international initiatives, including the expansion of Focus’ presence in Australia. Molly also worked closely with multiple Focus partner firms in delivering value-added resources to help execute strategic initiatives that accelerate growth.

Prior to Focus, Molly held a leadership position as the Head of the Strategic Initiatives Group at AXA US, where she led corporate strategy and business development initiatives to drive profitable growth and performance across the organization. She also previously worked within Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division, executing M&A, equity and debt transactions within the financial services industry. She began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, providing financial due diligence and other advisory services to private equity and corporate clients within the U.S. and Latin America.

Molly is a CPA and CFA charterholder. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Molly enjoys running, scuba diving, international photography and cooking.



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RIA Edge Podcast: DFA’s Catherine Williams: 2023 RIA M&A Gamechangers

RIA Edge Podcast: DFA’s Catherine Williams: 2023 RIA M&A Gamechangers

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Uncover the latest trends shaping the M&A sphere in 2023, driving strategic decisions and future success.

In this RIA Edge episode, Mark Bruno, managing director of the wealth management group at Informa talks with Catherine Williams, head of practice management at Dimensional Fund Advisors, about the changes in the M&A landscape and the noticeable shifts compared to previous years due to market challenges, changing talent dynamics, and client demands. Notably, deal valuations remain strong, but deal structures are becoming more flexible to help sellers rebound from market disruptions.

Specifically, Mark and Catherine discuss:

  • Changes in deal-making and deal structures – and how they are impacting buyers and sellers.
  • M&A as a tool to drive growth and regional expansion.
  • Talent-focused deals where acquiring talent is a priority, addressing demographic shifts and ensuring sustainable growth.
  • The pace and outlook for RIA M&A deal activity in 2024 and beyond.

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast
Register for RIA Edge West, September 27-29 

Connect With Mark Bruno: 

Connect With GUEST:

About Our Guest:

Catherine Williams is Head of Practice Management at Dimensional. Based in the Charlotte office, Catherine delivers benchmarking and practice management insights to advisors. Prior to joining Dimensional, she spent more than 20 years in the investment industry, including serving as chief operating officer for a large RIA. Most recently, Catherine offered strategic and executive coaching to investment advisors as an executive business coach with the Carson Group and as vice president of practice management and consulting with Fidelity Investments.

Catherine studied broadcast journalism and has focused her professional learning on leadership development, which includes coursework through Babson Executive Education. She has served as an advisory board member for the Center for Investment and Wealth Management at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business, and as a coach/mentor for the G2 Leadership Institute. Catherine hosts the Dimensional podcast series Managing Your Practice, which was created to provide insights that help advisors with all aspects of their businesses.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Lido’s Ken Stern on Navigating Growth and Culture in Wealth Management

RIA Edge Podcast: Lido’s Ken Stern on Navigating Growth and Culture in Wealth Management

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This era in wealth management has seen unparalleled growth opportunity. Lido Advisors has embraced this golden age of shifting demographics and technological advancements to be one of the fastest growing and successful firms in the industry. 

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, Mark Bruno, managing director of the wealth management group at Informa, and Ken Stern, president of Lido Advisors talk about Lido’s growth and strategies in the wealth management industry. Ken shares how Lido emphasizes a client-first approach and values cultural alignment in partnerships and acquisitions. Specifically, Mark and Ken discuss:

  • Clear value proposition and its importance as a driving factor for successful growth
  • The significance of organic growth, utilizing existing clients as valuable sources of referrals and business expansion opportunities
  • Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the need for cultural alignment when considering partnerships or acquisitions
  • The role of technology, AI, and digital strategies in reaching a wider audience

Resources:

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Connect With GUEST:

About Our Guest:

Ken Stern is President of Lido Advisors. Ken is focused on executing Lido’s vision in growing Lido Advisors into a nationally recognized leader in advanced wealth management and investment strategy. After working with and helping grow various financial institutions, Ken saw a need for a client-centric financial advisory firm focused on comprehensive planning and dynamic investment management. As a result, he founded both Asset Planning Solutions, Inc. and Ken Stern & Associates. 

Ken has authored seven personal finance books and appeared in or been quoted on several TV and radio shows including “The Today Show,” CNBC, and CNN. Authored books include: “To Hell and Back,” “Pounce,” “Secrets of the Investment All-Stars,” “Senior Savvy,” “50 Fabulous Places to Retire in America,” “Safeguard Your Hard Earned Savings” and “Secrets of the Investment All-Stars.” 

Ken is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School, is a Certified Financial Planner and speaks extensively on wealth transfer, alternative investments, and legacy planning. Originally from Farmington Hills, MI, Ken enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, skiing, public speaking, writing, and reading.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Perigon’s Arthur Ambarik: The Journey to Build a $6BN RIA

RIA Edge Podcast: Perigon’s Arthur Ambarik: The Journey to Build a $6BN RIA

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This episode of the RIA Edge podcast features a conversation between Mark Bruno, Managing Director of Wealth Management Group at Informa, and Arthur Ambarik, CEO of Perigon Wealth Management. The discussion delves into  Perigon’’s unique position and model within the RIA channel, as well as the  primary contributors to its impressive growth trajectory. Arthur shares the story of Perigon’s evolution from a small firm with under $150 million in assets under management (AUM) to its current status of around $6 billion in AUM.

Specifically, Mark and Arthur discuss:

  • Perigon’s distinct business model, emphasizing a blend of autonomy and collaboration.
  • How Perigon bridged the gap between traditional consolidator and enterprise firm models, fostering an environment where advisors could bring diverse skills to the table and create a better client experience.
  • Key industry trends, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity and the battle for talent. 
  • Arthur reflects on the challenges of growth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of building a strong team with specialized roles like COO, CCO, and CTO to manage the firm effectively.

Mark and Arthur also discuss the growth journey through acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and attracting like-minded professionals. He acknowledges the competitive landscape in the RIA industry and offers insights for firms aspiring to grow and professionalize their operations. Overall, the conversation provides valuable lessons on managing human capital, adapting to unique challenges, and building a successful RIA firm amid evolving industry dynamics.

Resources:

RIA Edge Podcast

Register for RIA Edge West, September 27-29 

Connect With Mark Bruno: 

Connect With Arthur Ambarik:

About Our Guest:

Arthur Ambarik, CFP® is Chief Executive Officer of Perigon Wealth Management. Since joining Perigon in 2013, the firm’s assets under management have grown to more than $4.8* billion from less than $150 million. He has overseen several recent acquisitions including PM Wealth Management, Nauset Wealth Management and Stakeholders Capital.

Arthur brings more than 20 years of years of experience to his role with Perigon including advisory and operational positions he held previously with Ameriprise and LPL. He has been named to the Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors for California in 2021 and 2022 and is a member of the Financial Advisor IQ Leadership Council. Perigon’s accolades include being named to the Financial Times Top 300 RIA 2020, RIA Channel ® Top 50 Wealth Managers by Growth 2022, Forbes Top 100 RIA 2022 and USA Today Best Financial Advisory Firm 2023 lists.

Arthur holds a B.A. in Economics from Williams College.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Cresset’s Liz Nesvold: From Deal-Maker to RIA Gamechanger

RIA Edge Podcast: Cresset’s Liz Nesvold: From Deal-Maker to RIA Gamechanger

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Following a remarkable period of M&A activity in the RIA industry, one of the star bankers in the industry has made the leap from leading deals to leading one of the largest RIAs in wealth management. 

 In this special episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host Mark Bruno, the Managing Director of the Wealth Management Group at Informa, engages in a fascinating dialogue with Liz Nesvold, a renowned investment banker with a 30-year career in the industry.

Recorded live at the RIA Edge Conference, this episode offers an exclusive peek into Liz’s recent transition from investment banking to her new role as President of Cresset, one of the fastest-growing and most successful RIA firms. Together, they explore the motivations behind her move and delve into the opportunities within the RIA space, drawing from Liz’s vast experience advising on major transactions and working with top-tier investment firms.

Throughout the conversation, they touch on various topics including:

  • The current state of mergers and acquisitions, along with RIA valuations
  • Opportunities to accelerate growth in the RIA channel 
  • The challenges and opportunities associated with talent acquisition. 
  • Liz’s deep insights and unique perspective shed light on the evolving landscape  

Resources:

 RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Liz Nesvold:

About Our Guest:

Throughout her 30-year career, Liz has served as a trusted consultant and investment banker, providing exceptional advice to her clients across business strategy, succession planning, integration, and growth.

Liz is a founder and CEO herself, having launched and built the investment bank Silver Lane Advisors with several talented partners, including her husband, Peter Nesvold. Under Liz’s leadership, Silver Lane became a widely recognized leading RIA M&A firm, which was sold to a Fortune 500 company in 2019. Liz remained a Managing Director and Head of Asset and Wealth Management Investment Banking until joining Cresset.

Among her many recognitions, Liz was recognized as a Woman to Watch by InvestmentNews in 2019 for her leadership in the financial advisory industry. She has also been an active champion and advocate for women in financial services throughout her career and is a member of CHIEF, 100 Women in Finance, and Young Presidents Organization. She serves as the independent director on the board of ClientWise, which she recapitalized with Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures Fund.

Liz earned a Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University and an MBA in Finance with high honors from Fordham University Gabelli School of Business.



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RIA Edge Podcast: Halbert Hargrove’s JC Abusaid: Building the ‘RIA of Choice’

RIA Edge Podcast: Halbert Hargrove’s JC Abusaid: Building the ‘RIA of Choice’

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Building an RIA firm that can successfully attract, retain and develop top talent – and ultimately become the “RIA of choice” in a specific market — is no easy feat. But one firm, Halbert Hargrove, for years has been building bridges from G1, to G2 and even G3 talent. In the process the firm’s experiences has created a bit of a roadmap for other RIA firms to learn from and follow as they look to expand their talent base. 

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, JC Abusaid, the President and CEO of Halbert Hargrove, talks with Mark Bruno about the key lessons learned from the firm’s organic growth and human capital growth. Specifically, Mark and JC discuss:

  •  The importance of internships and structured programs to develop talent
  •  Designing a firm that is structured to grow organically – with consistency – across the organization
  •  The importance of advanced succession planning
  •  How firms can successfully expand their networks and attract new talent

Resources:

 RIA Edge Podcast

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With GUEST:

About Our Guest:

As CEO and President of Halbert Hargrove, JC is guiding the firm confidently into the future. Execution and operational excellence are his bywords; we consider him our glue. He formally took the helm of CEO in December 2021. For many years, working alongside Chairman and HH founder Russ Hill, JC has had the privilege to be involved in most facets of the firm, and has enjoyed being part of HH’s growth and success.

JC enjoys the dynamic nature of his role: “I like solving big challenges,” he says. He joined HH as Operations Manager in 1996 and was named President and Chief Operating Officer in 2010.

JC earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance emphasis from the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administracion in Bogota, Colombia, and his MBA from University of Redlands School of Business. He was awarded the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY™ designation by the University of Pittsburgh-affiliated Center for Fiduciary Studies.

In 2016, JC was part of Stanford University’s pioneer cohort in earning a LEAD Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 2021, he was again part of an inaugural class, this time in taking part in BlackRock’s first Emerging Leader Lab.



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