Tag: RIA Growth
RIA Edge Podcast: Building an Integrated Wealth Management Firm with Mike LaMena

RIA Edge Podcast: Building an Integrated Wealth Management Firm with Mike LaMena

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Mike LaMena, CEO of Wealthspire, about how the firm is bringing together private wealth, institutional advisory, retirement services and family office capabilities as it continues to grow.

Mike shares how Wealthspire structures advisor teams around deeper client relationships, uses a “cross-solving” approach to connect needs across different parts of the firm, and invests in areas such as trust, estate planning, tax and technology. He also explains how M&A, advisor education, international expansion and a long-term approach to profitability are shaping Wealthspire’s next stage of growth.

Mike discusses:

  • How Wealthspire connects private wealth, institutional, retirement and family office services around client needs
  • Why advisor teams need access to trust, estate, investment, tax and lifestyle specialists across the firm
  • How “cross-solving” can connect institutional relationships and private wealth opportunities in both directions
  • Why Wealthspire targets 30% to 35% margins while continuing to invest in organic growth, M&A and capabilities
  • Where Wealthspire sees room to grow, including integrated tax, Canada, the UK and cross-border client needs

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong: 

Connect With Mike LaMena:

About Our Guest:

Mike LaMena is the Chief Executive Officer of Wealthspire, bringing nearly 30 years of experience leading and scaling global wealth management organizations. Since becoming CEO in 2019, he has guided Wealthspire through a period of significant growth and transformation, helping evolve the firm into an integrated independent platform serving individuals, families, institutions, retirement plans, and businesses across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

Mike is known for his people-first approach and his belief in the power of thoughtful guidance and strong relationships to create meaningful impact. Under his leadership, Wealthspire has expanded its capabilities and national footprint while fostering a culture centered on collaboration, innovation, and long-term relationships. He has championed initiatives focused on advisor empowerment, philanthropy, inclusion, and purposeful growth.

Before joining one of Wealthspire’s predecessor firms in 2017 as President and COO, Mike served as President and COO of HighTower Advisors, helping scale the firm from a startup into a nationally recognized wealth management platform. Earlier in his career, he served in multiple senior leadership roles at Morgan Stanley across New York and Hong Kong. Before beginning his career in financial services, Mike served as a volunteer high school teacher at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, reflecting his long-standing commitment to education and mentorship.

Mike is a frequent industry speaker and host of Wealthspire’s Great Aspirations podcast, which explores leadership, purpose, and legacy through conversations with entrepreneurs, athletes, and changemakers. In 2024, he was named “CEO of the Year” at the RIA Intel Awards. In addition to serving on the board for Wealthspire, he also serves on the Advisory Council for the Wealth Management program at Columbia University School of Professional Studies, supporting the development of the next generation of industry leaders.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Connecting Workplace Retirement and Wealth Planning with Ralph Haberli

RIA Edge Podcast: Connecting Workplace Retirement and Wealth Planning with Ralph Haberli

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Ralph Haberli, CEO of Edelman Financial Engines, about how the firm connects workplace retirement relationships with broader wealth planning and continues to grow at scale.

Ralph shares how retirement plan participants can develop into long-term planning clients, why the firm has made planner ownership a priority, and how recruiting and M&A fit into its growth strategy. He also explains how Edelman Financial Engines is using technology and AI to support planners, while keeping client relationships and human advice at the center of the business.

Ralph discusses:

  • How the firm is bridging the gap between workplace retirement plans and individual wealth management services, and why he thinks there is still plenty of opportunity in the convergence of the two.
  • His perspective on growth and scale, and how planner equity plays an important role when balancing a consistent service experience with an entrepreneurial culture. 
  • Where Edelman Financial Engines sees its next phase of growth
  • What the firm is doing with AI and technology, particularly in filling the advice gaps that leave some mass-affluent investors underserved. 

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Ralph Haberli:

About Our Guest:

As Chief Executive Officer and President, Ralph Haberli is shaping Edelman Financial Engines’ long-term vision and growth strategy, with a commitment to making financial advice more accessible, personal, and impactful for individuals at every stage of their financial journey. He joined EFE as President in July 2025 and was appointed CEO in November 2025.

Before joining EFE, Ralph served as President of the Institutional & Retirement Client Group at Capital Group, where he led a period of significant growth, overseeing the implementation of an expansive set of new and improved client-facing products and solutions. Previously, he held senior roles at BlackRock across various client businesses, iShares, and Corporate Strategy. He began his career at Boston Consulting Group advising top financial institutions in the U.S and Europe.

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Multigenerational Wealth Firm with Kristen Bauer

RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Multigenerational Wealth Firm with Kristen Bauer

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Kristen Bauer, CEO of Laird Norton Wetherby, about the firm’s approach to serving multigenerational families while managing about $18 billion in assets across six offices and two trust companies.

Kristen explains how the firm evaluates growth based on its impact on clients, employees and owners, rather than pursuing scale alone. She also shares how trust services, impact investing, advisor development, employee ownership and artificial intelligence continue to shape LNW’s long-term direction.

Kristen discusses:

  • How Bauer measures growth and its impact on the firm and client service
  • Why the firm moved back to using an in-house trust company, after outsourcing for many years
  • How the business development process works when targeting prospects with multigenerational wealth
  • The qualities LNW looks for when hiring advisors serving families across generations
  • How the firm is thinking about artificial intelligence and its impact on the business

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Kristen Bauer:

About Our Guest:

Kristen Bauer is the CEO of LNW, leading by example of analytical rigor and a passion for helping successful individuals and families use their resources to have the greatest positive impact. With more than two decades of leadership experience in private wealth management, family office services and business operations, Kristen was instrumental in shaping the vision for, and structure of, what is now LNW.

In May 2020, Kristen was named CEO of Laird Norton Wealth Management. In the next three years, she led the firm as it joined forces with two like-minded wealth advisories long committed to fostering clients’ financial and personal well-being above all else (Filament LLC and Wetherby Asset Management). The result is LNW.

Prior to LNW, Kristen was a senior leader at Tiedemann Advisors serving as Managing Director for the Pacific Northwest and leading Tiedemann’s national family office practice. Previously, Kristen served in leadership roles, including CFO and President, at Threshold Group, which began as the family office for a prominent Northwest family and was acquired by Tiedemann in 2017. At the start of her career, Kristen was Director of Finance at Medalia Healthcare and Manager-Assurance at Arthur Andersen LLP.

Kristen’s upbringing in Bend, Oregon instilled in her a deep appreciation for nature and the importance of working to leave a healthy world for generations to come. She is actively involved in supporting environmental nonprofits and causes.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling an RIA Through Culture, Ownership and Strategic Growth with Jason Ozur

RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling an RIA Through Culture, Ownership and Strategic Growth with Jason Ozur

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Jason Ozur, co-CEO of Lido Advisors, about the firm’s growth from a six-person team managing roughly $400 million to one of the largest RIAs in the country with nearly $50 billion in assets under management.

Jason discusses how a strong focus on organic growth, standardized investment processes and client service helped lay the foundation for expansion before the firm accelerated its growth through acquisitions and strategic capital partnerships. He also shares how employee ownership, cultural integration, technology investments and artificial intelligence initiatives are shaping Lido’s future as it continues to expand its capabilities and geographic reach.

Jason shares:

  • Growing Lido from a small advisory firm into a national RIA through organic growth and acquisitions
  • How the firm has built wide-spread employee ownership—including million-dollar-plus equity stakes for over 70 Lido partners. 
  • The importance of investment management, including alternatives, and how unique diversification strategies can enhance a firm’s value to clients. 
  • How Lido’s executives think about handling data to remain as flexible as possible for future tech enhancements. 
  • How he has organized the executive leadership team’s roles and responsibilities—including a second chief executive officer in Ken Stern.

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Jason Ozur:

About Our Guest:

Jason Ozur is Co-Chair of Lido’s investment committee. He is responsible for the management of Lido’s alternative investments and is an integral part of the firm’s due diligence on real estate-oriented strategies. 

Education: B.S., California State University at Northridge

Previous Work Highlights: Jason started his career as a CPA performing audits, preparing tax returns, and providing back-office services for numerous hedge funds. In 1999, he joined a large family investment office, where he was on the investment team that managed the family’s substantial investments and served as CFO of its worldwide water conservation company that did business in over 22 countries. He also provided financial oversight as controller of a multi-billion-dollar Los Angeles-based hedge fund.

Personal Facts: Jason takes on a mentorship role to help facilitate a company culture of progression, excellence, and integrity.

 

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RIA Edge Podcast: Behind the Largest Wirehouse Breakaway with OpenArc’s Jim Kaufman

RIA Edge Podcast: Behind the Largest Wirehouse Breakaway with OpenArc’s Jim Kaufman

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Jim Kaufman, managing partner and senior wealth management advisor at OpenArc Corporate Advisory, about leading one of the largest breakaways in the wealth management industry and what the future looks like for the independent firm..

He shares how years of due diligence, a deeply rooted client-first culture, and a strong internal leadership structure helped OpenArc transition nearly 130 associates and 70 advisors. Jim also discusses how independence has expanded the firm’s planning capabilities, including estate planning, tax services, AI adoption, advisor development, and its long-term strategy for organic growth and future acquisitions.

Jim discusses:

  • What drove OpenArc to leave Merrill and create an independent firm 
  • How 130 associates and nearly 70 advisors made the transition in the largest wirehouse-to-independent breakaway yet. 
  • What services are clients now looking for that are easier to facilitate in an independent RIA
  • How OpenArc finds and trains new wealth advisors 
  • Where he sees the future growth path for OpenArc

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With James Kaufman:

About Our Guest:

Jim Kaufman is managing partner, senior wealth management advisor, and a founding Board Member of OpenArc Corporate Advisory. With more than two decades of experience advising corporate executives, high-net-worth individuals, and families, Jim brings a strategic and personalized approach to wealth management.

Prior to OpenArc, Jim was a senior leader on the Global Corporate and Institutional Advisory Services (GCIAS) team at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Over the course of his tenure, he played a key role in building the team’s structure and business model, overseeing more than $10 billion in assets and serving some of the firm’s most strategic relationships.

Jim specializes in concentrated stock management, estate planning services, retirement planning, and custom financial strategies tailored to the needs of corporate executives and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

Originally from Warwick, Rhode Island, Jim attended Portsmouth Abbey School and earned his degree in Economics from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and five children. Jim is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations, including serving on the board and executive committee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, volunteering with the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, and coaching youth sports teams throughout the community.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Building ‘Summit 2.0’ with Randy Morris

RIA Edge Podcast: Building ‘Summit 2.0’ with Randy Morris

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Randy Morris, founder and CEO of Summit Wealth Group, about the firm’s transition from a long-standing broker/dealer affiliate to launch its own independent RIA platform.

He explains how the decision was shaped by a desire for greater autonomy, improved client experience and long-term growth potential. Randy also shares how leadership structure, internal ownership and a minority capital partnership are helping guide the firm forward, along with how digital marketing, acquisitions, expanded services and technology are each playing a role in building the next phase of the business.

Key takeaways:

  • What drove the firm’s leaders to leave a 20-year tenure as a hybrid affiliate of an independent broker/dealer to launch “Summit 2.0” as a fully independent RIA
  • The succession calculations that fueled many of the structural changes Summit made in recent years
  • The importance of organic growth and how Summit has landed some of its largest clients via SEO and Google
  • What drives the firm’s M&A strategy, and the types of firms it is looking to add to the mix in the future
  • How Summit executives decided on an executive organizational structure to formalize and streamline decision-making processes, and how they deliberately created internal career pathways for employees
  • The reasons the firm accepted an investment from Constellation Wealth, beyond simply access to operating capital
  • How the firm feels about balancing unified branding with localized identities for its geographically diverse advisors

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Randy Morris:

About Our Guest:

Randy Morris’ early career helped prepare him as a financial planning pioneer. After graduating from the University of Colorado in 1982 with a degree in business and organizational management, he worked for two years as Vice President of Executive Economic Services, Inc., in Denver, Colorado.

In 1985, Randy founded Executive Financial Planning, Inc. (EFP), one of Mississippi’s first financial planning firms. In 2002, he created Summit Wealth Group (SWG) out of a desire to provide additional wealth management services for clients. Randy serves as the firm’s CEO. In March 2025, Summit Wealth Group, LLC, registered with the SEC as a registered Investment Advisor and filed notice with six states. 

Peers in the financial industry have recognized Randy’s skills and accomplishments by electing him as a past President of the Mississippi Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Randy is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC-1985), and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Practitioner (1987). He is also a Registered Representative, an Investment Adviser Representative, and a Registered Securities Principal. Additionally, he has assisted the CFP® Board of Examiners as an exam reviewer. 

Randy has served on numerous boards, including Barge Timberlands International, Camp Lake Forest Ranch, Southeast Regional Committee for Young Life, Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM), and the World Vision Leadership Council. Randy lives with his wife, Nancy, in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they attend Scottsdale Bible Church. They have six children: Joy, Jesse, Hannah, Scott, Randy, and Ryan, as well as 12 grandchildren.

Randy’s accolades include being recognized by Forbes Magazine in each of the past 8 years, making its “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” list for the state of Arizona. 

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RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Scaled, Service-First RIA with Phil Fiore

RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Scaled, Service-First RIA with Phil Fiore

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In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Phil Fiore, co-founder and CEO of Procyon, about how he and his team transitioned from a wirehouse environment to build a fast-growing independent firm.

He shares how that growth has been driven by a commitment to delivering fully integrated client services, a disciplined approach to scaling resources to enhance the client experience and a focus on combining organic growth with selective acquisitions that align culturally and strategically.

Key takeaways:

  • How breaking from wirehouses opened the door to fully customized, client-first service models
  • Why scale allows firms to expand services and improve the overall client experience meaningfully
  • How integrating services like tax, insurance and M&A builds a true family office approach
  • The importance of a unified brand and culture when pursuing growth through acquisitions
  • How AI is being used to increase advisor efficiency while keeping client relationships central

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Phil Fiore:

About Our Guest:

Phil is a highly experienced individual with over 30 years of expertise in providing investment consulting services to institutions and high-net-worth families. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Procyon, he brings his extensive financial knowledge to the firm, focusing on firm-wide management, leadership & Nationwide expansion.

Before co-founding Procyon, Phil held the position of Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at UBS. During his time there, he led the FDG Group, which was a prominent Institutional Consulting and Private Wealth Team. He also served as a member of the Institutional Consulting Group, Advisory Council, Senior Institutional Consultant, and a Senior Retirement Plan Consultant at UBS. In addition, Phil held the role of Co-Chair of the UBS Corporate Development Advisory Board and its Retirement Advisory Council.

Phil has received several accolades for his accomplishments in the financial industry. While at UBS, the Financial Times named him one of their Top 400 US Advisors in 2014, and he was also listed as one of Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in 2015. Due to his success and expertise, Phil is often invited to speak at national retirement conferences and media interviews, where he shares his knowledge on RIA M&A (Registered Investment Advisor mergers and acquisitions).

Phil has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science from the University of Hartford. He has also earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) and Certified Retirement Plans Counselor (CRPC®) certifications from the College for Financial Planning. These certifications were obtained through the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Outside of work, Phil resides in Westport, CT, with his wife and their two sons. He enjoys golfing, working out, and participating in exotic car rallies and shows.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Sustainable RIA with Oliver Cross

RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Sustainable RIA with Oliver Cross

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Oliver Cross, founding partner, senior advisor and head of growth at Verum Partners, about the firm’s path from a breakaway team to a rapidly growing independent RIA managing over $1 billion.

He shares how early growth was driven by focusing on a core group of founding clients, building a strong internal structure through systems like EOS and creating a team-based client service model. Oliver also explains how hiring, technology decisions and a long-term ownership mindset continue to shape the firm’s direction as it scales.

Key takeaways:

  • How a failed succession plan became the catalyst for launching a new independent RIA firm
  • Why focusing deeply on founding clients created strong referrals and early growth momentum
  • How implementing EOS improved structure, accountability, and long-term planning alignment
  • The importance of hiring for values and building a long-term talent pipeline from scratch
  • How AI, data control, and workflow systems are shaping the future client experience 

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Oliver Cross:

About Our Guest:

Oliver is a Founding Partner of Verum where he currently serves as a Senior Adviser and Head of Growth while also playing an active role in both the investment and financial planning committees. His penchant for prudent financial decision-making dates back to his early childhood lessons from his grandfather who often reminded him “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Oliver took this to heart and it became hardwired into his DNA, ultimately leading to career in wealth management.

As an adviser, Oliver caters to families who understand the importance of patience and discipline in building wealth and value the benefits of an independent firm structure that centers around problem-solving, thoughtful financial planning, tax-efficient and sophisticated investment solutions, and team-based client service. He and Verum promote the importance of alignment of interests which continue to plague the industry.

Prior to Verum, Oliver was an Investment Consultant and Director of Research at Carolinas Investment Consulting where he worked for nine years. Before pursuing his MBA in investment management at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Oliver was a Vice President at Trusco Capital Management in Atlanta for six years, where he served as an Investment Manager for endowments, foundations, and retirement plans across the Southeast.

Oliver is a native of Winston-Salem where he attended R.J. Reynolds high school before heading to Davidson College where he was a member of the golf team. While still an avid golfer, Oliver spends most of his free time with his wife and two children finding any way to keep active outdoors. With a passion for mentoring youth, Oliver coaches basketball through the YMCA and soccer through Charlotte Junior soccer and taught Sunday School with his wife at Myers Park United Methodist Church.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling a High-Touch Wealth Firm with Stephen Rigali

RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling a High-Touch Wealth Firm with Stephen Rigali

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Stephen Rigali, executive managing director at Kayne Anderson Rudnick, about the firm’s evolution from a family office into a $55 billion platform and how it has approached growth with intention over four decades.

He shares how the firm prioritizes organic expansion, structured advisor development and long-term client relationships, along with how it balances high-touch service with scalability, uses specialized partners to extend capabilities, and evaluates the role of AI in improving efficiency without replacing human decision-making.

Key takeaways:

  • How the firm grew from founder capital into a $55 billion platform through steady, organic expansion
  • Why advisor capacity is managed through defined lifecycle stages and proactive resource planning
  • How long-term client relationships are built on trust, alignment and consistent human interaction
  • Why combining in-house expertise with outside specialists strengthens the client experience
  • How AI is being tested to improve research, workflows and operational efficiency across the firm

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Stephen Rigali:

About Our Guest:

Stephen Rigali is the Executive Managing Director and a member of the Executive Management Committee at Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, a Los Angeles–based investment and wealth management firm founded in 1984. He oversees business development across the firm’s institutional, retail, and wealth management platforms and works closely with the firm’s Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer to help shape the firm’s long-term investment and business strategy. He also serves on the firm’s Risk and Compliance Committee, ESG Steering Committee, and the Investment Committee for the Wealth Advisory division.

Stephen has more than four decades of experience in the investment management industry and has been with Kayne Anderson Rudnick since 1991, playing a key role in the firm’s growth and evolution. Earlier in his career, he was a Vice President at Shearson Lehman Brothers. Stephen holds a B.S. in Business and Economics from Loyola Marymount University and is a CFA charterholder.

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RIA Edge Podcast: How a Focus on Process, Service and Scale Built a $4.2B AUM RIA

RIA Edge Podcast: How a Focus on Process, Service and Scale Built a $4.2B AUM RIA

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What does it really take to grow an advisory firm without losing control of culture or client experience?

Growth can look attractive from the outside, but building something sustainable requires discipline, structure and long-term thinking.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews JC Abusaid, president and CEO of Halbert Hargrove, about building a $4.2 billion RIA through disciplined organic growth. He shares how centralized operations, a well-structured internship pipeline and flexible minimums fuel sustainable expansion. JC also explains his employee-ownership model, his perspective on private equity pressure and how AI and technology investments are shaping the firm’s next phase.

Key takeaways:

  • Why centralized operations create scale, consistency and firm-wide efficiency
  • How lowering minimums for younger advisors drives long-term client growth
  • Building a structured internship program that becomes a hiring pipeline
  • Managing teams without advisor-led management to protect culture
  • Using AI and technology as productivity accelerators, not cost controls

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With JC Abusaid:

About Our Guest:

JC Abusaid is the CEO and President of Halbert Hargrove, a wealth advisory firm founded in 1989. 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 the 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 earned a LEAD Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and in 2021, he took part in BlackRock’s first Emerging Leader Lab.

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