Tag: RIA Mergers
RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling RIAs While Preserving Advisor Control with Jim Dickson

RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling RIAs While Preserving Advisor Control with Jim Dickson

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Jim Dickson, founding partner and CEO of Elevation Point, about the firm’s approach to minority investing and helping independent advisory firms grow while maintaining ownership and control.

Jim shares how Elevation Point supports partner firms through technology, private markets, organic growth resources and M&A capabilities. He also explains why data infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence develops, why alignment between advisors and investors matters when structuring minority investments, and why firms need to build the capacity to serve more clients as the wealth management industry continues to evolve.

Jim discusses:

  • How minority capital can support RIA growth while advisors retain meaningful ownership and decision-making control
  • Why organized data is becoming essential for firms that want to use AI in client service and advisor workflows
  • How private-market access, education, diligence and reporting can help advisors expand investment capabilities
  • Why technology, team structure, organic growth and M&A capacity shape which advisory firms can scale effectively
  • Why advisor-investor alignment and preparation for market volatility matter when RIAs make long-term growth decisions

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Jim Dickson:

About Our Guest:

Jim Dickson is a growth-focused investor, born entrepreneur, and wealth management industry innovator, with more than thirty years of industry experience. Recognized for his approach aimed at championing and elevating independent financial advisors, Jim is a visionary leader skilled in crafting and executing high-growth strategies for advisory firms. Jim’s “advisor-first” growth mindset caters to the values and long-term visions of RIAs and independence-seeking advisors, empowering them to thrive in today’s dynamic marketplace.

Jim co-founded Elevation Point with Mark Penske in 2024 to support independence-focused financial advisors and RIAs. The firm executes Jim and Mark’s partnership growth model that includes strategic investments as well as granting entrepreneurial advisors and RIAs access to services, solutions, and support from the Elevation Point platform and those of its partners—elevating advisors and RIAs to their vision of higher ground. At its inception, Elevation Point’s dynamic and customizable OCIO solutions, alongside comprehensive back and middle-office support services are available to advisors nationwide for managing the complex needs of high-net-worth clients.

Previously, Jim founded Sanctuary Wealth in 2018, launching the Partnered IndependenceSM platform, empowering elite advisors with essential tools and resources. Under Jim’s leadership, Sanctuary Wealth grew rapidly into one of the industry’s top RIA firms, with more than $25 billion in assets and 76 partner firms in 28 states by 2023, when he left the firm.

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RIA Edge Podcast: How Mission Wealth Scales Without Sacrificing Client Experience with Matt Adams

RIA Edge Podcast: How Mission Wealth Scales Without Sacrificing Client Experience with Matt Adams

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Matt Adams, chief executive officer and managing partner at Mission Wealth, about how the firm has grown into a national RIA managing $17.5 billion while continuing to prioritize client service and culture.

Matt shares how Mission Wealth combines organic growth, referral programs, digital marketing and carefully selected mergers and integrations while maintaining a relatively low client-to-advisor ratio. He also explains how employee ownership, expanded planning services, behavioral finance and a thoughtful approach to artificial intelligence and technology are helping shape the firm as it continues to grow across the country.

Matt discusses:

  • How organic growth, referral channels, digital marketing and selective mergers work together at Mission Wealth
  • Why Mission Wealth keeps a low client-to-advisor ratio while investing in service, training and ownership
  • How behavioral finance and Inspired Living are being built into deeper, one-to-one client relationships
  • How Mission Wealth approaches smaller advisory firm integrations with a goal of being fully operational on day one
  • Where AI, data, cybersecurity and internal technology are improving productivity across the client journey

Resources:

 Connect With David Armstrong: 

Connect With Matt Adams:

About Our Guest:

Matthew Adams is the CEO of Mission Wealth, a national wealth management firm headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Having spent 23 years with the firm, he has helped guide its expansion to $17.5 billion in assets under management, approximately 225 team members, and more than 5,000 families served nationwide. His leadership focuses on organic growth, client service, team development, employee ownership, strategic integrations, and the thoughtful use of technology to support the firm’s continued growth.

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RIA Edge Podcast: Culture and Partnership in RIA Growth with Arthur Ambarik

RIA Edge Podcast: Culture and Partnership in RIA Growth with Arthur Ambarik

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In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Arthur Ambarik, CEO of Perigon Wealth Management, about the firm’s growth from a small Bay Area RIA into a multi-state, $12 billion firm with a partnership-driven model and large ambitions for the future.

Ambarik shares how cultural alignment shapes mergers, why specialization within firms is becoming a critical growth driver and how long-term thinking around talent and capital structure is redefining the future of wealth management firms.

Key takeaways:

  • How Ambarik has led Perigon’s journey toward becoming a national RIA, starting with $150 million in assets when he joined the firm, to a $12 billion enterprise today, supporting teams across 16 states
  • How intentional growth plans and a partnership-driven model have fueled the success
  • How Perigon’s first equity-based acquisition in 2020 became a springboard for the future
  • How he sees the role of the niche advisor driving future growth
  • How the influx of private equity has impacted firms and the larger industry
  • How Perigon sees technology as a tool for better segmenting client accounts profitably
  • How he envisions RIAs becoming the go-to career choice for young talent, with firms driving talent generation and mentorship

Resources:

Connect With David Armstrong:

Connect With Arthur Ambarik:

About Our Guest:

Arthur Ambarik, CFP, is Chief Executive Officer of Perigon Wealth Management. Under his leadership, Perigon has grown to over $10.2 billion* in assets under management and expanded its national footprint through strategic acquisitions and organic growth.

Named CEO of the Year in 2024 by WealthManagement.com, Arthur has played a pivotal role in Perigon’s rapid ascent in the industry. He was also recognized on the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors 2024 list for California.

Thanks to his leadership, Perigon has earned national recognition, including:

  • Forbes America’s Top RIA Firms
  • Newsweek America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms
  • USA Today Best Financial Advisory Firms
  • Financial Advisor Magazine’s:
  • Fastest-Growing RIAs
  • Top RIAs
  • RIA Discretionary and Non-Discretionary AUM Rankings
  • San Francisco Business Times: Bay Area’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Arthur brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, with a career spanning advisory and operational leadership at Ameriprise and LPL. He is also a member of the Financial Advisor IQ Leadership Council.

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

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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

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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.

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