John Lefferts, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, is a senior wealth management executive with more than 35 years of experience building and leading advisor platforms across the wirehouse, independent broker-dealer, and RIA channels. He rose through every level of AXA Advisors (rebranded as Equitable Advisors) over 27 years, ultimately serving as president and CEO in New York City, where he led the firm's post-9/11 restructuring, eliminating over $50 million in costs while lifting per-advisor revenue to a company record.
He later co-founded Lion Street Financial, pioneering the "Tribrid" model integrating broker-dealer, RIA, and insurance brokerage capabilities on a single platform. He has since held senior roles at Ensight, Equitable Advisors, and most recently as head of Cetera Investors.
A 2025 inductee into the FINSECA Leadership Hall of Fame, Lefferts writes and speaks widely on distribution strategy, industry consolidation, and the future of financial advice, with bylines in several major industry publications. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Oregon State University and is based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. More on www.johnlefferts.com
