It's probably fair to say that 2025 has had more than its fair share of seismic changes for the wealth industry.
From the gale-force tailwinds powering the rise of alternative investments, to a surging stock market pushing equities to new records, and fintech firms continuing to push the envelope, the sheer magnitude and scope of transformation that's happened this year makes it truly one for the books.
And for all the familiar warnings against timing the market, it's hard to blame investors for wanting to participate in what could be a historic confluence of wealth-building opportunities. With that in mind, the leaders on InvestmentNews' third annual Hot List are doing what they do best: helping clients navigate risks and reap healthy returns within their portfolios of investments.
To find the Hot List 2025 winners, InvestmentNews undertook a months-long survey process, inviting wealth professionals across the country to name the most exceptional leaders in the business. From hundreds of nominations, the final list of 100 movers and shakers represent the best of the best, having made real positive contributions to the industry over the past 12 months.
Among this year's winners is Thomas Ruggie, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners, who has helped eligible qualified clients get in on the ground floor of major AI investments. Those include direct investments in Elon Musk’s post-merger X.AI, payment processor Stripe, AI-based defense-industry disruptor Anduril, and pre-IPO Reddit.
"It is my belief that we are in a once-in-a-generation moment with the AI revolution. We’ve been fortunate, through our relationships, to gain access to many of the biggest names in AI within the private sector,” Ruggie says.
For Erik Lehr, CIO at Empirical Wealth Management, helping investors avoid becoming victims of their own success is a major priority. Because the US stock market has performed so well over the past decade and a half, many are now holding onto highly appreciated equities – which creates real risks to their net worth assuming the market turns.
"They are stuck with a difficult choice: either continue to face the risk of an undiversified portfolio or realize capital gains and end up with a large tax bill,” Lehr says. “By developing a wide range of potential solutions to help clients reduce stock concentration in a tax-efficient manner, we have been able to give clients a third option, which helps to set them up for long-term success.”
Natalie Wolfsen, CEO of Orion Advisor Solutions, highlighted the wealth tech giant's strategic acquisition of Summit Wealth Systems, a platform designed to streamline and automate advisors' day-to-day tasks.
"We’re constantly making sure that we’re all aligned with the mission of creating a wealth community where every advisor and investor can thrive,” she says. “That trend of consolidation means that everyone in the industry needs to understand how to be an attractive acquiree and how to effectively acquire.”
For the Hot List 2025, InvestmentNews is proud to shout out more than a dozen distinguished leaders:
To see all the winners on InvestmentNews' Hot List for 2025, click here.
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