Taylor Matthews on what's behind Farther's rapid growth

When Taylor Matthews co-founded Farther, the odds were far from in his favor. Unlike most registered investment advisors (RIAs) and traditional wealth management firms, which often grow by transferring established client bases, Farther began with a clean slate. No clients. No prior reputation. Just a bold vision and a firm belief in the transformative potential of their technology platform in wealth management.

“Because we started with technology, we had to approach building a company in a very different way,” Matthews recalls. Matthews and his co-founder, Brad Genser, raised venture capital to develop the first iteration of their technology, a modern wealth management platform aimed at delivering a family-office experience to a broader audience. It took nearly a year of relentless effort to bring their concept to life, and when they opened their doors on April 1, 2020, it was to an untested market during one of the most uncertain times in modern history.

“I was the first financial advisor on the team,” Matthews says. “I spent my days cold-contacting people on LinkedIn, proving that it wasn’t just friends and family who would want what we were building.” Against the backdrop of a global pandemic and a financial world in flux, Farther’s unique approach to wealth management took root.

Solving inefficiencies that held advisors back

From its inception, Farther’s vision has been to combine cutting-edge technology with personalized service. Matthews and Genser saw an opportunity to address the inefficiencies plaguing financial advisors—endless administrative tasks, outdated processes, and clunky tech stacks—while simultaneously enhancing the client experience.

The duo brought complementary strengths to the table. Genser, an engineer by training, had developed innovative systems to identify wealth management opportunities during his tenure at Goldman Sachs. Matthews, a philosophy major who entered investment banking, has years of experience in FinTech and wealth management which allowed him to understand the frustrations of financial advisors and their clients. 

A pivotal experience for Matthews was his time at a 401(k)-focused FinTech company. There, he helped the business achieve product-market fit and scale its operations from $25 million to $1 billion in assets under management within two and a half years.

“That experience taught me how critical operational efficiency and trust are in this industry,” Matthews explains. “It also opened my eyes to the frustration financial advisors face with inefficient processes that get in the way of creating real value for their clients.”

Overcoming early challenges

Building credibility in the wealth management space as a startup was no small feat. “Trust is everything in this business,” Matthews emphasizes. “In the early days, our biggest challenge was convincing people that an unproven platform with no brand recognition could safeguard their life savings.”

Farther’s success in overcoming these challenges can be attributed to its unique approach. By focusing on delivering exceptional service and demonstrating the platform’s value, Matthews and his team gradually earned trust, but “every client and advisor in those days was a hard-fought battle,” Matthews admits.

One key to overcoming this hurdle was reaching material assets under management—a psychological milestone that reassures clients and advisors alike. “Once we proved that people were willing to trust us with everything they’d ever earned, it created a ripple effect,” Matthews explains.

Another critical component of Farther’s success is its commitment to operational efficiency. Matthews highlights the importance of hiring ahead of demand to ensure the platform can handle high-volume days, such as during market volatility or large-scale client onboarding. “We build our team to maintain slack, ensuring we can deliver the experience we promise to every client and advisor,” he says.

Farther began attracting not only clients but also significant investment from top venture capital firms. This validation from industry leaders further bolstered the company’s credibility and set the stage for its continued expansion.

Scaling without compromise

Farther’s rapid growth is driven by its dual commitment to technology and people. The platform’s advanced capabilities automate routine tasks, allowing advisors to focus on relationships with and value for clients. “We’re never finished building the platform,” Matthews says. “It’s critical to keep investing in technology while ensuring that we have the right people to deliver a personalized, high-quality experience.”

By combining operational efficiency with a human touch, Farther has managed to scale quickly without compromising on client satisfaction. Advisors benefit from tools that enhance their productivity, while clients receive highly personalized services. 

By integrating all aspects of a client’s financial life—investment management, estate planning, lending, and more—under one roof, the platform offers a comprehensive solution that resonates with both ultra-high-net-worth families and those aspiring to reach that level.

The company’s philosophy of “radically honest guidance” is another key differentiator. “Clients come to us with challenges and worries,” Matthews explains. “Our job is to provide clear, actionable advice that helps them achieve their goals—not to sell them a particular product.”

For Matthews, the work is far from over. “Every day, we’re making incremental improvements to get better and better.”