Cetera CEO sees 'even bigger things' ahead as private equity firm reinvests

Cetera CEO sees 'even bigger things' ahead as private equity firm reinvests
Genstar Capital made its original investment in the firm in 2018.
JAN 02, 2024

The chief executive of Cetera Holdings sees a bright future for its financial advisor wealth hub.

Mike Durbin says that the closing of a reinvestment in Cetera Financial Group by private equity firm Genstar Capital will help drive forward the business.

"Genstar's partnership has propelled growth for Cetera for several years, and we look forward to even bigger things to come in the next chapter together," he said. "This reinvestment provides fresh capital to empower our strategic plans and allows us to thoughtfully reinvest in the Cetera business to drive continued growth and success. We are grateful for this vote of confidence by Genstar and are more optimistic than ever headed into 2024."

Durbin will be aiming for the kind of exponential growth that Cetera has enjoyed since Genstar made its initial investment in the firm in 2018. Since then, it has added 5,000 advisors (to around 12,000) and more than doubled its employee head count (to 2,800) with assets under administration growing from $242 billion in 2018 to $475 billion in 2023.

Investment has been made by Cetera in technology and programs to support its independent advisor and financial institution clients.

For the financial industry focused Genstar, the reinvestment in Cetera Financial Group continues a successful few years according to managing partner Tony Salewski.

"The first chapter of Genstar's partnership with Cetera has been an exciting journey, and we thank the leadership team for tremendous growth and value creation,” he said. “We are excited to re-underwrite Cetera as a new investment, led by our latest fund, Genstar XI. This next chapter will see the further expansion of the business and the Wealth Hub strategy."

Latest News

Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients
Investing for accountability: How to frame a values-driven conversation with clients

By listening for what truly matters and where clients want to make a difference, advisors can avoid politics and help build more personal strategies.

Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak
Advisor moves: Raymond James ends week with $1B Commonwealth recruitment streak

JPMorgan and RBC have also welcomed ex-UBS advisors in Texas, while Steward Partners and SpirePoint make new additions in the Sun Belt.

Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’
Cook Lawyer says fraud claims are Trump’s ‘weapon of choice’

Counsel representing Lisa Cook argued the president's pattern of publicly blasting the Fed calls the foundation for her firing into question.

SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation
SEC orders Vanguard, Empower to pay more than $25M over failures linked to advisor compensation

The two firms violated the Advisers Act and Reg BI by making misleading statements and failing to disclose conflicts to retail and retirement plan investors, according to the regulator.

RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia
RIA moves: Wells Fargo pair joins &Partners in Virginia

Elsewhere, two breakaway teams from Morgan Stanley and Merrill unite to form a $2 billion RIA, while a Texas-based independent merges with a Bay Area advisory practice.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.