In the race to gain assets and market share in the wealth space, one thing’s for sure: you can’t win without advisors. That means RIAs, broker dealers, and hybrids know as well as anyone that the ability to attract high-quality advisors is non-negotiable.
With that in mind, InvestmentNews used its proprietary data to identify which firms led the pack in welcoming advisors into their platforms and networks.
That process led to the inaugural Fastest-Growing Employers in America report, which offers a comprehensive snapshot of the firms that have bolstered their talent pool by the most in 2023 on a national and per-region basis.
In order to entice top-caliber financial professionals, the fastest-growing employers in America are building supportive networks to help them create their ideal practice. For many, that means providing a high degree of autonomy.
“There’s this entire segment of financial advisors that are very entrepreneurial,” says Will Snider, COO and co-founder of Portside Wealth Group, one of the regional winners in the West. “They want to manage their own processes, their office, and their brand.”
While assets have long been the gold standard of success, with firms striving for eye-catching AUA and AUM numbers, that’s not the only goal worth pursuing for advisor growth leaders. For firms like Portside Wealth Group, it’s about looking beyond the numbers and examining a potential new advisor’s character and attitude.
“Life’s too short to be working with people you don’t want to be working with,” Snider says. “Luckily, we’ve had the great privilege of meeting advisors that are, from a character standpoint, the cream of the crop, good people willing to work hard and to craft something that’s a good experience for their clients.”
Beyond independence and cultural fit, the leading employers offer strong support for advisors to create a strong future for their practice, which can include the often-overlooked area of continuity and succession planning.
“We find not enough have taken concrete steps toward succession planning,” Snider says. “We don’t want to be caught with one of our advisors in an unforeseeable situation … We collaborate with one another in various ways to make sure that succession planning is smooth.”
InvestmentNews’s inaugural report on the fastest-growing employers in the US wealth space shines a spotlight on two names:
To learn more about the firms and independent networks that are leading the US wealth space in advisor growth and recruitment, click here.
From outstanding individuals to innovative organizations, find out who made the final shortlist for top honors at the IN awards, now in its second year.
Cresset's Susie Cranston is expecting an economic recession, but says her $65 billion RIA sees "great opportunity" to keep investing in a down market.
“There’s a big pull to alternative investments right now because of volatility of the stock market,” Kevin Gannon, CEO of Robert A. Stanger & Co., said.
Sellers shift focus: It's not about succession anymore.
Platform being adopted by independent-minded advisors who see insurance as a core pillar of their business.
RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.
As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.
