Former Osaic exec named president of AE Wealth as Kansas-based firm aims for mega-RIA status

AE Wealth Management has hired former Osaic executive Shannon Larson as president, tapping a longtime industry operator to help steer the firm’s next phase of growth with independent advisors.

The move comes as the firm continues to scale its advisory platform and push deeper into the RIA and hybrid wealth management space.

Larson succeeds Chris Radford, who left the president role in summer last year to be closer to family.

In a statement Tuesday morning, AE Wealth said it has added more than $21 billion in assets under management over the past two years, including more than $12 billion through organic and transition flows.

Now it is targeting $250 billion in assets under management by 2035, which would place it in the mega-RIA league that currently includes Mariner Advisors, Creative Planning, and Hightower.

Larson brings more than 25 years of experience working with independent advisors and broker-dealer reps across product, platform and distribution roles.

At Osaic, she held senior posts spanning platform management, product development, distribution, and marketing; most recently she was senior vice president, platform & product solutions. During her tenure, which included the 2023 transaction that led to its rebranding from Advisor Group, she helped grow the firm’s advisory assets and supported advisors moving from product-centric practices to broader wealth management offerings.

Her earlier roles included leadership positions at Eaton Vance, Cetera Financial Group, LPL, and Fisher Investments, with a consistent focus on helping independent advisors scale their practices and deepen client relationships.

“Shannon brings a strong mix of strategic vision and practical execution, with a clear focus on helping advisors grow, adapt, and serve clients more effectively,” David Callanan, founder and chief executive officer of AE Wealth Management, said in the Tuesday statement, highlighting how she “understands how corporate decisions impact advisors’ day-to-day business.”

AE Wealth, a Topeka, Kansas-based RIA that's a subsidiary of insurance-based marketing organization Advisors Excel, has positioned itself as a partner to independent advisors looking for support across investments, planning, practice management, and marketing.

The firm said Larson’s background working across multiple platforms is aligned with its effort to broaden services for advisors at different stages of their business life cycle, from breakaway teams to more mature RIAs seeking operational leverage.

"I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – one where I could truly make a difference – and I feel that even more deeply now," Larson shared in a LinkedIn post revealing her move from Osaic last week. "I am profoundly grateful for the community that continues to rally around me – old friends, new friends, mentors, teammates, and family."