Callie Cox, former chief market strategist at Ritholtz Wealth Management, has joined Plancorp Wealth Management as director of investment strategy, the St. Louis-based fee-only registered investment advisor has announced.
Cox will work directly with Peter Lazaroff, Plancorp's chief investment officer, to shape portfolio direction, contribute to investment committee deliberations, and distill the firm's market thinking into guidance that advisors and clients can act on.
The hire adds a well-known market communicator to a firm that has grown aggressively in recent years, reaching approximately $10.5 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2026, according to the company.
"Callie brings a rare combination of investment expertise and the ability to make complex ideas relevant and accessible outside the bubble of financial services," said J. Christopher Kerckhoff, CEO of Plancorp. "As the wealth management industry continues to evolve, that combination matters more than ever."
Cox built her reputation translating Wall Street dynamics for a broader audience.
Her career spans Bloomberg, where she covered equity and options markets after graduating in journalism from the University of North Carolina, followed by investment strategy roles at LPL Financial, Ally, eToro, and Ritholtz Wealth Management. At Ritholtz, she held the newly created title of chief market strategist – the firm's first-ever C-suite role of that kind – before departing for Plancorp.
Outside her day job, Cox runs OptimistiCallie, a newsletter and content platform where she writes about markets and the economy with an emphasis on plain-language investing. That public profile is part of what drew Plancorp's attention: the firm is as interested in Cox's ability to reach audiences beyond the traditional wealth management bubble as it is in her research credentials.
"She is thoughtful about markets, grounded in long-term investing principles and exceptionally good at connecting research and strategy to the questions advisors and clients are asking," Lazaroff said. "I'm excited to have her as a partner as we continue to evolve our investment platform, sharpen how we communicate our thinking and help our advisors navigate increasingly complex conversations with clients."
The hire reflects a broader shift underway at growing RIAs: investment expertise alone no longer differentiates. Firms that can explain their portfolio thinking clearly – to advisors, to clients and to the public – are increasingly treating market communication as a strategic function rather than a back-office one.
Plancorp completed its first major acquisition in more than 40 years earlier in 2026, adding approximately $1 billion in client assets and a new Fresno, California office when it acquired Regency Investment Advisors. It has also been recognized in InvestmentNews as one of the Top Independent High-Net-Worth Advisors 2025.
"I was drawn to Plancorp because of the firm's thoughtful approach to investing and its commitment to helping people make sense of complex financial decisions," Cox said. "Plancorp has a strong investment philosophy, an incredibly thoughtful team and a culture that values both rigor and clear communication."
Founded in 1983 and headquartered in St. Louis, Plancorp operates as a fee-only fiduciary, serving clients across 44 states.
The Cox hire is the latest signal that Plancorp is investing in the infrastructure of a larger firm, not just the client count. Building out dedicated investment strategy capacity, with someone who can operate as a public-facing voice as well as an internal resource, is consistent with how larger independent RIAs are evolving their service models to compete with wirehouse-caliber depth.
Kerckhoff said the firm's investment in that kind of leadership reflects where the industry is heading. "Adding Callie strengthens our investment capabilities while giving Plancorp another credible voice in the broader conversation about markets, investing and the decisions that matter to investors."
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