Cerity Partners taps Todd Cassler as first-ever growth chief

Cerity Partners is cementing its commitment to organic growth by giving a seasoned veteran a new seat at its table of C-suite executives.

The firm revealed Monday that it has welcomed Todd Cassler to its leadership as chief growth officer, a newly created position for the Chicago-based RIA.

In this inaugural position, Cassler will focus on driving expansion across the wealth management firm, which has seen significant growth in recent years.

Last year, Cerity Partners expanded its profile significantly through a January merger with $4.8 billion ARGI Financial, followed by a July deal for AJ Wealth, an ultra-high-net-worth RIA in New York led by two former Goldman Sachs wealth managers.

Kurt Miscinski, president and CEO of Cerity Partners, emphasized the new position's importance to the firm's long-term goals.

“Welcoming a leader solely dedicated to driving robust organic growth will significantly enhance our colleagues' ability to expand their practices and serve a broader client base,” Miscinski said in a statement. “Todd’s vast industry experience aligns perfectly with our firm’s ambitious growth objectives.”

Cassler joins Cerity Partners with more than two decades of experience in financial services. Most previously, he held the position of chief strategy and growth officer at Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he led enterprise-wide growth initiatives for the firm's ultra-high-net-worth business as well as the Mariner Advisor Network.

He also held leadership roles at Manulife, including president of financial institutions and advisory solutions at John Hancock Investments, its US-based subsidiary. At Manulife Investment Management, he oversaw institutional distribution across the US and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Cassler expressed enthusiasm for his new role, lauding Cerity Partners' "strong culture, dedication to its colleagues, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

“I look forward to working alongside such talented colleagues and helping to drive continued success for our clients and the firm,” he said, citing the firm's "impressive growth and best-in-class advice offerings."

Cassler will be based in Boston, where Cerity Partners recently expanded its footprint with the opening of a new office.