RIA Edge

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Stephen Rigali, executive managing director at Kayne Anderson Rudnick, about the firm’s evolution from a family office into a $55 billion platform and how it has approached growth with intention over four decades. He shares how the firm prioritizes organic expansion, structured advisor development and long-term client relationships, along with how it balances high-touch service with scalability, uses specialized partners to extend capabilities, and evaluates the role of AI in improving efficiency without replacing human decision-making. Key takeaways: How the firm grew from founder capital into a $55 billion platform through steady, organic expansionWhy advisor capacity is managed through defined lifecycle stages and proactive resource planningHow long-term client relationships are built on trust, alignment and consistent human interactionWhy combining in-house expertise with outside specialists strengthens the client experienceHow AI is being tested to improve research, workflows and operational efficiency across the firm Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth ManagementListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With Stephen Rigali: LinkedIn: Stephen RigaliLinkedIn: Kayne Anderson RudnickWebsite: Kayne Anderson Rudnick About Our Guest: Stephen Rigali is the Executive Managing Director and a member of the Executive Management Committee at Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, a Los Angeles–based investment and wealth management firm founded in 1984. He oversees business development across the firm’s institutional, retail, and wealth management platforms and works closely with the firm’s Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer to help shape the firm’s long-term investment and business strategy. He also serves on the firm’s Risk and Compliance Committee, ESG Steering Committee, and the Investment Committee for the Wealth Advisory division. Stephen has more than four decades of experience in the investment management industry and has been with Kayne Anderson Rudnick since 1991, playing a key role in the firm’s growth and evolution. Earlier in his career, he was a Vice President at Shearson Lehman Brothers. Stephen holds a B.S. in Business and Economics from Loyola Marymount University and is a CFA charterholder.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews Peter Mallouk, president and CEO of Creative Planning, about his journey from leading a small company with 30 clients to becoming one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the United States. He talks about how that growth was fueled by a focus on consistent, repeatable workplace processes, turning clients into vocal advocates for the firm, and how his acquisition strategy is largely guided by where he sees unmet demand for fiduciary advice growing quickly. Peter, who will be a keynote speaker at Wealth Management EDGE in June, also explores his unique leadership decisions, what he has learned from hosting his own podcast interviewing financial service executives, and how developments in artificial intelligence will “rattle our space in a way that I don’t think anybody’s ready for, including us.” Key takeaways: How he grew Creative Planning to $40 billion in AUM within 15 years—entirely organically—and how those years established the foundation for future success in the M&A market.Why he still spends 75% of his time working directly with clients and prospects.The single most critical metric he uses to assess the quality of an RIA.The rationale behind last year’s acquisition of SageView Advisory Group and his perspective on the convergence of workplace retirement plans and wealth management.How Creative Planning’s international expansion strategy mirrors its domestic one: target regions where there is unmet demand for fiduciary advice.How AI may soon manage over half of the operational tasks within an RIA. Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth ManagementListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With Peter Mallouk: LinkedIn: Peter MalloukLinkedIn: Creative PlanningWebsite: Creative Planning About Our Guest: Peter Mallouk is the President of Creative Planning and its affiliated companies. Peter’s companies provide comprehensive wealth management services to their clients, including investment management, financial planning, charitable planning, retirement plan consulting, tax planning and estate planning services. Peter graduated from the University of Kansas in 1993 with four majors, including degrees in business administration and economics. He went on to earn a law degree and a Master of Business Administration degree in 1996, also at the University of Kansas. Peter is a recipient of the University of Kansas School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award, becoming the second-youngest recipient to receive the award. Peter is the founder, a current executive board member and a former five-year Chairman of KC CAN!, an organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in Kansas City. He’s also the founder and a current executive board member of Pathway Financial Education, an organization dedicated to providing teenagers, adults and business owners in under-resourced communities with actionable financial education. Peter and his wife Veronica, are recipients of the Giving the Basics Human Dignity Award for their contributions toward helping those less fortunate meet basic needs. They’re also recipients of the Variety Presidential Citation Award for their work supporting those with special needs. The Mallouks funded the Kansas chapter of Give Back, a program that identifies high-achieving high school students who have faced challenges and provides them with not only college tuition but also coaching, counseling and volunteer mentors. To date, 300 Kansas students have been awarded scholarships. Peter and Veronica have three children — Michael, JP, and Gabby.

What does it really take to grow an advisory firm without losing control of culture or client experience? Growth can look attractive from the outside, but building something sustainable requires discipline, structure and long-term thinking. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews JC Abusaid, president and CEO of Halbert Hargrove, about building a $4.2 billion RIA through disciplined organic growth. He shares how centralized operations, a well-structured internship pipeline and flexible minimums fuel sustainable expansion. JC also explains his employee-ownership model, his perspective on private equity pressure and how AI and technology investments are shaping the firm’s next phase. Key takeaways: Why centralized operations create scale, consistency and firm-wide efficiencyHow lowering minimums for younger advisors drives long-term client growthBuilding a structured internship program that becomes a hiring pipelineManaging teams without advisor-led management to protect cultureUsing AI and technology as productivity accelerators, not cost controls Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth ManagementListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With JC Abusaid: LinkedIn: JC AbusaidLinkedIn: Halbert HargroveWebsite: Halbert Hargrove About Our Guest: JC Abusaid is the CEO and President of Halbert Hargrove, a wealth advisory firm founded in 1989. JC earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance emphasis from the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administracion in Bogota, Colombia, and his MBA from the University of Redlands School of Business. He was awarded the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY designation by the University of Pittsburgh-affiliated Center for Fiduciary Studies. In 2016, JC earned a LEAD Certificate in Corporate Innovation from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and in 2021, he took part in BlackRock’s first Emerging Leader Lab.

Modern advisory firms are being reshaped by technology, changing client expectations and the need for deeper personalization. How do firms scale while keeping the advisor-client relationship at the center? What role does technology really play in growth without replacing the human element? In this episode, host David Armstrong speaks with Alex Farman-Farmaian, CEO of Compound Planning, about building an all-digital, integrated RIA—with human advisors at the center—that provides clients with a unified experience across multiple service offerings—including tax preparation. Alex explains how AI-powered workflows and integrations enable advisors to serve clients more efficiently as the human touchpoint, while providing a better experience for clients. He also shares how Compound recruits next-generation advisors, integrates tax services and drives growth by focusing on equity- and option-compensated executives of fast-growing tech firms approaching liquidity events. Key takeaways: How internal technology reduces advisor workload and increases client capacityWhy proactive advice across a client’s full balance sheet drives stronger relationships and accelerates organic growthHow the firm uses AI to support advisor work without replacing human judgmentHow modern tech helps recruit growth-minded, younger advisors.How it partners with firms to educate execs with equity-based compensation plans on navigating liquidity events. Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth ManagementListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With Alex Farman-Farmaian: LinkedIn: Alex Farman-FarmaianLinkedIn: Compound PlanningWebsite: Compound Planning About Our Guest: Alex Farman-Farmaian is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Compound Planning, responsible for growing the firm to 50+ advisors and over $4 billion in AUM since 2022, and guiding the strategic direction of the firm’s robust wealth management technology and advisory service offerings. Previously, Alex was the 20th employee at Carta, where he built numerous sales teams across the country as Carta scaled to 1,000 employees and a $7B+ valuation from Silver Lake. Alex is an expert in equity compensation and is passionate about tax-efficient equity strategies.

Growth can mean very different things depending on how a firm is built and who it is built for. What does it really take to evolve from a small advisory practice into a professionally managed firm without losing culture, client focus or identity? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Tom Orecchio, CFA, CFP, ChFC, AIF, chief executive officer, wealth manager and principal at Modera Wealth Management, about building an employee-owned RIA designed for long-term growth. He shares how leadership, ownership alignment and disciplined M&A shape Modera’s growth approach. Tom also explains how service expansion, technology investments and organic growth planning support advisors while keeping clients at the center. Key takeaways: Identifying the growth trajectory inflection point where advisor principals need to become, or hire, professional managersHis firm’s experience with employee equity ownershipWhat Modera looks for in acquisition partners (beyond location or size)Why a technology revamp set the firm up to support future growth, retain operational consistency and the client experienceHis firm’s approach to organic growth Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth ManagementListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With Tom Orecchio: LinkedIn: Tom OrecchioLinkedIn: Modera Wealth ManagementWebsite: Modera Wealth Management About Our Guest: Tom’s career began at Heritage Financial where he worked as a financial planner. In 1995, he joined the firm Greenbaum and Associates where he later became a partner. His role as a principal and wealth manager continued as the firm grew and evolved into Greenbaum and Orecchio and then into its current entity, Modera Wealth Management, LLC. Tom received his B.A. in government and law from Lafayette College and went on to earn some of the most recognized credentials in the industry. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional. He is also a Chartered Financial Consultant, a Chartered Life Underwriter® and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary. Tom is a National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) registered financial advisor. He has demonstrated his leadership and commitment to fiduciary standards in the industry by serving as NAPFA Chairman (2007-08) and as a national board member (2004-08). In 2013, Tom was the recipient of the NAFPA Robert J. Underwood Distinguished Service Award. He is an active member of the CFA® Institute, the National CEO Study Group, and the 20/20 National Study Group. Tom is actively involved in the community as director of the Modera Wealth Management Scholarship Fund and is on the board of directors for the Modera Charitable Foundation. He also sits on the Northeast Advisory Board for Lafayette College. Tom has served as a board member of the finance committee for the Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian and also Northvale PAL, Inc. In addition, he has served as NV Eagles Youth Football president, Bergen County Junior Football League treasurer, and has sat on the board of directors for the youth baseball league in his town. Tom loves spending time with his family and three sons and often can be found on the football or baseball field coaching his sons’ teams.

How do advisory firms continue growing once scale introduces complexity? What does it take to build a structure that supports independence, client experience, and long-term flexibility? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Jordan Raniszeski, CFP, CPA, senior managing partner at Carnegie Private Wealth, about the strategic decisions behind the firm’s rapid growth after its transition to independence. He talks about early investments in human capital and junior advisors, an evolving executive management structure, and how flexible marketing strategies all resulted in expanded capacity and growth, and prepared the firm for its next phase. Key takeaways: The decision to leave a bank model in order to build brand control and internal flexibilityHow associate advisors expanded capacity without sacrificing client experienceWhy early investments in people created momentum for organic growthThe role of management structure in supporting long-term scaleHow marketing, referrals, and community presence contributed to new client flow Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth ManagementListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter/X: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With Jordan Raniszeski: LinkedIn: Jordan RaniszeskiLinkedIn: Carnegie Private WealthWebsite: Carnegie Private Wealth About Our Guest: Jordan Raniszeski is a leader in the Wealth Management industry and Senior Managing Partner at Carnegie Private Wealth where he’s helped build a team of well-regarded and experienced advisors. The advisors of Carnegie Private Wealth collectively serve more than 519 households with over $2,000,000,000 in brokerage assets as of August 29, 2025. In his more than 20 years of experience as an advisor working with high-net-worth individuals and families, Jordan developed expertise in helping corporate executives, professionals and business owners. As a business owner and organizational leader himself, Jordan intimately understands the time constraints and complexities facing these clients and helps them build a plan to pursue their goals while balancing many different priorities. Jordan’s career path showcases his leadership and commitment to client service. He began at Deloitte’s individual tax practice, honing his skills in tax and estate planning strategies. Later, at Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo), Jordan helped build the Executive Financial Planning practice. Partnering with Angie Ostendarp, he then grew one of Wells Fargo Advisors’ largest brokerage practices. Throughout his journey, Jordan has remained a devoted student of the industry, constantly seeking innovative ways to serve clients. Leadership has been a constant theme in Jordan’s life. From roles in student government and charitable organizations to positions on sports teams, he has consistently stepped up to guide others. Jordan’s experience made him a natural fit to lead Carnegie’s formation. He now guides the Carnegie team, focusing on a shared vision for wealth management’s future.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Arthur Ambarik, CEO of Perigon Wealth Management, about the firm’s growth from a small Bay Area RIA into a multi-state, $12 billion firm with a partnership-driven model and large ambitions for the future. Ambarik shares how cultural alignment shapes mergers, why specialization within firms is becoming a critical growth driver and how long-term thinking around talent and capital structure is redefining the future of wealth management firms. Key takeaways: How Ambarik has led Perigon’s journey toward becoming a national RIA, starting with $150 million in assets when he joined the firm, to a $12 billion enterprise today, supporting teams across 16 statesHow intentional growth plans and a partnership-driven model have fueled the successHow Perigon’s first equity-based acquisition in 2020 became a springboard for the futureHow he sees the role of the niche advisor driving future growthHow the influx of private equity has impacted firms and the larger industryHow Perigon sees technology as a tool for better segmenting client accounts profitablyHow he envisions RIAs becoming the go-to career choice for young talent, with firms driving talent generation and mentorship Resources: Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on WealthManagement.comListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify Connect With David Armstrong: WealthManagement.comLinkedIn: WealthManagement.comLinkedIn: David ArmstrongTwitter: David ArmstrongLinkedIn: Informa Connect With Arthur Ambarik: Company: Perigon Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Perigon Wealth ManagementLinkedIn: Arthur Ambarik About Our Guest: Arthur Ambarik, CFP, is Chief Executive Officer of Perigon Wealth Management. Under his leadership, Perigon has grown to over $10.2 billion* in assets under management and expanded its national footprint through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. Named CEO of the Year in 2024 by WealthManagement.com, Arthur has played a pivotal role in Perigon’s rapid ascent in the industry. He was also recognized on the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors 2024 list for California. Thanks to his leadership, Perigon has earned national recognition, including: Forbes America’s Top RIA FirmsNewsweek America’s Top Financial Advisory FirmsUSA Today Best Financial Advisory FirmsFinancial Advisor Magazine’s:Fastest-Growing RIAsTop RIAsRIA Discretionary and Non-Discretionary AUM RankingsSan Francisco Business Times: Bay Area’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies Arthur brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, with a career spanning advisory and operational leadership at Ameriprise and LPL. He is also a member of the Financial Advisor IQ Leadership Council. Arthur holds a B.A. in Economics from Williams College.

How do leaders of wealth management firms balance advisor independence with the need for centralized efficiency? What does it take to build a platform that serves both traditional RIAs and advisors seeking a more integrated model? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong interviews Larry Restieri, CEO of Hightower Advisors, about … Read More Read More

Cresset’s rise from a family-led vision to one of the nation’s leading multifamily offices shows how purpose and culture can shape enduring organizations. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Eric Becker, co-founder and co-chairman of Cresset, about the firm’s mission to build a 100-year wealth management business focused … Read More Read More

The future of RIAs is being shaped by technology, talent, and a renewed focus on client-centric leadership. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Jon Beatty, head of advisor services at Charles Schwab, on the eve of Schwab Impact, about how the industry is adapting to the accelerating pace … Read More Read More

Balefire Wealth’s transformation from two thriving RIAs into a unified enterprise business with national ambitions showcases the strength of shared vision and cultural alignment. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Jason Hester and John Hoffman, co-CEOs of Balefire Wealth, a new RIA born earlier this year from the … Read More Read More

Wealthcare Capital Management’s evolution from a software pioneer to a national advisory platform reveals the power of strategic reinvention. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Matt Regan, president and CEO of Wealthcare Capital Management, about Wealthcare’s journey from its roots in Richmond, Va., to its sale to Sammons … Read More Read More

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Kay Lynn Mayhue, president of Merit Financial, about the firm’s approach to growth as it reaches $24 billion in assets under management and celebrates its 50th acquisition. Mayhue discusses Merit’s recent capital partnership with Constellation Wealth and how the firm balances aggressive … Read More Read More

Is true independence possible at scale? In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Concurrent CEO Nate Lenz about how his fast-growing RIA platform is helping advisors stay independent while accessing the scale, capital and talent needed to grow. From multi-custodial flexibility to a unique minority partnership model, Lenz shares … Read More Read More

Is true independence possible at scale? In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong talks with Concurrent CEO Nate Lenz about how his fast-growing RIA platform is helping advisors stay independent while accessing the scale, capital and talent needed to grow. From multi-custodial flexibility to a unique minority partnership model, Lenz shares … Read More Read More

Scaling growth isn’t just about getting bigger; it’s about vision, discipline and striking the right balance between legacy and innovation. So how does a $30 billion-plus RIA navigate the complexities of rapid acquisitions, evolving culture and the disruptive promise of AI? In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong sits down with … Read More Read More

Explosive growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s fueled by intentional partnerships, strategic resources, and cultural alignment. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong sits down with Stan Gregor, CEO of Summit Financial, who shares how his firm has grown from $3 billion to nearly $25 billion in assets since 2020. He … Read More Read More

James Bogart, founder of Bogart Wealth, has created an organic growth machine, going from $526 million to $3 billion in assets in less than 10 years—client by client, no M&A. His story shows the benefits of putting in place a strategic, repeatable and intentional growth program (especially for smaller entrepreneurial advisors) and focusing on a … Read More Read More

It’s not surprising that tech-native firms see the wealth management industry’s high margins and sticky revenue, even with its notoriously disjointed and sometimes subpar tech stacks, and think, “Good business. But it could be better.” At the recent WealthManagement EDGE conference in Boca Raton, Fla., David Armstrong, director of editorial strategy and operations for the … Read More Read More

Join host David Armstrong, fresh off the Wealth Management Edge Conference in Boca Raton, Fla., as he interviews Michael Henley, founder and chief executive officer of Brandywine Oak Private Wealth. Michael talks about the firm’s rapid growth since leaving Merrill Lynch in 2018 with the help of Dynasty Financial Partners and the focus that helped … Read More Read More