RIA Edge

David Armstrong

RIA Edge is the only podcast that focuses on how the wealth management industry’s top RIAs are growing their businesses through M&A and strategic organic growth plans. Hosted by Mark Bruno, RIA Edge provides leaders of advisory firms with research, best practices and recommendations that are designed to drive intentional growth. Guests of RIA Edge will share how they have grown through acquisition, strategic partnerships, improved marketing or client acquisition strategies – and ultimately, how they became one of the industry’s most influential players. read less

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RIA Edge Podcast: Alternatives at the Core with Dick Pfister

RIA Edge Podcast: Alternatives at the Core with Dick Pfister

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director at Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, sits down with Dick Pfister, founder of AlphaCore Wealth Advisory, to explore his firm’s investment approach that places alternatives at the core of the service offering. Dick discusses his early days bringing alternatives to advisors with his … Read More Read More

Episodes

RIA Edge Podcast: Alternatives at the Core with Dick Pfister

RIA Edge Podcast: Alternatives at the Core with Dick Pfister

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director at Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, sits down with Dick Pfister, founder of AlphaCore Wealth Advisory, to explore his firm’s investment approach that places alternatives at the core of the service offering. Dick discusses his early days bringing alternatives to advisors with his … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Enhancing the RIA Experience with Jalina Kerr

RIA Edge Podcast: Enhancing the RIA Experience with Jalina Kerr

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director at Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, sits down with Jalina Kerr, managing director of client experience for Schwab Advisor Services. Jalina talks about Schwab’s approach to enhancing the advisor experience, including the group’s work on technology integrations, changes made in the wake of … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Ken Stern on Lido Advisors’ Path to $20B in AUM

RIA Edge Podcast: Ken Stern on Lido Advisors’ Path to $20B in AUM

Ken Stern’s journey with Lido Advisors started almost a decade ago with a chance meeting at a family office conference. His initial connection with Lido’s founders quickly evolved into a shared vision of providing unmatched client service and scaling a national brand. In some ways, the Lido story is a bit different among RIAs—instead of … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Talent Development and Client Engagement with Nate Lenz

RIA Edge Podcast: Talent Development and Client Engagement with Nate Lenz

Learn how independent financial advisors can drive growth and streamline operations while maintaining their autonomy as David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, speaks with Nate Lenz, CEO & co-founder at Concurrent. They explore talent development, organic growth strategies and the unique model Concurrent uses to allow advisors to thrive while maintaining … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Organic Growth Fuels Industry Rebound in 2023

RIA Edge Podcast: Organic Growth Fuels Industry Rebound in 2023

Schwab’s Lisa Salvi shares insights from the firm’s annual benchmarking report, revealing how top-performing RIAs are driving significant organic growth amidst industry challenges. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Lisa Salvi, managing director of advisor services at Schwab, about the firm’s … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: How Conway Wealth Prioritizes Clients’ Life Goals Beyond Investments

RIA Edge Podcast: How Conway Wealth Prioritizes Clients’ Life Goals Beyond Investments

Michael Conway shares how advisors at his firm, Conway Wealth, prioritize a deep understanding of each client’s values and puts health and well-being at the center of the planning conversation. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Michael Conway, founder and CEO … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Helium Advisors’ Tax-Optimized Approach to Building Wealth

RIA Edge Podcast: Helium Advisors’ Tax-Optimized Approach to Building Wealth

Helium founder and partner Howard Morin explains the benefits of bridging financial planning with deep tax expertise. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Howard Morin, founder and partner at Helium Advisors, about integrating tax planning into the center of wealth management … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Client-Centric Growth: A Model for Modern Wealth Management

RIA Edge Podcast: Client-Centric Growth: A Model for Modern Wealth Management

President and CEO Phillip Hamman of Linscomb Wealth on how his firm outpaced market growth with a laser focus on client satisfaction. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Phillip Hamman, president and CEO of Linscomb Wealth, about the firm’s comprehensive financial … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Charting Growth With Insights from Wealth Enhancement Group’s Jeff Dekko

RIA Edge Podcast: Charting Growth With Insights from Wealth Enhancement Group’s Jeff Dekko

WEG CEO Jeff Dekko shares his company’s approach to staffing models, strategic decision-making, and the significance of organic growth in the financial advisory industry. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Jeff Dekko, CEO of Wealth Enhancement Group, about the firm’s history … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Marshberry’s John Orsini on The Paths to Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Marshberry’s John Orsini on The Paths to Growth

Marshberry’s director of financial advisory services on how advisors navigate their growth trajectories. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, and John Orsini, director, of financial advisory services, at MarshBerry, discuss the recent RIA Edge research study detailing how firms are navigating their growth … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Brandon Kawal on ‘Life After the Gold Rush’ in the 2024 Deal Room Report

RIA Edge Podcast: Brandon Kawal on ‘Life After the Gold Rush’ in the 2024 Deal Room Report

Brandon Kawal reflects on the RIA M&A shift from gold rush mentality to an institutional arms race. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Brandon Kawal, partner at Advisor Growth Strategies, about remaining buoyant in the M&A market despite the challenges of … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Jonathan Foster’s ‘Open Architecture’ Approach to HNW Markets

RIA Edge Podcast: Jonathan Foster’s ‘Open Architecture’ Approach to HNW Markets

Foster’s firm, Angeles Wealth Management, has a 40% compound growth rate without tapping the M&A markets by fostering a “culture of storytellers.” In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Jon Foster, president and CEO of Angeles Wealth, a firm that caters to … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Brent Brodeski on the Strategy Behind Savant’s Rapid Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Brent Brodeski on the Strategy Behind Savant’s Rapid Growth

Savant CEO and founder Brent Brodeski shares his playbook of success through M&A as a means to fill service gaps and to expand his service model across 15 states, with national ambitions. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Brent Brodeski, CEO … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Modern Wealth’s Mike Capelle on Lessons Learned at United Capital, Goldman Sachs

RIA Edge Podcast: Modern Wealth’s Mike Capelle on Lessons Learned at United Capital, Goldman Sachs

An early architect of Joe Duran’s United Capital, and a former Goldman Sachs PFM exec, Mike Capelle and his partners secured $200 million to build a national RIA with a vision of bringing all a client’s planning needs—tax, insurance, estate planning—under one roof. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Regent Peak’s Craig Robson on the Contrarian Strategy that Led to Rapid Organic Growth

RIA Edge Podcast: Regent Peak’s Craig Robson on the Contrarian Strategy that Led to Rapid Organic Growth

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Craig Robson, founder of Regent Peak Wealth Advisors, about why, after 25 years at Merrill Lynch, he ventured into independent practice where, over the past five years, he’s built a growing practice catering to wealth … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Adding Client Services Doesn’t Always Add Value

RIA Edge Podcast: Adding Client Services Doesn’t Always Add Value

Growth-minded RIAs often look to bring new services to clients. Research from WMIQ and Marshberry shows widely different motivations and approaches—and sometimes elevated expectations for the impact on firm value. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, talks … Read More Read More

RIA Edge: Mark Hurley Looks to the Future of Wealth Management and Sees a Jungle

RIA Edge: Mark Hurley Looks to the Future of Wealth Management and Sees a Jungle

The seasoned RIA executive has penned a nearly 100-page whitepaper sketching a bleak but compelling future for the wealth management industry. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Mark Hurley, founder of Fiduciary Network who heads the cybersecurity firm Digital Privacy & … Read More Read More

RIA Edge: Wealthspire’s Mike LaMena: Building a Firm That Clients “Will Never Outgrow.”

RIA Edge: Wealthspire’s Mike LaMena: Building a Firm That Clients “Will Never Outgrow.”

Wealthspire Advisors’ Mike LaMena on the secret to building a national RIA with a single identity that still empowers advisors to bring their “personal brand” and credibility to local communities and niche markets. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, editorial director for Informa Connect’s Wealth Management Group, talks with Mike LaMena, … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: A Blueprint for Navigating Growth and Building Client Wealth with Dan Seder

RIA Edge Podcast: A Blueprint for Navigating Growth and Building Client Wealth with Dan Seder

Dan Seder shares Blue Chip Partners’ unique approach to managing human capital and building a growth engine inside a $1 billion AUM firm. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, talks with Dan Seder, managing partner with Blue … Read More Read More

RIA Edge Podcast: Navigating RIA Growth and Succession Planning with Rob Madore

RIA Edge Podcast: Navigating RIA Growth and Succession Planning with Rob Madore

Marshberry’s Rob Madore shares strategies for growth, succession and the recent shift in how RIAs are approaching mergers and acquisitions. In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, David Armstrong, managing director of editorial and content strategies for the Wealth Management Group at Informa, talks with Rob Madore, vice president of financial services for MarshBerry, … Read More Read More