San Diego-based independent broker-dealer Independent Financial Group (IFG) announced Thursday that it appointed industry veteran Kevin M. Keefe as its President and Chief Operating Officer to help shape its growth strategy and oversee its compliance, operations, supervision, and product marketing, IFG said in a news release.
He is replacing Scott Heising, IFG’s Founder, as President. Heising will now “focus exclusively on his CEO role,” the firm said.
Keefe joins IFG after more than 30 years of experience in the independent broker-dealer and RIA space, including First Allied Securities, where he served as CEO and President, and Advisor Group (now Osaic), where he was Head of Wealth Management.
He also held executive roles at LPL Financial during its transition to a public company, in addition to senior positions with firms including BNY Mellon, BISYS, Fidelity Investments and NATIXIS.
Most recently, Keefe served as CEO of Realta Wealth from March 2023 until this past January, according to his LinkedIn profile.
At Realta, Keefe “led a full-scale modernization of the 30-year-old firm, rebranding the business, enhancing advisor services, expanding revenue streams, and building a new executive leadership team,” according to IFG.
“With more than three decades of experience in the financial services industry, we are very pleased to welcome Kevin to the IFG leadership team,” said Scott Heising, CEO and Founder of IFG. “Kevin is a proven leader with a strong vision for how to elevate our offering and help our advisors thrive in an evolving landscape.”
David Fischer, IFG’s Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, said, “Kevin is a well-respected figure in the industry, and we’re excited about the energy and expertise he brings. We’re confident he’ll help take IFG advisors, and our firm, to the next level.”
Keefe said, “I’m honored and thrilled to join the outstanding team at IFG, a firm widely respected in the industry for its growth, and its exceptional service with a deep commitment to its financial advisors. I’m looking forward to helping build on IFG’s strengths as we pursue the next phase of growth together.”
IFG supports more than 600 independent financial professionals across over 400 offices in 41 states, it said.
Jeff Berman, Contributing Editor and Reporter at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at jeff.berman@wealthsolutionsreport.com
