Storytelling is a powerful mechanism in every industry, include wealth management. Without the thoughtful and coordinated delivery of messages and ideas, not only clients but industry peers and even employees at the same firm may not understand the mission, values, capabilities and vision of a firm.
Various professionals weave the stories together into a consistent whole that can be relied on by advisors and management to address audiences, and foremost among them are the agencies that specialize in communications. This year’s installment of the IMAGE 5 honors the top among these agencies that are influential across the industry, highly regarded and respected as leaders in the field, and dedicated to serving wealth management firms.
Please join us in congratulating the 2025 IMAGE 5: Top Wealth Management Agency Storytellers, listed below in alphabetical order.
Craft & Capital
Approaching its 30th anniversary in 2026, Craft & Capital takes a multi-year view of the work it does for its clients, eschewing short-term “campaigns” for long-term brand-building, considering how markets and messages may change over time in order to achieve consistency and build trust in the marketplace.
The firm serves clients in wealth management, asset management, equity research, fintech and other financial services areas. Over the past year, on behalf of its clients, the firm has been sought out by the media when reporting about trending topics including the rollout of crypto exchange traded products, the convergence between the public and private markets and changes to financial regulatory regimes.
In recent years, the Craft & Capital team has focused on the growth of “alternative media,” including podcasts, vodcasts, YouTubers and newsletter writers, researching the “micro-communities” built by these outlets. This enabled the firm to use tailored outreach efforts to connect with audiences already engaged with topics important to its clients.
“Craft & Capital has been a valued and trusted partner to Baird for more than two decades. We view them as an extension of our team, bringing to the table a deep expertise in financial services, thoughtful counsel based on their collective years of experience, and broad network of media contacts to make us better,” said Amy Nutter, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Baird.
She continued, “Their team is instrumental in helping us elevate our thought leaders, identify opportunities that are the best fit and secure national media coverage that helps build our firm’s global brand. Craft & Capital’s commitment to their craft and to delivering the highest client service is evident in every interaction with our team, our internal clients and the media we work with.”
Ficomm Partners
Ficomm Partners is a strategic marketing and communications firm dedicated to helping RIAs and advisory firms accelerate organic growth by building what it calls “sustainable marketing engines,” which it distinguishes from mere campaigns.
The firm employs a framework in which firms define their ideal client, craft differentiated messaging, generate qualified leads, enable financial advisors with marketing resources, measure meaningful business impact and build internal marketing capabilities. This strategy-first approach continues to drive meaningful results across the wealth management industry.
Ficomm also conducts market research. In January, it released a follow-up to its 2024 consumer study that revealed a misalignment between advisor marketing strategies and investor behavior. While 45% of investors selected their advisor through digital marketing, only 29% of firms prioritized digital, highlighting the need for strategic realignment across the industry.
Ficomm also produces original thought leadership. CEO Megan Carpenter hosts the Growth Leaders of Wealth Management podcast, which featured voices from Allworth Financial, Merit Financial Advisors, LPL Financial and others.
“Everything, from design to strategy, was so well received. Ficomm has captured the essence of our firm and clients. The entire group is very enthusiastic about this evolution and the elevation of Wescott Financial Advisory,” said Carrie M. Delgott, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Wescott Financial Advisory.
Haven Tower Group
Founded in 2011, Haven Tower Group is a communications and marketing agency dedicated exclusively to the wealth management industry. The firm provides high-touch services across public relations, marketing (including paid and organic social media), communications and brand strategy — aligned with each client’s growth and strategic objectives.
Founder and CEO Joseph Kuo previously served as SVP and Head of Public Relations at LPL Financial, where he led PR efforts for the company’s successful NASDAQ IPO in November 2010 and developed turnkey marketing strategies for wirehouse breakaways launching RIAs on LPL’s custody platform.
Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Seattle, Chicago and New York, Haven Tower has earned consistent industry recognition, including a Silver Award in the Merit Marketing and Communications Awards, a spot on MarTech Outlook’s Top 10 PR Agencies list and three WealthManagement.com “Wealthies” awards for PR Campaign of the Year — including wins the past two years.
In 2023, the firm launched Haven Mark Partners. Services include outsourced CMO solutions, web development, digital marketing and social media — tailored to firms at every stage of growth. Besides Kuo, Haven Tower’s leadership team includes Katherine Paulson, Partner and Head of Digital Marketing Strategies (also Managing Partner of Haven Mark Partners); Michael Dugan, President and Managing Partner; and Mitch Manning, Partner and Head of National Media.
“When NewEdge Capital Group first retained Haven Tower three years ago, we had a compelling value proposition but limited name recognition,” said Christopher Broussard, Chief Marketing Officer at NewEdge Capital Group. “We wanted to partner with an agency that could develop and execute a comprehensive brand elevation strategy for financial advisor recruiting and other growth goals.”
Broussard continued: “Haven Tower exceeded all of our expectations in less than one year, driving incredibly robust industry visibility for us, while doing so with a passion and energy rarely encountered with outside agencies. Today, NewEdge’s unique offerings and expertise are consistently top of mind with our key audiences, which supports lead gen and builds the value of our brand equity.”
JConnelly
In the past year, JConnelly has continued to help financial firms grow, strengthen relationships and protect trust while solving complex challenges. It has guided clients through significant changes, clarified their story when it mattered most and delivered measurable results. Some examples of the firm’s achievements in the past year are:
For one wealth management client, the firm developed a strategy around organic growth, stronger relationships and differentiated offerings, using its proprietary AI to identify gaps in advisor engagement and client acquisition. The firm then created targeted campaigns across multiple vectors. In seven months, the firm increased high net worth client acquisition by 19%, grew organic assets under management by 16%, generated 31% more qualified leads and improved advisor adoption of tools by 28%.
For a different client preparing for a private equity acquisition, JConnelly managed the narrative to protect the firm’s reputation and maintain confidence, assessing how it would shape perceptions and coaching leadership on the precise messaging needed. It supported communications across employees, clients and investors. The firm’s strategy helped the client preserve over $40 million in expected deal value, retain over 95% of clients, avoid employee attrition and accelerate integration by three months.
“Since DoubleLine’s launch in 2009, the JConnelly team has repeatedly proven itself an asset to our firm across traditional and new media channels and forums. Among other benefits, we count on JConnelly for inside tracks to media organizations and the key people inside them,” said Barbara VanEvery, Chief Marketing Officer at DoubleLine.
She continued, “Founder Jennifer Connelly understands our business and how to promote us in line with our evolving strategic goals. She and her team also improvise effectively when fast-moving opportunities and challenges arise.”
StreetCred PR
Founded in 2020, communications firm StreetCred PR focuses solely on the financial services industry. Since its founding, it has grown to almost 30 team members and supports over 40 clients, focusing on helping them tell their stories clearly, confidently and credibly.
StreetCred expanded its capabilities this year by hiring its first Senior Creative Director, Charles Barrett, to strengthen video production and graphic design services. The firm’s partners have also participated in industry thought leadership, sharing insights through authoring bylined articles and as speakers at industry conferences.
The firm employs a collaborative approach, acting as an extension of its clients’ teams to shape messaging, manage reputations and secure media coverage. It also invests in a culture that prioritizes mentorship, teamwork and professional growth, emphasizing trust and collaboration, from regular knowledge-sharing sessions to its annual staff retreat.
“What I really appreciate about working with StreetCred is how deeply they understand the wealth management space — they get the nuances, the sensitivities, and what actually moves the needle. I’m not a natural self-promoter, so having a team that consistently brings new ideas to the table and makes things happen before I even ask is incredibly valuable,” said Jacqueline Martinez, Managing Partner at Alaris Acquisitions.
She added, “It never feels transactional — they operate like true partners who are genuinely rooting for our success. And on top of that, they’re always accessible, responsive and just easy to work with.”
Janeesa Hollingshead, Contributing Editor at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at editor@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
