Recruiters arguably have never been more important to the wealth management industry than they are now, given the seismic changes occurring in the industry. As first generation advisors retire, the industry faces a dearth of advisors through the coming decade, which intensifies competition for top advisor talent.
At the same time, the recruiting landscape continues to increase in complexity, with advisors moving from and to wirehouses, RIAs, hybrid RIAs and broker-dealers with many variations on affiliation models, including independence, assisted independence, employee status and minority investment.
This year’s FAR 10: Top Financial Advisor Recruiters range from boutique third-party specialists to in-house leaders of recruitment teams at large firms. Each of them has gained a reputation for excellence and made a positive impact through years of dedication to financial advisors and the industry.
The winners are here, in alphabetical order:
Rob Bartenstein, CEO, Kestra Private Wealth Services
As Founder and President of Kestra Private Wealth Services (Kestra PWS), Rob Bartenstein is responsible for attracting and recruiting advisors as they transition into independent practice.
Bartenstein began his career in financial services as a private banker with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Credit Suisse First Boston and Merrill Lynch. He helped launch private banking offices for Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch in the Washington, D.C., area. At Morgan Stanley, he led business development in California, Hawaii and Nevada, overseeing recruitment and regional growth.
In 2011, Bartenstein co-founded Washington Wealth Management, a firm that would later evolve into Kestra PWS in 2016. Under his leadership, Kestra PWS has become a recognized platform for entrepreneurial advisors seeking independence.
Bartenstein is an Army veteran and earned his undergraduate degree at Mary Washington College and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from George Mason University School of Law.
Alex David, Division Director Of The Northeast Division, Raymond James Financial Services
Alex David is Division Director of the Northeast Division at Raymond James Financial Services (RJFS), which supports nearly 900 financial advisors who oversee more than $80 billion in assets. He leads a team focused on advisor experience and recruitment across over 250 branches.
Under his leadership, the Northeast Division has already exceeded its full-year recruiting numbers from last year. He has been influential in expanding the firm’s visibility and market share.
Prior to joining RJFS, David served as President and CEO of Stifel Independent Advisors, where he quadrupled revenue and assets under management (AUM), launched a platform for independent advisors and built a national recruiting brand. He previously held senior executive roles at Wells Fargo Advisors, Lord Abbett and Federated Investors.
David also serves as Chairman of the Association of African American Financial Advisors (Quad A) and as a Board Member of the Financial Services Institute (FSI).
He holds a doctorate in business and a master’s in international economics from Pace University.
Louis Diamond, CEO, And Jason Diamond, President, Diamond Consultants
Louis and Jason Diamond are brothers who lead Diamond Consultants, a recruiting and consulting firm that serves financial advisors and independent business owners. They recently assumed the company’s top leadership posts after Founder Mindy Diamond stepped down as CEO to become Executive Chairman.
Louis Diamond specializes in guiding advisors through transitions, independent business launches and M&A opportunities. A graduate of George Washington University, Louis Diamond has worked at EY, Morgan Stanley and UBS. He co-hosts the Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors.
Jason Diamond previously worked at Merrill Lynch’s Capital Markets Group and Morgan Stanley’s Structured Investments and Solutions Desk, where he led a top-performing team. As President of Diamond Consultants, he oversees the firm's marketing, authoring the annual Financial Advisor Transition Report and co-hosting the Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Emory University.
Under the brothers’ leadership, Diamond Consultants over the past decade has transitioned advisors who collectively manage over $250 billion in AUM.
Frank LaRosa, CEO, Elite Consulting Partners
Frank LaRosa, CEO of Elite Consulting Partners, provides both financial advisor recruiting and M&A consulting. His company helps advisors transition, transform practices and maximize enterprise value.
Prior to founding Elite in 2011, LaRosa worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, serving as Executive Director in the Philadelphia region, he managed over 175 advisors and 250 employees with total revenue of over $110 million. LaRosa also worked as the firm’s Executive Director for Southern New Jersey. He also served as a branch manager in New Jersey and, at Smith Barney, a branch manager in New Jersey and Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing Kean University.
LaRosa is also the host of the podcast and YouTube channel “Advisor Talk with Frank LaRosa.”
Steven Mayo, Senior Recruiter, Cetera Financial Group
Steven Mayo is a Senior Recruiter with Cetera Financial Group with a focus on New England and New York. Since 2018, he has recruited more than 150 advisors – ranging from individual advisors to ensembles and OSJs – with a combined total of more than $15 billion in assets.
Mayo previously worked at Chickasaw Capital Management, where he managed distribution for the Chickasaw SMA and MainGate MLP Fund in New England, Illinois and Wisconsin. From 2001 to 2007, he worked at Fidelity, beginning as a Wholesaler, covering Illinois and Indiana for the independent channel, and then to Vice President and Senior Vice President. Mayo began his career at Fidelity in 1995, where he worked as an Operations Administrator, helping to service accounts for shareholders of Fidelity Advisor Funds.
He holds a Master of Business Administration from Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from Framingham State University.
Jeff Nash, CEO, Bridgemark Strategies
Jeff Nash is CEO and Co-Founder of Bridgemark Strategies, a nationwide consultancy focused on the wealth management industry. He has over 25 years of experience recruiting and consulting with financial advisors.
A recognized industry thought leader, he is often published or quoted in industry media and is often asked to speak at industry conferences. He is highly familiar with trends in advisor movement including broker-dealer changes and evaluation; establishing or joining an RIA; and succession planning and selling or merging practices.
Throughout his career, Nash has worked with thousands of advisors. Over the past decade, he has interviewed well over 200 different firms, providing him with a thorough understanding and knowledge of industry trends, the firms to explore, and how to compare and contrast them.
Nash holds a Master in Business Administration from Bentley University and a Bachelor of Arts in business from Colby College.
Tim Oden, Chief Growth Officer, Dynasty Financial Partners
Tim Oden is Chief Growth Officer at Dynasty Financial Partners, where he has helped create models to elevate client value, pioneer innovative ways to digitally prospect for clients and expand platform capabilities.
Prior to joining Dynasty, Oden spent over three decades at Charles Schwab, where he served as Managing Director and Head of Business Development, Advisor Services. Throughout his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in driving growth strategies, establishing sales functions and leading large-scale organizational transformations.
Oden has invested significant time to Dynasty’s newest business line, Dynasty Connect, a lead generator designed to drive inorganic growth for Dynasty’s Network Partners. Under his leadership, Dynasty has continued to innovate and expand its offerings for advisors including technology, practice management and support.
Jodie Papike, CEO, Cross-Search
As CEO and Managing Principal of Cross-Search, Jodie Papike educates advisors on the current market landscape, assesses their options and provides a strategic roadmap to advance their businesses.
Since joining Cross-Search in 1997, she has successfully guided over 2,200 advisors, managing over $88 billion in client assets through evaluation, negotiation, selection and transition to a new broker-dealer or RIA. Larry Papike, her father, founded Cross-Search in 1989.
Papike is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and is regularly featured in leading financial publications. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University.
Michael Terrana, President And CEO, TERRANA GROUP
Michael Terrana is President and CEO of TERRANA GROUP, a wealth management and financial services recruiting firm that he founded in 1992. His expertise spans the nuances of independent versus employee models, firm culture and competitive transition compensation, providing clients with the strategic insights needed to make informed decisions.
With over 33 years at the helm of TERRANA GROUP, Terrana worked as a consultant and coach for broker-dealers, RIAs, and advisors. He has completed advisor placements totaling over $67 billion in client assets.
He also served as Managing Partner of TG Technology Talent Acquisitions from 2016 to 2018 and Managing Director, Partner and Head of Recruiting for Lexington Investment Group from 1992 to 1996.
Terrana earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Northeastern Illinois University.
Jeff Vivacqua, President, Growth And Development, Cambridge Investment Research
Jeff Vivacqua serves as President, Growth and Development in Cambridge’s Office of the CEO and is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Council.
In his current role, he focuses on building strategic opportunities centered on organic growth, acquisitions, recruiting and relationship management, while enhancing and expanding the digital resources financial professionals need.
Under Vivacqua’s leadership, Cambridge completed a record year in 2024, generating nearly $100 million in revenue. The firm made investments in and acquired over $6.4 billion of assets under administration (AUA).
He oversees Cambridge’s Client Solutions, Marketing, Consulting Services, Investment Products and Research, Relationship Management, Sponsor Relations and Corporate Strategy teams. He was instrumental in the development of BridgePort Financial Solutions, a fee-only RIA that supports independent advisory firms and business owners with a variety of customized solutions. BridgePort was launched in 2024 as a subsidiary of Cambridge Investment Group.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Southern Illinois University and has certificates in Personal Financial Planning and Facilitative Leadership Training programs. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation since 2016, and currently serves as Chair.
Janeesa Hollingshead, Contributing Editor at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at editor@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
