For the fifth year, WSR is proud to honor the Top Black Industry Leaders during Black History Month as part of our Pathfinder Awards series for 2026. The Pathfinder Awards honor persons from underrepresented backgrounds and communities who demonstrate excellence in wealth management.
The awards also provide a platform for winners to address our industry on the advancement of underrepresented communities and issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. For that purpose, this year’s winners participated in a story that explores why more progress hasn’t been achieved, publishing concurrently with these awards.
Winners were selected for their dedication to the industry, excellence in their careers, strong reputations and broad influence in the wealth management community, and the ability to serve as role models for wealth management professionals and people considering careers in our industry.
Please join us in congratulating the winners, named in alphabetical order below:
Kevin Beard, Chief Strategy Officer, WealthVest
Kevin Beard serves as Chief Strategy Officer at WealthVest, where he leads national accounts and oversees relationship management and acquisition efforts for WealthVest Investment Services. His role encompasses long-term strategic growth initiatives, platform expansion and collaboration with investment banks, private equity firms and strategic partners.
Beard has three decades of experience in the independent broker-dealer and wealth management space. Prior to joining WealthVest, he was Chief Growth Officer and a Founding Partner at Atria Wealth Solutions. Earlier roles include leading recruiting and acquisition strategy at AIG Advisor Group (now Osaic) and serving as a Regional Director at Rehmann. He also co-founded Innovative Advanced Resources and Beard Management, both focused on advisor growth and business strategy.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Beard is active in industry and nonprofit leadership, including service with the Financial Services Institute Marketing Council and the Bank Insurance & Securities Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Kent State University.
Alex David, President And Chief Executive Officer, Equity Services
In December, Alex David was appointed President and CEO of Equity Services, an independent broker-dealer founded in 1968. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience in large and mid-sized wealth management firms, with a focus on growth strategy, advisor experience and operational performance.
Prior to Equity Services, David served as Northeast Division Director at Raymond James Financial Services, overseeing a division with more than $100 billion in assets under management and nearly 900 wealth managers. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of Stifel Independent Advisors, where he led a multi-year transformation that significantly expanded revenue, assets and platform capabilities.
Earlier in his career, David held senior leadership roles at Wells Fargo Advisors, including Managing Director and Head of U.S. Branch Development, Marketing and PR. He holds master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from Pace University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Baruch College. He also serves on the boards of the Financial Services Institute and the Association for African American Financial Advisors.
Robin Patin, Senior Director Of Wealth Management, Choreo
Robin Patin is a Senior Director of Wealth Management at Choreo, based in the firm’s Orinda, California, office. She advocates for financial literacy, informed by experiences in her childhood that highlighted the importance of practical financial knowledge and long-term planning.
Patin joined Choreo through its acquisition of Enso Wealth Management, where she was a Principal and Wealth Manager. Prior to Enso, she spent six years as a financial advisor at Edward Jones.
In addition to her advisory work, Patin is a frequent speaker and writer on financial literacy and wealth-building topics, with a particular emphasis on women and the Black community. She holds the Certified Financial Planner and Certified Private Wealth Advisor designations, a master’s degree from New York University and an undergraduate degree in management (finance) and psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Edward N. Walters, President, World Investment Advisors
Edward N. Walters is President of retirement and wealth management firm World Investment Advisors. He brings extensive operational and leadership experience from across the financial services industry.
Previously, Walters served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Wealth Management at Osaic FSFA, formerly Lincoln Financial Network. In that role, he helped oversee a $120 billion wealth management platform and played a key role in strategic growth initiatives, including the firm’s acquisition by Osaic.
Walters is also active in nonprofit and educational leadership, serving on the boards of the Foundation for Financial Planning and the Urban League of Greater Philadelphia, and a member of Saint Joseph’s University Pedro Arrupe Business Ethics Board. His industry contributions have been recognized by Savoy Magazine, which named him among the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Joseph’s University.
K. Orian Williams, Senior Field Director, Strategic Accounts, Pacific Life
K. Orian Williams is a Senior Field Director in Pacific Life’s Strategic Accounts team, where he is responsible for driving fee-based annuity growth across enterprise RIAs, hybrid RIAs and select broker-dealers nationwide. He works closely with executive leadership teams to support growth strategies and advisor education.
Williams took his current role after several years covering distribution within the independent RIA channel across the Southeast. His broader career spans more than 20 years as an attorney, advanced planning executive and financial professional, with expertise in estate planning, tax-efficient retirement strategies and fiduciary practices.
He is an attorney with a Master of Laws in taxation and wealth management and holds the Certified Financial Planner designation.
Julius Buchanan, Editor in Chief at Wealth Solutions Report, can be reached at julius.buchanan@wealthsolutionsreport.com.
