Fidelity Launches Hub to Assist Advisers’ Organic Growth Strategies

The new platform is aimed at helping advisers acquire clients, build partnerships and scale their businesses.

Fidelity introduced what it calls Growth Hub on Monday, a tool featuring over 50 assets designed to help financial advisers in improving their strategies for attracting new clients, broadening existing relationships and growing their firms.

“Providing these on-demand resources allows advisers to take action in a way that best meets their unique goals,” Rohit Mahna, head of client growth at Fidelity Institutional Wealth Management Services, said in a statement. “With the new Growth Hub, we are putting advisers in the driver’s seat, empowering them to take control of their organic growth journey.”

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The Hub offers step-by-step guides and on-demand courses, assisting advisers in the prospecting, expansion and scaling of their businesses, according to Boston-based Fidelity. Within the platform, advisers can access resources like tips on executing successful lead-generation strategies or methods for segmenting clients to enhance profitability. Growth Hub is guided by a new thought leadership paper from Fidelity, “Gaining traction with GrowthTech: Leveraging technology to propel your business forward.” The paper provides strategies on how firms can enhance their scale, boost lead generation and leverage front-office technology.

The concept of GrowthTech helps firms create an end-to-end technology stack that addresses front-office operations, according to Gwendaline Mazzara, vice president, senior business consultant at Fidelity Institutional.

“There is an entire ecosystem of tools to help advisers better attract, retain and engage clients in real-time,” said Mazzara in a statement. “This can be a game changer for organic growth, as it helps advisers become less reliant on client referrals, create more personalized interactions and ultimately deepen relationships that can improve share of wallet.”

Fidelity, which is the country’s largest retirement plan recordkeeper, also runs its own financial advisement business and offers services for other advisers. The firm noted in its annual report released in February that workplace retirement plan participant accounts rose 6% in 2023 year-over-year to $43.2 million.  It also reported growth in its own retail accounts of 3% year-over-year to $38.7 million.

The “2023 Fidelity Financial Advisor Community—Growth Tech and AI” survey found 42% of adviser firms identify marketing and business development expansion as a primary focus. There is considerable divergence among firms regarding how and whether they accomplish this goal. Some advisers attribute their growth mainly to market appreciation, whereas others are witnessing substantial increases due to robust organic growth strategies.

The survey found that firms face challenges in implementing their growth strategy, with over half of advisers citing difficulties in acquiring new clients. Businesses highlight that existing clients continue to be a significant lead generation source, contributing to 56% of qualified leads in the previous 12 months. Moreover, 46% of advisers believe their firm possesses “fairly strong” or “advanced” business development capabilities to facilitate the client lifecycle.

Fidelity’s study was an online blind survey fielded from December 6 to 20, 2023. Participants included 414 advisers who managed or advised client assets either individually or as a team and worked primarily with individual investors.

Advisory M&A News – 4/22/24

Shore to Shore Private Wealth joins Janney; Ritholtz Wealth Management opens Los Angeles office; Citizens adds San Francisco wealth team with $5B client assets.

Shore to Shore Private Wealth Joins Janney

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a wealth management, capital markets and asset management firm, announced the addition of Shore to Shore Private Wealth in Lewes, Delaware. 

“The Shore to Shore Private Wealth team has an outstanding reputation for client service and comprehensive financial advice,” Vince Crognale, senior vice president and complex director at Janney, said in a statement. “They are a great addition to Janney as we expand our presence in the region, and we look forward to helping them grow their practice.” 

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The Shore to Shore team is led Michael Koppenhaver, executive vice president/wealth management. He is joined by Account Executive Susan Damask, Senior Registered Client Relationship Associate Amy Gibson and Private Client Associate April E. Smith. The team was previously associated with Merrill Lynch.

“We’re proud the Shore to Shore Private Wealth team chose Janney. We’re confident Janney’s independent-minded culture and award-winning capabilities and support will enable the team to exceed client expectations, while fostering a better, more rewarding practice built around them and their needs,” said Bob Steinke, mid-Atlantic regional director. 

Ritholtz Wealth Management Expands National Presence With Los Angeles Office

Ritholtz Wealth Management, a national RIA overseeing more than $4 billion in assets for high-net-worth clients and institutions, announced the opening of an office in the Manhattan Beach neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. This follows the recent opening of the firm’s Charlotte, North Carolina office.

Leading RWM’s new Los Angeles office is senior adviser Michelle Katzen, who has 15 years of financial services experience. She previously worked at Toyota Financial Services, Union Bank and UBS. Notably, at Toyota Financial Services, she was part of the team that issued the auto industry’s first-ever asset-backed green bond in 2014.

“I am thrilled to lead our efforts in Los Angeles, leveraging RWM’s tax, insurance, and estate planning experts to offer clients financial guidance that’s personalized to their unique needs,” Katzen said in a statement.

Katzen is joined by Jordan D. Hanson, who has more than eight years of experience as a financial adviser. He will help grow the Los Angeles market. The RWM team will be celebrating the opening of the Manhattan Beach office on April 29-30.

Citizens Adds San Francisco Wealth Team With $5B Client Assets

Citizens has added a 12-person team of wealth managers with expertise in managing ultra-high-net-worth individuals to accelerate the expansion of its wealth management capabilities in San Francisco’s Bay Area. 

The team is led by industry veterans Rick Gordon and Hugh Beecher, senior managing directors, as well as Andrew Curto, managing director. They previously managed more than $5 billion in client assets. Gordon, Beecher and Curto were named by Forbes as Best-in-State Wealth Advisors in 2024.

With 60 years of combined wealth management experience, the new advisers will provide UHNW clients with personalized advice and strategies. 

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