Kay Lynn Mayhue, President of Merit Financial Advisors, discusses the firm’s growth strategy, evolving M&A approach, and commitment to cultural alignment as the RIA landscape shifts. She also shares her perspective on the changing role of financial advisors, investments driving scalability, and her long-term vision for Merit’s impact on the wealth management industry.

Rick Buoncore, Chairman and CEO of MAI, shares how the firm’s approach to wealth management has evolved to meet clients’ increasingly complex and holistic needs, extending well beyond traditional investment advice. He also explains how MAI’s belief that health underpins lasting wealth — and its commitment to being the best, not the biggest — shapes retirement planning, family support during major life events, and the firm’s long-term strategy.

Carley Dillon of Brighton Jones shares how the firm’s “Personal CFO” approach goes beyond investments to deliver integrated wealth management across clients’ entire balance sheets. She discusses the firm’s nationwide expansion plans, business lines including women’s wealth and family office services, and how Brighton Jones is preparing for the $124 trillion great wealth transfer.

JC Abusaid, CEO and President of Halbert Hargrove, reflects on the firm’s evolution from a small practice in the 1980s to a more strategic, growth-oriented RIA focused on long-term sustainability. He shares how turning down an acquisition offer became a defining moment—sparking a renewed commitment to succession planning, culture, and building a firm designed for the future.

Brent Brodeski, Founder and CEO of Savant Wealth Management, outlines how Savant’s hybrid ownership and integration model is designed to provide long-term stability, alignment, and succession solutions for RIAs. He explains how the firm differentiates itself from traditional private equity-backed buyers by emphasizing shared ownership, cultural integration, and a sustainable path forward for founders, employees, and clients alike.

 Courtney Hutchinson, Partner and Managing Director at Beacon Pointe Advisors, discusses her transition to the firm and the key considerations behind the move. She shares how she evaluated the right partner, how her leadership role evolved through the process, and how the integration has progressed since joining Beacon Pointe. 

Jim Weil, Managing Partner at Private Vista, shares how the firm’s culture and core values shape the client experience, outlines how he monitors key risks, and discusses the most significant trends emerging in the RIA space. He also explains how Private Vista is leveraging technology and innovation to enhance its practice—while preserving the personalized service that clients expect.

Brian Price, CEO of Mesirow, discusses how the firm’s independent, employee-owned structure shapes long-term decision-making and aligns the business with client outcomes. He also shares how Mesirow’s integrated investment management, capital markets, and advisory platform works together to deliver value, while highlighting the firm’s focus on culture, talent development, and positioning for the industry’s next major shifts.

Robert R. Sayler, Wealth Advisor, and Ronald Lenihan, Managing Partner at SeaCrest Wealth Management, discuss what differentiates the firm in today’s competitive RIA landscape. They share how SeaCrest supports advisors nationwide while preserving true independence, what flexibility looks like in practice, and why advisors are choosing the firm as a long-term growth partner amid industry consolidation.

Jeff Pierce, President of Johnson Wealth at Johnson Financial Group, shares his long-term vision for the firm and what sets its family-owned model apart from large national competitors and digital platforms.