The Diamond Podcast for Financial Advisors

Overview

Jason and Louis Diamond explore strategies for maximizing enterprise value, whether or not an advisor plans to move. Learn actionable insights, key business practices, short-term vs. long-term tactics, and real-world examples.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

All advisors, regardless of whether they are content where they are, are considering a move, or are in the process of doing so, would be wise to reconcile questions like:

Maximizing value is typically the goal of any advisor, regardless of whether they are pondering a move or not—and the reality is that movement is not, and should not, be a precursor to focusing on optimizing your enterprise value.

So then what should an advisor who may not be considering change be thinking about?

In this special Industry Update, Jason Diamond and Louis Diamond talk about the key components of an advisor’s business that impact enterprise value.

Listen in to learn:

Plus, they share real-world examples of the factors that make a business more “attractive” and how that impacts value and strategic shifts for advisors who may never make a move but are set on maximizing their carer enterprise value.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

How to Maximize Your Career Enterprise Value

Top Tips for Setting Your Business Up for Success Years Before a Move

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Overview

Allan Boomer, the CIO of Momentum Advisors, shares his journey from a working-class background to an internship at Merrill and later landing at Goldman. In this episode, he discusses leaving Goldman to gain the ability to act as a true fiduciary in independence, the role of diversity as his “superpower,” his vision for a “100-year business,” his focus on long-term growth, and more.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

Many of the most successful advisors start off in a place unlike the world they practice in.

For Allan Boomer, discussing the stock market at dinner or reading the Wall Street Journal wasn’t a part of his upbringing. However, hard work and strong family values were the major factors that influenced his formative years.

In high school, Allan joined a corporate internship program that offered him a summer position at Merrill, which changed his life’s trajectory.

After graduating from NYU’s Stern School of Business, he landed at Goldman Sachs and dug into his strong work ethic and determination to build his experience and book.

He recalls how his colleagues had family or friends they could call on to help them build their businesses, but he didn’t have that same reach as a young Black man in a working-class community.

Allan took several leaps of faith over the years, ultimately leaving Goldman – and much of his book on the table – to become a true fiduciary. Today, Momentum Advisors manages $400mm in assets with 10 employees.

In this episode, Allan shares how that vision drives him with host Louis Diamond and offers a unique perspective on growth, including:

Allan’s story is relevant and relatable for advisors at all levels, with a point of view on building for the long term from which all advisors can learn.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

The 5 Attributes That Make a Financial Advisor a “Real” Fiduciary

The Path to Independence: 6 Key Elements to Consider Before Starting Your Journey

Your Guide to the Wealth Management Landscape: An At-A-Glance Map for Financial Advisors

Allan Boomer is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Momentum Advisors — a certified minority-owned investment management and financial planning firm in New York City with over $350 million in assets under management.

Outside of his role at Momentum, Allan is an active investor in real estate and franchise businesses. He and his partners own nine ZIPS Dry Cleaning franchise stores and are the largest franchisee in the ZIPS system. Additionally, he is the co-host of “The Momentum Advisors Show,” a weekly podcast which educates the public about building wealth through investments, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.

Allan holds an MBA in Finance from the NYU Stern School of Business, where he was a Robert A. Toigo Fellow, and a BS in Marketing from Morgan State University.

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Overview

Susan McKenna, CEO of eMoney, explores the fintech firm’s evolution, competitive edge, and the role of technology in wealth management. She discusses how eMoney’s tools foster client conversations and enhance experiences, shares insights on the future, and more.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

It goes without saying that technology has been a mass disruptor in every industry.

In wealth management, fintech, as it’s referred to, has set the foundation for growth and efficiency with companies like eMoney leading the charge.

Nearly 25 years ago, eMoney Advisor hit the scene, providing a tool to help make advisors more efficient by leveraging the internet with a platform that allowed clients to access a “living breathing plan”—as opposed to a binder of documents that became stale shortly after delivery.

Today, eMoney continues to help create efficiencies for advisors and foster conversations with their clients about money by leveraging a suite of tools designed to empower planning and elevate the client experience.

So how can advisors best leverage technology like eMoney? What’s the real impact of fintech on an advisor’s business? And what is the next big disruptor everyone in wealth management should be aware of? We invited the CEO of eMoney, Susan McKenna, to join Jason Diamond on the show, to answer those questions and more, including:

Susan offers a unique perspective as someone who grew up through the ranks of the firm and drives an interesting conversation that describes the evolution of eMoney and the financial planning world—and technology’s role within it. It’s an episode that advisors at all levels and firms will learn from.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Conducting a Strategic Due Diligence Process: 10 Practical Tips for Financial Advisors

The Gears of Change: How Evolving Expectations of 3 Key Stakeholders is Driving More Advisor Movement Than Ever Before

Innovative Ways the Best Independent Firms Fuel Growth: A Special Industry Update

Susan McKenna

As CEO, Susan oversees the execution of eMoney’s vision and business strategy in addition to managing its cross-functional, core leadership team. Before being named CEO in 2022, Susan was eMoney’s Head of Marketing and Sales where she led all activities that accommodate the underlying demand for financial advice, drive revenue and growth, and increase brand awareness.

Susan joined eMoney in 2018 with an extensive background in leadership and aiding companies to grow and scale. She has more than 30 years of experience, specifically in software and services for both major global market leaders and smaller rapid growth businesses. Prior to joining eMoney, she held senior positions at Billtrust, Revitas (sold to Model N), Princeton Softech (sold to IBM), and Deloitte. Susan graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in marketing.

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Overview

Dylan O’Shea offers a unique perspective from a growing advisor with a long runway who could have easily opted for a transition check but instead chose independence. He discusses why he joined Quorum Private Wealth, the value of their shared vision, infrastructure, and more.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

The choice to leave the firm where you built your business often comes down to what we call the pushes and the pulls.

The pushes are typically those things that are limiting or frustrating you. The pulls are the desire to achieve something greater: A vision for a future that allows you to serve clients and grow the business with less friction and more potential.

It’s not uncommon to feel some pushes, but we find that advisors more frequently shared that they left their firm because they were pulled toward an option that offered “a better way.”

Dylan O’Shea is one such advisor who felt that pull.

For Dylan, it was an attraction that led him toward independence after 10 years of building a solo practice at Merrill—a tenure that included serving as a coach for the financial advisor training program and as Chair of Merrill’s NextGen Leadership Council, and ultimately generating $1mm in annual revenue.

Yet, over time, the nagging sense that Merrill was “no longer his tribe,” as Dylan put it, became stronger—and he wanted to achieve more than he felt was possible at the firm.

As a young and growing advisor, Dylan watched as others left Merrill to follow their dreams and build independent firms that offered them greater freedom and control—which was a prospect that Dylan found attractive.

After conducting due diligence, Dylan decided to join former Merrill senior colleagues Kelly Milligan and Mike Barry at Quorum Private Wealth in 2022.

Dylan shares his story with Mindy Diamond, including:

It’s a narrative that offers a unique perspective of a young, growing advisor with a long runway who could have easily opted for a transition check but instead chose independence, why he opted to tuck into an existing firm rather than build his own, and much more.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Ex-Merrill ACTM Chair to Independent Business Owner: A Former Insider’s Point of View

Merrill Information Hub

Diamond Consultants Advisor Transition Report 2024: Focus on Merrill

Tuck-ins: Independence for Advisors Who Don’t Want to be That Independent

Dylan O’Shea, CFP®

After several years as a teacher, Dylan joined Merrill’s PMD training program in NYC where over the next decade he built a solo advisory practice to over $1 million in annual revenue. He also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, recognized as the highest industry credential.

While at Merrill, he also held leadership roles as Chair of Merrill’s NextGen Leadership Council and as a coach for the FA training program in Merrill’s Fifth Avenue NYC office.

In late 2022, Dylan left Merrill for supported independence with Quorum Private Wealth, a Bay-Area based firm, and launched the NYC Metro office. In 2023 and 2024, Quorum was named as one of Forbes/Shook Top RIA Firms.

When not out in nature or supporting his children’s extra-curriculars, he can be found most weekends cheering on his beloved English Premier League soccer team, Tottenham Hotspur.

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Overview

Advisors often face the fear of the unknown, feeling dissatisfied but stuck in “what ifs.” Erin Rocchio, coach and Managing Partner at Evolution, joins Mindy Diamond to share strategies that help advisors break free of this inertia, acknowledge fear, and open their minds to transformational change.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

Many advisors reach a crossroads at some point in their careers, and it’s often rooted in the fear of the unknown.

While they may be dissatisfied with the firm they work for, they’re challenged by the “what ifs.” So much so, that they often can’t see “what could be.”

Yet, every day, there are advisors who choose to transition to another firm or model and ultimately transform their business lives.

How do they do it? Is it courage? Will? Knowledge? Or something else entirely?

Coach and Managing Partner of Evolution Erin Rocchio joins Mindy Diamond to explore the topic.

Erin has a unique knack for helping people dig deep and break free of the inertia that prevents them from moving forward. She and Mindy discuss strategies that she employs with her clients to create transformational change in our business lives, including:

Ultimately, as Erin shares, there is a trade-off of comfort now for something more compelling in the future—but how do you manage that process? Listen in to learn actionable strategies and techniques that she employs with her coaching clients to help them get “unstuck”—and change “what if” to “what could be.”

Products: www.ourwholenessatwork.com

Enneagram X Burnout Card Deck

Burnout Recovery Circles

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

The Strategic Due Diligence Roadmap for Financial Advisors

Should I Stay or Should I Go? An Advisor’s Guide to Thinking Through Their Biggest Decision

Erin Rocchio, MPOD

EXPERIENCE

For over fifteen years, Erin has worked with executives across industries to find the sweet spot between business results and personal meaning. She designs and delivers transformational leader, team, and organization development in line with business strategy. Released in 2020, Erin’s inaugural publication, Wholeness at Work: Free Yourself from Burnout for Good, addresses the science behind workplace burnout. She explores the symptoms, sources, and solutions across three levels: individual, relational, and systemic. Her Roadmap to Wholeness supports leaders in finding a lifelong path to sustainable well-being in their work.

Erin’s clients are curious, values-driven, emotionally intelligent leaders up to big things. She works with C-level executives at billion-dollar companies and founders of proven start-ups, helping them cultivate sustainable, high-performing leadership

teams based on metrics that drive engagement and results. Erin brings a philosophical orientation to her work rooted in Appreciative Inquiry (strengths-based change), the Enneagram personality system, Integral theory, and neuroscience-based organizational and leadership wellbeing.

PARTNERSHIP

Erin is a Managing Partner at Evolution, a coaching, consulting, and investment firm that partners with start-up and high-growth companies to drive long-term, holistic success through developing leadership, alignment and culture. Evolution works exclusively with companies that strive to be iconic, world-enriching, evolutionary businesses.

Erin’s clients include Snap, Glassdoor, Medtronic, City of Hope, Uber, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Cornerstone On Demand, Amazon Games, Retool, Companion Pet Partners, Slack, Abercrombie, Girl Scouts San Diego, Altana AI, Open AI, Research Affiliates, and Udemy.

EDUCATION

Erin earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University, and a Master of Science in Positive Organization Development and Change (MPOD) from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. While at Northwestern, Erin was an elite student-athlete, helping to build its Women’s Softball program to national distinction.

Erin is a certified Integral Coach with Integral Coaching Canada and a Senior Member of the Enneagram in Business Network. She holds additional certifications in Advanced Coaching with the Enneagram, a robust personality typing system (via Enneagram in Business) and Developing Leadership with Emotional Intelligence (via CWRU). Erin is also a member of the Organizational Development Network and International Positive Psychology Association. Erin is a graduate of Landmark Education’s Team, Management and Leadership Program, and is an avid fan of mindfulness and self-compassion meditation.

PERSONAL

Erin enjoys her free time watching her two young daughters discover the wonders of life around them.  Erin also has a soft spot for talking global politics and poetry. More than ever, she is an advocate for the development of young women as leaders in their communities.

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Overview

Many advisors are drawn to independence for the control and equity-building potential it offers, yet find themselves wondering if monetization in the short term might be the better way to go. Jason Diamond and Mindy Diamond provide insights and guidelines to help advisors navigate these choices with strategies to assess factors like growth, profitability, succession planning, and short- vs. long-term goals.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

The prospect of becoming an independent business owner is attractive to many advisors. The freedom and control that come with ownership, along with the potential of building equity, would seem like a compelling choice over transitioning to another employee model.

Yet, when it comes to deciding between monetizing through a recruiting deal now or making the leap to independence, many advisors find themselves caught in the middle—that is, between the proverbial bird in hand now and the potential down the road via increased growth, profitability, and even a sale of some or all the business.

Especially if you’ve never monetized, would it make sense to do so first before breaking away? Or should you just jump into independence headfirst with your sights set on the long term?

There are no simple, one-size-fits-all answers—but there are some strategies to help you through the decision-making process.

Jason Diamond does a deep dive into the topic with Mindy Diamond and shares some guidance to follow when faced with this important decision, including:

This is a full-on education of the choices that advisors have, as well as the determining factors for each. So, whether you’re a wirehouse advisor considering the best path forward or just looking to get acquainted with the ever-changing industry landscape, this episode is for you.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Move Once, Monetize Twice

Wealth Management Landscape at A Glance: Focus on Independence

What Advisors Should Focus on to Maximize the Value of Their Practice: An Investment Banker’s Guidance

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Overview

Realizing common behavior gaps led Carl Richards to explore ways to simplify financial concepts and processes for clients. As a result, he’s become an industry thought leader who offers a unique perspective on the true value of an advisor and how to access that to better serve clients and foster growth.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

There’s a chasm that exists in everyone’s life between what we know we should do, how we do it, and what we actually do.

The good news is that there are those among us who see these self-limiting behaviors for what they are—and have developed ways to simplify the routines that leave us feeling stuck and repeating what can be less efficient actions.

Carl Richards is one such person with that unique vision. He, too, often felt mired in excess detail and complex processes and data, and found a way to simplify it all.

As someone who started in the big brokerage world and later made the leap to independence, Carl recognized there had to be a better way to communicate with clients—to drill down on long reports and share what was most meaningful to them.

Today, in addition to being a Certified Financial Planner, Carl shares his techniques with those in the wealth management world and beyond, as an author, podcaster, and thought leader. So we’re excited he’s joining Jason Diamond to offer meaningful advice, including:

It’s advice around simplification and filling what he calls behavior gaps that are truly relevant to all advisors—in how they think about their own business lives and their processes with clients.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Michael Kitces on Advisor Wellbeing: How Autonomy is Trumping Income When it Comes to Advisor Listen in for an insightful and revealing look into advisors’ minds and what really makes them happy, based on data from the latest Kitces survey. Learn the motivations and drivers that lead not only to success but to a better quality of life.

Top Tips for Setting Your Business Up for Success Years Before a Move: An Industry Update

Top Tips for Setting Your Business Up for Success Years Before a Move

Carl Richards

Carl Richards is a Certified Financial Planner™ and creator of the Sketch Guy column, which appeared weekly for a decade in The New York Times.

Carl has also been featured on Marketplace Money, Oprah.com, and Forbes.com. In addition, Carl has become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences and visual learning events around the world.

Through his simple sketches, Carl makes complex financial concepts easy to understand. His sketches also serve as the foundation for his two books, The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money and The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money (Portfolio/Penguin).

His sketches have appeared in a solo show at the Kimball Art Center in Park City, Utah, as well as other showings at Parsons School of Design in New York City, The Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, California, and an exhibit at the Mansion House in London.

His commissioned work is on display in businesses and educational institutions across the globe.

Carl also founded The Society of Advice. Every month, Members of The Society of Advice join Carl in a 90-minute private conversation with a knock-your-socks-off guest.

If you like Carl’s work, you may love 50 Fires: A Podcast About Money and Meaning, featuring frank, funny, and often difficult conversations about money that actually matter with guests from all walks of life.

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Overview

Nate Harris recognized that the firm he first built his business at no longer aligned with what he deemed as his North Star. After extensive soul searching and due diligence, he decided to leave his team at Merrill and opted for the independent broker dealer model, which he felt would allow him to achieve all he desired and then some.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

For many advisors, finding their “North Star” is a journey to identify what’s most important to their businesses and their lives.

That realization often serves as the foundation for a renewed commitment to their firm or as a motivation for change.

Nathan Harris started his career at Merrill in 2006 and joined a team of 8. His experience at the firm was not unlike many other advisors we speak with: He worked with a great team and built a stellar business, yet he started to recognize the firm’s “trend of changes.”

So Nate dove headfirst into due diligence to explore the options available to him. He spoke to “at least a hundred individuals,” as he put it, and filled an entire notebook with information that he and his now partner Jeff reviewed throughout the exercise.

They decided that their North Star was founded on the ethos that a change had to be better not only for their clients but also for their team and themselves.

And one thing came to light early in the process: Each actually could be better.

After exploring a variety of firms and models, they made the leap to independence and launched Covenant Capital with Raymond James independent broker dealer model in 2021.

In this episode, Nate shares a compelling narrative with Jason Diamond, including:

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Why you need to define your “True North”

Should I Stay or Should I Go? An Advisor’s Guide to Thinking Through Their Biggest Decision

Going Independent with an RIA vs. IBD: A Comparison Fact Sheet

Nathan S Harris, CFP®, CPWA®, CRPC®, C(k)P®,CPFA®, CPWA®, CRPCTM

Nathan started his career at Merrill Lynch in 2006 prior to founding Covenant Capital in 2021. He was named to the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. Nathan holds multiple designations, including the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designation and the Certified Financial Planner™ certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

Nathan is a member of the Tivoli Society for the Weinberg Center of the Arts and is a past president of the Southern Frederick County Rotary Club. He graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is a former Navy lieutenant on board the USS Ronald Reagan, where he worked on nuclear reactors.

Nathan and his wife, Kate, pursue charitable causes that are important to their family and to our client families through a donor advised fund, The Nate & Kate Harris Foundation. They live with their two children, Max and Ella Jane, and their miniature Schnauzer, Harry Potter.

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Overview

Justin Berman demonstrates an important concept: Change is constant. After a novel leap from Goldman Sachs to independence in 2010 and building the business from $1B to $5B in 10 years, he decided he needed to make a change to provide an even greater impact on his clients and business in the future. So he merged with Cresset Asset Management and in just 3 years, increased revenue from $17mm to $27mm.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

It was May of 2020 when Justin Berman first shared his breakaway story on this series.

In “Life After Goldman Sachs,” Justin shared his perspective on leaving the prestigious brand to launch an independent firm. He discusses why, after 7 years at Goldman, he felt limited by changes at the firm in his ability to serve his high-net-worth clients’ needs and continue to grow the business into the future.

So, Justin launched Atlanta-based RIA Berman Capital Advisors, a firm that grew from managing a billion in client assets to $5B over the course of 10 years.

Then in September of 2021, it was announced that Justin’s firm would merge with Cresset Asset Management.

The big question is why would a successful independent firm decide to align with a multi-family office and investment firm like Cresset?

As Justin put it, he once again considered the future, his clients’ needs, and his firm’s ability to serve those needs and grow the business going forward.

And it’s proving to be a good decision: In just 3 years, his revenue increased from $17mm to $27mm.

He revisits his journey with Mindy Diamond, filling in the gaps since his last visit, and offering a unique perspective on the evolution of an advisory business, including:

Justin’s story is important because it shares how, instead of being feared, change should be embraced as a pathway to growth. Listen in to learn valuable insights that can help inspire your own evolution.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

Related Resources

Finding the Shortest Path to Excellence Can Be a Game Changer for Advisors

Life After Goldman Sachs: A Story of Extraordinary Success

Private Bankers Find Greater Independence: Former $2B J.P. Morgan Team on Their New Chapter with Cresset

Justin Berman

Justin Berman is Co-Chairman at Cresset, and Founder of Berman Capital Advisors. In his role, Justin works with multi-generational entrepreneurial families while setting the strategic vision for the firm.

Justin founded Berman Capital Advisors in 2010 as part of his commitment to provide truly objective family office services, wealth management, and investment consulting services to a select group of high-net-worth families. Prior to this, Justin worked in the Private Wealth Management division of Goldman Sachs & Co., where he was a member of the firm’s Leadership Council. He has also served in the Investment Advisory Group at myCFO, Inc., and in the Private Client Group at Arthur Andersen & Co.

Justin graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University, where he served as Varsity Tennis Captain and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist. He also earned an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Palmer Scholar.

Justin is active in the community and is on the board of trustees of The McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, Leadership Atlanta, and Grady Health Foundation. He also chairs the board of My Journey Matters, a program designed to help reduce recidivism in young offenders in Atlanta. Justin is also involved in the Young Presidents’ Organization. Justin and his wife, Mara, reside in Atlanta and have three children.

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Overview

Three Merrill breakaways offer unique perspectives on the process of considering change, life outside the wirehouse, and filling the gaps that one might experience when leaving a big brand name behind to become an independent business owner.

> Download a transcript of this episode…

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

Advisors who are considering the leap to independence often share their concerns about leaving behind the culture, community, and support they’ve grown accustomed to in the wirehouse world.

And that’s perfectly valid.

While many advisors are vocal about the lack of freedom and control at the big firms, there are still a lot of positives—like having a well-known brand with a seemingly endless budget behind you and the ability to create a strong foundation for success.

On the other side, there are those who’ve made the break to independence and share that life outside the walls of the wirehouses is pretty amazing.

For this special episode, we invited three such breakaway advisors who developed extraordinary independent businesses to discuss how they did it. That is, to offer their trade secrets to creating businesses that merged the best of the wirehouse they grew up in with the freedom and control they were searching for.

Former Merrill Advisors Michael Henley, the Founder and CEO of the $1.6B Brandywine Oak Private Wealth, Matt Liebman, CEO of $1.5B Amplius Wealth Advisors, and Jerry Davidse, CEO of $500mm Presilium Private Wealth join Louis Diamond to share their journey, including:

It’s an episode that shares different points of view with a common goal: To do what’s best for their clients and business lives. Available on audio and video—so be sure to listen in or watch.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

A Diehard Merrill Advisor’s Journey to Independence

$1B+ Multi-Generational Merrill Breakaway Team Leaves Behind the Big Brand to Gain “More” for Clients

Outgrowing the Employee Model: How an ex-Merrill Advisor Found Autonomy & Abundance in Independence

Michael Henley CFP® | CPWA® | CRPC® | RMA®

Michael Henley is the Founder and CEO of Brandywine Oak Private Wealth, a private wealth management and registered independent advisory firm headquartered in Kennett Square, PA. Over the course of his 20-year career, Michael has been dedicated to helping wealthy individuals and families plan and manage all aspects of their finances and investments. With a passion for helping others look behind the curtain and understand the complex world of finance, he develops close relationships with clients as he helps them progress toward their financial goals. Michael loves to provide clarity and alleviate financial anxiety, help prevent families from overpaying in taxes, and give wealthy families permission to enjoy their life savings. He says, “No work is more gratifying than giving families outcomes to what matters most to them.”

Michael holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Retirement Management Advisor® designations. Residing in Chadds Ford, PA, with his two children, he enjoys outdoor activities, particularly maintaining trails on his property, hiking with his dogs, and being an actively engaged dad, always taking his kids everywhere. Michael’s latest hobby is tennis, he is obsessed with hot yoga, and he recently started ice skating to join his daughter Savannah. He can also be found moving logs to the firepit with his son Maverick on the tractor. Michael serves on the board of United Way of Southern Chester County and loves mentoring younger advisors. Great mentors helped him succeed, and he’s convinced that every leader needs to both have mentors and be a mentor.

Matthew D. Liebman, CFA®, CRPC®, CAIA®

As Founding Partner and CEO, Matt drives the principal mission and core promise of Amplius Wealth Advisors: to put clients at the center of everything Amplius Wealth Advisors does.

Prior to founding Amplius Wealth Advisors, Matt returned home to the Philadelphia area in 2008, where he co-led The Liebman Marks Group at Merrill Lynch for 13 years, consistently receiving firm recognition as a top advisor. Before Merrill Lynch, Matt worked in the investment management industry in New York City in a variety of roles – as a research analyst, portfolio manager, and hedge fund manager. Combined with his education and background in asset allocation theory and behavioral finance, Matt has considerable experience with high-net-worth families and provides a unique approach to guiding clients towards their financial goals.

Matt is a CFA® Charterholder, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA®). He was recognized as one of the Top Advisors in Pennsylvania by Forbes as a “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” ranking in 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Matt earned a BBA from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business as a dual major in business and political science with concentrations in finance and new venture consulting.

Matt is a Member of the New York Society of Security Analysts, Philadelphia Society of Security Analysts, CFA Institute, and the CAIA Institute. He serves on the boards of the Anti-Defamation League and KleinLife and is an active volunteer in the Philadelphia community.

Matt lives in Haverford, PA, with his wife Allison and two children, Noah & Lucy. He is an avid NBA fan, tennis player, and volunteer basketball coach for his children’s youth teams. Matt is an avid follower of domestic and global politics and enjoys reading business, sports, and political non-fiction books.

Jerry Davidse, CFP®

Jerry Davidse, CFP® has worked closely with leading families across the U.S. as a wealth manager since 2001, advising them on wealth planning, custom investment portfolios and risk management strategies. He believes in clear communication with clients and provides simple recommendations for complex financial decisions. Jerry earned two degrees from the business school at Villanova University in 2001.

Jerry was awarded the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2005 by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. He was previously a Vice President at Morgan Stanley and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch before founding Presilium Private Wealth in 2022. He was recognized by Forbes in 2023 as one of the top wealth advisors in Pennsylvania.

Jerry enjoys traveling, golf, coaching youth sports and has run four marathons. He and his wife live in Radnor, Pennsylvania, with their son, Jake, and daughter, Emma.

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