Sponsored By

Powering the business IQ of the RIA industry.

RIA Edge Podcast: AssetMark’s Natalie Wolfsen and Adhesion’s Barrett AyersRIA Edge Podcast: AssetMark’s Natalie Wolfsen and Adhesion’s Barrett Ayers

The CEOs of AssetMark and Adhesion Wealth discuss the motivations behind their merger, and their vision for the future.

Mark Bruno, Managing Director, Wealth Management

January 31, 2023

Sponsored by 

schwab-advisor-services-ria-edge-logo.png

Whether you are looking to buy, sell or build a partnership with another company, finding the right fit for your vision is essential.

In this episode of RIA Edge, Mark Bruno, managing director at Informa Wealth Management, speaks with Natalie Wolfsen, CEO of AssetMark, and Barrett Ayers, CEO of Adhesion Wealth, on their recently closed merger—highlighting their motivations for the deal, as well as their long-term vision. 

Specifically, Mark, Natalie and Barrett discuss:

  • Why AssetMark and Adhesion Wealth decided to enter a partnership;

  • How outsourcing is improving growth rates for RIAs; and

  • What RIAs should consider when buying, selling or considering a partnership to grow their businesses.

Resources:

Connect With Mark Bruno:

Connect With Natalie Wolfsen:

Connect with Barrett Ayers:

About Our Guests:

Natalie Wolfsen is the chief executive officer at AssetMark. Prior to being named CEO, she led the strategy and execution for AssetMark teams spanning digital channel development, corporate strategy, thought leadership, marketing and product development. Natalie has more than 20 years of leadership experience across six financial services organizations, where she directed teams who collectively brought to life more than 50 financial services products, platforms and programs, including the design of one of the industry’s first-ever mobile trading platforms.

Barrett Ayers joined Adhesion Wealth in 2004 and is one of the original founders of Adhesion Wealth. As president of Adhesion Wealth, Barrett oversees the strategic direction and long-term growth plans for the organization. During his time at Adhesion Wealth, Barrett has overseen the firm’s Product, Relationship Management, Investment Consulting, Model Management and Portfolio Management groups.

Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast 

About the Author

Mark Bruno

Managing Director, Wealth Management, Informa Connect

Mark Bruno is Managing Director, Wealth Management at Informa Connect. In his role, Mr. Bruno leads the company’s Wealth Management media and event properties, which currently consists of WealthManagement.com, Inside ETFs and Inside WealthStack. He is also charged with driving several innovative new community and advisor-based initiatives, including the launch of the new RIA Edge podcast, event and webcast series.

In addition, Mr. Bruno is overseeing strategic partnerships and acquisitions to accelerate Informa’s growth within the financial advisor and wealth management communities. Mr. Bruno brings over 20 years of experience in the wealth management and asset management industries to Informa, including prominent leadership roles in industry media, research, and consulting organizations.

Before joining Informa Connect, Mr. Bruno was a Managing Director at ECHELON Partners, where he provided investment banking, consulting and valuation services to wealth managers. Mr. Bruno specialized in helping RIAs with a range of strategic initiatives, and his areas of expertise include organizational design and assessments, compensation consulting and succession and continuity solutions.

Prior to joining ECHELON, Mr. Bruno was the Managing Director and Associate Publisher at InvestmentNews, where he was responsible for overseeing a wide range of businesses, including IN’s research, content strategy, digital, custom publishing and sales groups. Mr. Bruno was with InvestmentNews for 12 years and helped establish the company as the leading B2B media brand in the wealth management industry. He played an integral role in the sale of InvestmentNews from Crain Communication to Bonhill Plc in 2018.

Mr. Bruno is an award-winning journalist, author and researcher who has written and edited for a number of financial publications over the past two decades, including InvestmentNews, Financial Week, Pensions & Investments and U.S. Banker. Mr. Bruno has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Chicago Tribune for his expertise in wealth and investment management. Mr. Bruno has received numerous accolades for his writing and reporting, including the American Business Media's prestigious Jesse H. Neal Award, and for his breaking news coverage and analysis of the financial services industry by The Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Mr. Bruno is the author of Save Now or Die Trying: Achieving Long-Term Wealth In Your 20s and 30s, one of the top-selling retirement planning books of 2007.

You May Also Like