How A COO Guides RIAs through Internal & External Transitions

In the 21st episode of The COO Roundtable, Matt welcomes Chris Keller, Executive Vice President and Director of Business Services at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company and Doug Johnson, newly appointed Chief Operating Officer at Parcion Private Wealth.  The Benjamin F. Edwards & Company brand dates back 130 years, and the company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri with more than 600 employees and advisor affiliates and assets totaling about $27 billion.  Parcion Private Wealth opened its doors in October 2019 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington with 16 employees and about $1.2 billion in assets under management.  Matt, Chris, and Doug discuss a number of topics, including integrating their technology stack with different vendors, how their firms leverage that technology to provide outstanding client service, and much more including:

  • Overview of their respective firms and their professional backgrounds, including a funny moment regarding Chris’ LinkedIn bio
  • The challenges both Chris and Doug have faced when looking to move their businesses toward the RIA model
  • An interesting conversation about when to hire a COO at an RIA
  • The value professional management brings to the wealth management space, specifically
  • Their firms’ respective views and goals regarding inorganic vs. organic growth

Related: How A COO Maintains the Human Element of an Advisory Firm