Barron's Advisor Ritik Malhotra: Independence, Culture, and AI | Next Gen
Sep 25, 2025
Ritik Malhotra, Founder and CEO of Savvy Wealth, discusses the journey towards advisor independence and the culture needed to support it. He shares insights from his background in tech and entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges in wealth management that sparked his digital RIA platform. Ritik emphasizes the importance of evaluating independence partners and building strong practice cultures through defined values. He also delves into practical AI applications for advisors while underscoring the enduring value of human relationships in a tech-driven landscape.
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Early Tech Roots To Fintech Exits
- Ritik Malhotra taught himself programming as a child and launched internet businesses by middle school.
- He dropped out of UC Berkeley, built companies sold to Box and Brex, and used those exits to enter fintech and wealth management.
Value Gap In Financial Advice
- Ritik realized advisors offered high value but poor client experiences due to antiquated systems.
- He concluded the solution required rethinking the end-to-end firm, not another point software product.
Choose Your Independence Partner Carefully
- Evaluate prospective independence partners for culture, support, and how much operational freedom they give.
- Check who will backstop your middle and back office and whether they will evolve over the long term.