Verdence's Leo Kelly: Building an RIA with the 'client as the architect'
Jun 19, 2024
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Leo Kelly, CEO of Verdence Capital Advisors, discusses building an RIA where the client is the architect. He shares insights on growth strategies, investing in talent and tech, and meeting evolving needs of HNW clients. The podcast covers his journey, hyper-collaborative team building, growth mindset culture, and ambitions for creating a lasting legacy.
Build your RIA as if the client is the architect, focusing on personalized experiences.
Verdence prioritizes organic growth by investing in talent and technology while adapting to evolving client needs.
Deep dives
Leo Kelly's Unique Personal Story and Path to Wealth Management
Leo Kelly, the founder and CEO of Verdance Capital Advisors, shared his distinctive journey to founding the firm, including his background in copier sales and transition to finance. Raised in a modest family, Kelly's entrepreneurial spirit sparked early, driving him to success through copier sales and then later pursuing a finance degree.
Transition to Wealth Management and Financial Planning
Leo Kelly's shift from copier sales to finance led him to Merrill Lynch's financial planning desk, where he immersed himself in financial planning and client interactions. His experience and understanding of financial advising evolved, leading him to recognize the importance of personal interaction and client-focused financial guidance.
Founding Verdance Capital Advisors: Evolution into a Platform Company
Kelly's decision to establish Verdance arose from recognizing industry shifts post-financial crisis, emphasizing independence and client-centric practices. The firm's evolution into a platform company was based on prioritizing client outcomes, offering a range of services from financial planning to private investments, driven by a mission to create advantageous client experiences.
Cultivating Growth Through Organic Expansion and Talent Acquisition
Verdance's growth strategy focuses on organic expansion by enhancing client offerings, promoting advisor practices, and prioritizing a strong brand through authentic marketing. The firm's recruitment strategy emphasizes cultural fit, growth mindset, and a long-term career perspective, ensuring that talent aligns with the company's culture and commitment to client-centric excellence.
While it's been years since Leo Kelly, CEO and founder of Verdence Capital Advisors, left the wirehouse world for the independent channel, a simple governing principle continues to anchor his vision for leading one of the industry's top RIAs: Build you firm like your client is the architect.
Verdence, one of the nations' fastest-growing RIAs, continues to invest in both talent and technology to build out and enhance its unique business model - while also making sure they deliver a highly personalized and consistent experience for all of its clients. In this episode of RIA+, Leo shares his growth strategy with Emigrant Partners' Mark Bruno, and also outlines what lies ahead for Verdence, the independent channel and how the needs of HNW and ultra-HNW individuals are rapidly evolving.
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