Focused on the Future Culture, Collaboration and Career Change with Cerity Partners’ Claire O’Keefe
What happens when a schoolteacher from Ireland follows her curiosity halfway across the world and ends up helping shape one of the nation’s largest wealth management firms?
In this episode of the Focused on the Future podcast, host Suzanne Siracuse talks with Claire O’Keefe, partner and head of partner development at Cerity Partners, about her unconventional journey from education to wealth management and the people-first culture that drives firm growth.
Claire shares insights on career transitions, cultural alignment in mergers and acquisitions, the importance of organic growth and how investing in people powers the future of wealth management.
Claire discusses:
- How her travels from Ireland to the U.S. led to a career in wealth management
- The key trends shaping M&A decisions for RIAs, from succession planning to client experience
- Why cultural alignment and shared values determine successful partnerships
- How top-performing firms prioritize training, development, and broad ownership structures
- Her perspective on the future of small and solo firms in a rapidly evolving, AI-driven industry
Resources:
- Listen to Focused on the Future on WealthManagement.com
- Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Apple Podcasts
- Subscribe and listen to Focused on the Future on Spotify
Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:
Connect With Claire O’Keefe:
About Our Guest:
Claire O’Keefe serves as Partner, Head of Partner Development, and member of the Leadership Team at Cerity Partners. She has a deep appreciation for the unique fabric of our firm which she regularly refers to as her “forever home”.
Central to Claire’s philosophy is human connection. As Head of Partner Development, she is passionate about building relationships with both current and prospective partners and colleagues who are excited by the vision of our firm, share our cultural values, and are committed to serving the best interests of clients, colleagues, and the communities in which we operate. She believes that authenticity, empathy, active listening, high emotional intelligence, and genuine curiosity, form the bedrock of effective communication and trusted relationships. In her words, “The magic of our partnership is our people.”
Cerity Partners is more than just a firm; it’s a community. A community where everyone’s voice counts, where an entrepreneurial spirit thrives, and where decisions prioritize our clients, free from external pressures.
Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Claire served as Chief Operating Officer and client advisor for two wealth management firms. In these roles, Claire’s responsibilities included strategic planning, client and colleague development, and client advisory for affluent individuals, business owners, executives, and nonprofit organizations.