What does it take to build a firm that grows without losing its identity?

Kurt Miscinski, co-founder and CEO of Cerity Partners, believes the answer lies in clarity of purpose, disciplined reinvestment, and redefining what partnership truly means. What began as a bold vision—to bring McKinsey-style professionalism and global scale to the wealth advisory space—has evolved into one of the industry’s fastest-growing firms, now managing over $130 billion in client assets.

In this episode, Kurt shares how Cerity Partners was architected from the ground up to align ownership, culture, and long-term strategy. Drawing from his background as a CPA and former Deutsche Bank executive, he explains why Cerity avoids the traditional consolidation mindset in favor of true partnerships—and how the right language can shape everything from team dynamics to M&A success.

Tune in to hear:

Why Cerity chose to reinvest 100% of profits—and how it changed the game
The power of redefining mergers as partnerships
How reframing words like “employee” can reinforce a culture of ownership
Lessons on modeling vision into reality for aspiring founders
And the blueprint for building a professional services firm that endures

If you’re scaling a service business, shaping culture, or designing for longevity, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Let’s dive in with Kurt Miscinski.

Thanks for listening! This episode is brought to you by Kaihan Krippendorff of Outthinker Networks and Verne Harnish of Scaling Up.

Backstage E2: Soundworks of Virginia