Frequently Asked Questions

We work exclusively with independent RIA firms and wealth management practices, from established firms to $200B national leaders scaling across markets. We do not serve broker-dealers, wirehouses, or insurance companies. That focus is not a limitation. It is the whole point.

Because depth beats breadth. Firms that recruit across every industry spread themselves thin. When they call a candidate about an RIA opportunity, they are explaining what an RIA is. Our team lives inside this ecosystem every single day. We know the custodians, the comp structures, and what actually motivates a senior advisor to make a move. That context is what closes searches.

We reach talent others cannot. The candidates who would transform your firm are not searching public postings. They are inside The Vault, our proprietary network built through thousands of conversations. Every person on our team lives inside the RIA world. Your search never stalls. One dedicated specialist. The full team behind them. Urgency from day one through close.

126+ independent RIA and wealth management firms, from established practices to national leaders managing up to $200B.

Our median time-to-fill is 55 days. The industry average is over 100 days. Our exclusive focus on the RIA ecosystem means we move from kickoff to qualified introductions faster than firms that split their attention across industries. We are not learning your world from scratch. We live in it.

Our median time to introduce the candidate who ultimately gets hired is about 14 days from kickoff. The remaining time in the 55-day median reflects the client's internal interview and decision process.

Deep Discovery. We learn your firm's DNA: growth trajectory, culture, client promise, and comp philosophy. We diagnose before we prescribe.

AI-Powered Sourcing. The Brain identifies high-fit passive candidates who are not actively looking.

Video-First Screening. Every candidate is pre-screened on video before your calendar is touched. No surprises. No wasted executive time.

Curated Introductions Only. Every candidate presented has cleared our multi-layer filter for skills, culture, and long-term fit.

Offer Through Day One. Counter-offer prep, transition planning, resignation coaching. We protect the placement.

Most candidates who end up in a successful placement are not actively looking. That is the foundation of The Vault. We have built a bench of wealth management professionals through years of relationship-building. When a search opens, we are already in conversation with people your competitors have never heard of. We also use The Brain, our proprietary AI technology, to identify additional passive candidates who match your firm's exact profile.

We do not send volume. We send quality. A typical engagement produces a curated slate of three to six candidates. Each fully screened, vetted, and assessed for fit with your specific firm.

We stay in the room. Counter-offer preparation, transition planning, resignation coaching, start-date coordination. The most critical window is between the verbal offer and day one. That is where we work hardest.

We do not work on contingency. Every engagement is an exclusive, committed partnership. We offer three models:

Engaged Search. A refundable upfront engagement fee plus a success fee upon hire.

ScaleWell. For firms planning four or more hires annually. A dedicated Talent Planning structure built around your hiring roadmap.

Retained Search. Reserved for executive-level and C-suite placements where precision and confidentiality are non-negotiable.

Yes, through our 21-day satisfaction guarantee. If in the first three weeks you are not satisfied with the level of communication, responsiveness, or partnership, either of us can end the engagement and we will refund your fee in full. No friction, no argument.

ScaleWell is designed for firms planning four or more hires in a year. Whether you are scaling a team, integrating an acquisition, or entering a new market. It gives you a dedicated Talent Planning structure built around your hiring roadmap. The earlier you get us involved, the better the outcome.

Apply to The Vault through our For Talent page. We are always interested in meeting high-quality wealth management professionals. The Vault is built on long-term relationships. If the conversation goes well, you go into our network and we reach out when the right opportunity comes up.

No. Candidates never pay anything. Our fees are paid entirely by the hiring firm.

Carefully. We never share your name or current employer with a client firm without your explicit permission. We present candidates compellingly without disclosing your identity until you are comfortable moving forward.

Book a 30-minute Talent Consult at Schedule a Consult. No pitch. Just an honest conversation about your firm and the role you are trying to fill.

That's fine. Some of our best client relationships started with a conversation a year or more before the first search opened. We stay in touch and step in the moment the timing is right.