Top Financial Professionals in the US: InvestmentNews Hot List 2025
November 11, 2025
The financial landscape in 2025 has been anything but predictable, marked by sharp twists and turns rather than a steady course. Despite the ongoing debates surrounding political, economic, and social factors, what truly matters to investors is the response of their trusted financial advisors. Recognizing this, InvestmentNews has unveiled its 2025 Hot List, showcasing the standout leaders and innovators who have navigated the turbulence with skill and opened new opportunities for their clients.
Navigating a Dynamic Industry
Mary Mock, Senior Vice President and Head of Distribution at Touchstone Investments, notes the increased complexity brought on by the rapid expansion in the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) space. “This growth is redefining the competitive dynamics between traditional broker-dealers, wirehouses, and independent advisors, driven by a need for scale and consolidation,” she explains. With RIAs leading the way, there is a clear shift toward aligning compensation with advice-driven relationships rather than product sales.
Mock also highlights the growing importance of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). “The ETF wrapper remains the preferred vehicle for low-cost, tax-efficient exposure. The move to having ETFs as a share class alongside mutual funds is monumental, as it allows firms to cater to various client segments without fragmenting their investment strategies.”
Unlocking Private and Alternative Investments
Private investments are gaining traction, making up about 10% of the $16.4 trillion alternative investment universe, according to BlackRock. Their appeal is increasing as companies remain private longer and rely more heavily on private lenders.
Carina Diamond, CEO of GFP Private Wealth and a 2025 Hot List honoree, emphasizes the vital role private and alternative investments play in contemporary portfolios. “We’ve been pioneers in private investments for over a decade, doubling down on them 10 years ago and continually refining our approach,” Diamond says. At GFP Private Wealth, private investments constitute 20% of assets under management (AUM), underscoring their strategic importance.
Diamond adds that while technological advances and online financial information have made some investment processes commoditized, personalized client-advisor relationships remain crucial. Clients increasingly seek meaningful connection and understanding, a reality that hasn’t changed despite the availability of digital tools.
Likewise, Thomas Ruggie, CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners and another Hot List member, has expanded his firm’s offerings by forming strategic partnerships. These relationships have unlocked limited-access hedge funds, private equity, and exclusive direct investments such as Elon Musk’s post-merger X.AI, payment processor Stripe, AI defense disruptor Anduril, and pre-IPO Reddit.
Ruggie believes the AI revolution presents a “once-in-a-generation moment.” His firm’s access to private equity cap tables, often more advantageous than secondary market prices, offers clients unique investment positions amid this transformative period.
Innovative Strategies for Tax Efficiency and Diversification
Erik Lehr, CIO of Empirical Wealth Management and a Hot List awardee, has developed sophisticated tools addressing the challenge many high-net-worth individuals face: concentration risk in highly appreciated single stocks.
“With the strong US stock market performance over the past 15 years, clients increasingly confront the choice between maintaining undiversified holdings or facing significant capital gains taxes,” Lehr notes. His firm offers a range of tax-efficient solutions, including exchange funds, collars, option strategies, long/short overlays, and Section 351 exchanges, providing clients with a third, more flexible option to manage and reduce stock concentration risks.
Philanthropy as a Growth Driver
Philanthropy is emerging as a significant growth engine within wealth management, facilitating deeper client relationships and attracting the next generation of investors. Joseph Mrak III, CEO of Foundation Source and a 2025 Hot List honoree, points to the rise of donor-advised funds (DAFs) as part of this trend.
“Philanthropic services allow advisors to keep client assets ‘in their box’ while helping clients manage charitable contributions effectively,” Mrak explains. Foundation Source’s technology platform offers flexible solutions from foundations to planned giving and DAFs, which can be started with as little as $5 or scaled up to $50 million, providing donors with varying levels of engagement and control.
Acquiring fintech firm Vennfi has further enhanced Foundation Source’s ability to deliver a seamless user experience, reflecting the increasing mainstream acceptance of DAFs as a philanthropic product.
Consolidation and Scale: Keys to Future Success
Mergers and acquisitions remain vital for wealth management firms striving to increase scale and capabilities. According to PwC’s US Deals 2025 midyear outlook, deal volume for asset and wealth management (AWM) surged to the highest levels since early 2023, fueled by industry players seeking to expand their service offerings.
Mary Mock underscores the growing pressure on advisors to demonstrate tangible client value and the need for partners that offer more than products—insights and operational tools that create business capacity.
Natalie Wolfsen, CEO of Orion Advisor Solutions and a Hot List winner, exemplifies this approach. Orion itself is a composite of multiple acquired companies, united by a mission to foster a thriving wealth community.
Wolfsen highlights Orion’s recent acquisition of Summit Wealth Systems in January 2025, noting, “We had built highly scalable and flexible data infrastructure allowing advisors to integrate various technologies. Summit’s exceptional investor and advisor user experience accelerated our innovation timeline by over a year.”
Her advice for firms in today’s consolidation environment is clear: “Everyone needs to understand how to be an attractive acquiree and how to acquire effectively.”
Tailoring Solutions for Localized Client Needs
At the more localized level, Drew Boyer, CEO of Boyer Financial Group and a 2025 Hot List member, has carved out a niche serving pre-retiree public servants in Ohio, including firefighters and police officers. His firm has achieved approximately 20% annual growth over five years by focusing clients on long-term financial strategies amid market volatility.
Boyer’s ability to translate complex financial jargon into relatable terms has earned client trust. “Somebody told me, ‘I like you because you talk to my head, not over it,’” he shares. His expertise in retirement planning has particularly resonated with public service professionals concerned about pension security and stable financial futures.
Conclusion
The InvestmentNews Hot List 2025 celebrates financial professionals who not only adapt to market challenges but also innovate and elevate their client services. From leveraging private investments and tax-efficient strategies to deepening philanthropic engagements and embracing strategic consolidation, these leaders are shaping the future of wealth management in the United States. Their work underscores that in a year filled with uncertainty, the key to success lies not in predicting the twists but in steering clients confidently through them.