Revealed: The Top Financial Professionals Leading the U.S. Wealth Industry in 2024
As the U.S. wealth management landscape continues to evolve rapidly amidst market highs and emerging challenges, InvestmentNews has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 Hot List recognizing the nation’s top financial professionals shaping the industry. This elite roster highlights the expertise and leadership of executives, veterans, and innovators who have excelled in guiding investors and firms through a dynamic environment marked by growth in diverse asset classes, including stocks, bitcoin, and gold, alongside concerns about market volatility and geopolitical risks.
The Second Annual Hot List: Celebrating Industry Leaders
Drawing from hundreds of nominations submitted by wealth professionals nationwide, InvestmentNews selected 97 individuals demonstrating exceptional influence and impact over the past 12 months. These distinguished leaders span Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), investment advisory firms, financial planners, and service providers — all contributing to the evolving definition of leadership in wealth management today.
A Year of Noteworthy Leadership
Among this year’s standouts is Craig Gould, CEO of Binah Capital Group, who took an unconventional route by steering his firm’s public debut on the Nasdaq earlier in 2024. Responsable for managing at least $25 billion in assets under management (AUM), along with an additional $300 billion in affiliated AUM across more than 550 RIAs, Gould emphasized the strategic choice to go public amid widespread skepticism in favor of private equity options.
“We had a lot of skeptics asking why we would go public when there’s so much private equity available,” Gould remarked. “That’s one of the reasons why we’ve gone public; we were looking to create long-term shareholder value.”
Another visionary, Thomas Ruggie, founder and CEO of Destiny Wealth Partners, showcased foresight by embracing fee-based advisory models early. His firm, which encompasses an RIA and multifamily office managing approximately $1.2 billion in portfolio assets, transitioned ahead of industry trends to prioritize unbiased advice free from commission-driven conflicts.
“We were very early on the adoption of fee-based advisory practice, because I always felt if you didn’t have commissions driving recommendations, it gave you an unbiased approach,” Ruggie commented. “Fast forward to today – that led us to the transition to be an RIA, well ahead of the curve.”
On the planning and client relationship front, Liz Miller, founder and president of Summit Place Financial Advisors, shared how shifting from portfolio investing to holistic wealth management has enriched her client engagements. As incoming chair of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board, Miller emphasized a personalized focus beyond investments alone.
“After 15 years in front of a computer as a portfolio investor, I decided I wanted to be working more with individuals and helping people with their planning and taking a more holistic approach to wealth,” said Miller.
Spotlight on Game-Changing Professionals
Other notable members of the Hot List 2024 include Amanda Arcilesi Simmons of ARC Wealth Management, Beth Lawlor from U.S. Bank, Lawrence Calcano of iCapital, Bob Long with Stepstone Private Wealth, Jeffrey DeHaan at Clearwater Capital Partners, and Shawn Bostic of Kestra Financial. Each of these professionals has distinguished themselves by pioneering ideas, client-centric solutions, and leadership that defines the next era of wealth management.
Looking Forward
As the wealth management industry confronts ongoing disruptions and opportunities—from technological innovation to shifting investor expectations—the professionals honored in this year’s Hot List demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and strategic vision. Their efforts continue to set benchmarks for excellence and client commitment in a complex financial landscape.
For the full list of awardees and in-depth insights into their achievements, readers are encouraged to visit InvestmentNews and explore the comprehensive report.
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InvestmentNews is a leading source of analysis, commentary, and news for financial advisors and wealth management professionals. Through its coverage, the publication supports the growth, integrity, and innovation of the financial advice community.