“How the vision has grown.”
That’s a headline on the Focus Financial Partners website. And there’s a lot of truth in that statement.
Founded in 2004 by Rudy Adolf, Lenny Chang, and Rajini Kodialam, the American Express alums
recognized an opportunity to expand access to capital for independent advisors looking to achieve scale and increase growth, as well as monetize their life’s work.
In a conversation on this series in 2022, Rudy shared his vision and literal history of the firm’s role in transforming the independent space. Then, a year later, Rudy, Lenny, and Rajini left to explore new endeavors.
Michael Nathanson is now the CEO of Focus Financial Partners, taking the helm of a new generation of growth for the Focus ecosystem, which has grown to more than 90 partner firms in more than 38 states, plus Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Michael was the CEO of one such partner firm, The Colony Group, when he was a guest on our show in 2023. Michael described how Focus was the right solution to help them grow their firm from $1B to $20B.
In this episode, Michael talks candidly with Louis Diamond about his new role as the CEO of Focus, including:
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The firm’s evolution—and how his own experience can serve to drive further growth.
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The role of “interdependence”—and how that concept plays into his vision for Focus.
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The transition from public to privately-held company—and what that means for partner firms.
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Key differentiators—and what prospective advisors and firms need to know about their culture and values.
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Their rebranding initiative—and how it reflects their strategy, vision, and path going forward.
Plus, Michael shares his thoughts on the future of independence and much more. It’s rare access to a leader who built his wealth management career from the ground up—a unique lesson for advisors and business leaders alike.
