You’re going to
love having us
beside you.

Good people.
Doing the right thing.
Doing great work.
And having a good time doing it.

We believe great businesses are built by people who care — about their work, their clients, and each other. At Rise, you’ll find a team of seasoned financial professionals who bring deep experience, collaborative spirit, and just the right amount of joy to the serious business of scaling firms. We’ve sat in your seat, built and sold our own businesses, and led teams across some of the industry’s largest firms. And we still love what we do, because we’re doing it the right way, with the right people.

Joe
Duran

Managing Partner,
Chief Investment Officer

Linkedin

Terri
Kallsen

Managing Partner,
Head of Partnerships

Linkedin

Will
Armenta

Linkedin

Ryan
Beck

Vice President,
Advisory Partnerships

Linkedin

Hannah
Birchard

M&A Associate

Linkedin

Stacy
Coffey

Managing Director, Head of Advisory Partnership Success

Linkedin

Natalie
Corry

Vice President,
Advisory Partnerships

Linkedin

Jennifer
Geoghegan

Chief Marketing Officer


Linkedin

Phil
Jacobson

Linkedin

Tony
Ling

Linkedin

Darius
Mirshahzadeh

Executive Director
and Co-Founder

Linkedin

Mike
Mirshahzadeh

Managing Partner,
M&A

Linkedin

Jack
Morgan 

Vice President,
Advisor Technology and Platform Solutions

Linkedin

Jacob
Sadeh

Senior Associate,
Investments

Linkedin

Christy
Schrader

Vice President,
Chief of Staff

Linkedin

Brian
Shenson

Managing Partner,
Chief Operating Officer

Linkedin

Ashley
Ward

Vice President, M&A

Linkedin

You + Us.
Built to Rise.

If you want to build something extraordinary — or are dreaming about what could be — let’s talk. We’d love to hear where you want to go, and discuss how we can help get you there. It’s better together.

let’s talk
We are the ultimate growth partner
for exceptional advisory firms.
Linkedin Youtube

Work With Us

Get Started

© 2025 Rise Growth Partners. All rights reserved.

Joe Duran

Managing Partner,
Chief Investment Officer

Wealth Management Visionary

Strategic Investor & Business Builder

Brand Creator & Storyteller

RIA & Advisor Champion

Speaker, Writer, Podcaster

Joe Duran is a wealth management visionary and a serial entrepreneur known for building and scaling some of the industry’s most influential firms. As Chief Investment Officer of Rise Growth Partners, Joe works closely with growth-oriented RIAs, partnering with them to grow into lighthouse brands and bring their visions to life.

He founded Rise to fill a critical gap in the market by delivering strategic expertise, capital, and support to a select group of RIA firms ready to scale with intention and retain control of their future. His passion for helping firms find a better path forward stems from the lessons he learned along his own journey of creating successful enterprises.

Prior to launching Rise, Joe was a Partner at Goldman Sachs as Co-Head of the Workplace and Personal Wealth business. Joe founded and was CEO of United Capital, one of the nation’s largest independent wealth management firms, which was acquired by Goldman Sachs. Prior to that he built and sold Centurion Capital—one of the first turnkey asset management platforms—to General Electric, where he served as President of GE Private Asset Management (now AssetMark).

A recognized voice in the industry, Joe is a sought-after speaker, appears frequently in the media, and contributes regularly to Citywire RIA and InvestmentNews. He is the author of three best-selling books on investing and entrepreneurship and serves as co-host of the Rise Up! with Rise Growth Partners podcast where he shares inspiring ideas with RIA leaders and advisors. He also co-hosts Rise Up! by Wealthion on YouTube, delivering weekly market insights alongside partner firms.

Joe holds MBAs from Columbia University and UC Berkeley, an undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University, and is a CFA® Charterholder, and longtime member of YPO.

Joe lives between Laguna Beach and Tribeca with his wife Jennifer, and their three daughters. He’s a devoted yogi, daily meditator, and lifelong beach volleyball player.

The real joy is building something beautiful together with great partners—people who see what’s possible before it exists.

Terri Kallsen

Managing Partner,
Head of Partnerships

Enterprise Transformation

Client Experience Innovation

Advisor Platform Strategy

Executive Mentorship

Operational Excellence

Terri Kallsen is an accomplished wealth management executive known for leading strategic initiatives and driving innovative solutions across both large institutions and rapidly growing RIAs. As Managing Partner and Head of Partnerships at Rise Growth Partners, she leads enterprise transformation for partner firms—supporting strategic planning, organic growth initiatives, client experience innovation, and platform and performance reporting enhancements. She is a passionate partner to the leadership teams she collaborates with as they build the next generation of lighthouse brands in wealth management.

Before joining Rise, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Wealth Enhancement Group (WEG), where she oversaw advisor teams, platform and digital strategy, high-net-worth offerings, and trust services. Prior to WEG, she was Executive Vice President of Investor Services at Charles Schwab, where she led 7,000 employees and $1.6 trillion in assets under management. Schwab’s multiple J.D. Power awards for client satisfaction during her tenure reflect her commitment to service excellence and team empowerment.

Known for her innovative thinking and advisor advocacy, Terri is a respected speaker, writer, and co-host of Rise Up! by Wealthion on YouTube, where she delivers weekly market insights alongside partner firms.

She was honored as San Francisco’s Financial Woman of the Year in 2019 for her dedication to mentoring others in the community and empowering women in the workplace. A Certified Financial Planner® and former advisor herself, she currently serves as Chair-Elect of the CFP® Board of Directors. She also sits on the Hollins University Board of Trustees and volunteers for the Midway Shelter of Alameda, supporting abused and homeless women and children.

Her academic background includes the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Financial Management/CFO Program, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, and a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Benedict/Saint John’s University.

Terri lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Scott, of 30 years, and they have three adult children. An enthusiastic marathon runner, she has completed 21 marathons, 50 half marathons, and even more triathlons. She enjoys hiking, boating, and mentoring others to foster positive change.

Growth in wealth management comes from trust, but innovation ensures that trust scales.

Will
Armenta

Outdoor Sports Hack, Coffee + Gear Enthusiast

For the past 20 years, Will has been immersed in investment management as a practitioner, technologist, investor and founder. 

Will launched his career among the best and brightest, navigating the fast-paced world of hedge funds on the trading floor of Fidelity Investments and honing portfolio management skills at Goldman Sachs Private Wealth, covering multi-asset and endowment style portfolios. 

Will is at his best when he can form a vision and make it a reality. As an early employee at fintech platform Addepar, he helped grow the company from its first clients to over $2.5 trillion in assets, incubating and scaling product, business and client teams. He launched the partnerships team, negotiating bank, tech and service partnerships; and helped lead Addepar’s first acquisition. He is passionate about building product and championed the vision and development of the Integration Center and Developer Portal.

Will joined 8VC as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence and co-founded Opto Investments with Joe Lonsdale, offering a customized and scalable private fund solution for RIAs. He focused on go to market strategy, helped recruit key talent, and was with the company through its Series A. He remains an advisor at Opto.

Will is an executive advisor at Fligoo, an AI-driven practice insights solution for enterprise wealth management. And he is co-owner of 4FRNT Ski Company. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Babson College with a B.S. in Business Management. 

Rain or shine, you will find Will outside: in the ocean or on the trails of West Marin, the backcountry of Lake Tahoe, or working in his garden in San Francisco with his wife Jory and dog Doc.

Ryan Beck

Vice President,
Advisory Partnerships

Data Management

Transitions & Integrations

Onboarding & Training

Platform Strategy & Design

Client Experience

As Vice President of Advisory Partnerships at Rise Growth Partners, Ryan Beck collaborates closely with firm leaders to help them realize their strategic growth goals and five-year vision. Through personalized coaching, strategic guidance, and hands-on support, he equips advisory firms with the resources, frameworks, and operational tools they need to scale with confidence and clarity.

With 18 years of experience in the independent wealth management industry, Ryan has built and led transition, onboarding, and platform teams at both United Capital and Goldman Sachs. He has overseen more than $14 billion in inorganic AUM transitions, designed centralized advisor hubs and analytics platforms, and developed the operational infrastructure to support scalable, enterprise-level growth.

Today he brings his depth of experience to his work at Rise, helping firms unlock their potential and deliver lasting impact through thoughtful planning and execution.

Ryan lives in Parker, Colorado, with his daughter Zoey, two energetic puppies, Rosie and Linc, and their cat Alice. Outside of work, he finds joy in outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and camping. In the colder months, Ryan indulges his love for crafts and learning with his daughter, games with friends and family, and reading to recharge.

It’s easy to grow fast. It’s harder to grow right. But when you put the right people around the right priorities, driven by curiosity, intent, and a client-first mindset, growth becomes the natural outcome, not the objective.

Hannah Birchard

M&A Associate,

Client Relationship Development

CRM Strategy & Data Operations

Project Management

Growth Enablement

Meeting and Event Logistics

Hannah Birchard brings a people-first mindset and sharp operational focus to her role as M&A Associate at Rise Growth Partners. She supports the firm’s business development and client service initiatives—cultivating strong relationships and coordinating efforts that help Rise and its partner firms grow with intention.

Prior to Rise, Hannah worked at TRD, where she managed a diverse portfolio of more than 50 high-growth mid-market companies and designed curated events for clients in Park City, Utah, and Austin, Texas. Her ability to foster clarity and connection at every stage of the client journey reflects her commitment to exceptional service and outcomes.

With a background in project management and a reputation for precision, she plays a critical role at Rise keeping high-impact initiatives organized, on track, and aligned across teams ensuring a seamless experience for prospective and current partner firms.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University, where she uncovered her passion for helping people grow—individually and in business. She has lived in Cambodia, Ecuador, and Russia, experiences that continue to shape her global outlook and curiosity.

Hannah lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband and their dog. She enjoys playing pickleball, spending weekends on Lake Travis, sipping a good cabernet, and exploring new corners of the world.

Every meeting is a chance to move a relationship from potential to partnership. Behind the scenes, careful coordination ensures a seamless experience for everyone—clearing the path for firms to focus on building what’s next.

Stacy Coffey

Managing Director, Head of Advisory Partnership Success

Strategic Planning

Operational Excellence

Leadership Coaching

Organic Growth Strategies

Client Experience

With over 25 years in wealth management, Stacy Coffey is a results-driven executive known for driving firm growth, advancing advisor and client experience, and actionable leadership development. As Managing Director and Head of Advisory Partnership Success at Rise Growth Partners, she expertly guides RIA leaders and advisors on growth acceleration strategies and achieving exceptional outcomes for both firms and their clients.

Stacy began her career at Charles Schwab, where she spent over 19 years advising high-net-worth clients, leading advisory teams across the West Coast. She later relocated to Schwab’s corporate headquarters to lead firmwide initiatives focused on client experience, wealth planning, and long-term, sustainable growth.

She most recently served as Senior Vice President of Wealth Strategies at Wealth Enhancement Group, where she led specialized teams delivering scalable financial planning, investment consulting, tax preparation, estate planning strategies, high-net-worth services, and insurance solutions. Her leadership drove deeper client engagement and fueled organic growth in net new assets.

Known for distilling complex strategies into actionable insights, Stacy has been featured in Barron’s, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes, reflecting her stature as a respected voice in the industry. Stacy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and holds Series 7, 9, 10, 63, and 66 licenses. She is also a certified executive coach through the UC Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute and holds a BA in secondary education from Ottawa University.

She lives in San Francisco with her partner of 19 years, Mary Helen, their dog Gracie, and cat Mr. Jones. Outside of work, she’s often planning her next theater outing, attending a concert or game, or coaching others to unlock their potential.

We’ve always done it this way’ doesn’t scale. What got us here was right for its time, but the next level requires rethinking even our best habits.

Natalie Corry

Vice President,
Advisory Partnerships

Training & Integration

Centralization Strategy & Execution

Operational Excellence

Client & Advisor Experience

Project Management

Natalie Corry brings over 15 years of experience in the RIA industry, with a background that spans client service, operations, onboarding, and strategic planning. As Vice President of Advisory Partnerships at Rise Growth Partners, she serves as a relationship lead, helping firms develop and execute efficient, effective growth initiatives for long-term success.

She began her career as an Operations Specialist at a boutique investment firm later acquired by United Capital, where she transitioned into a Relationship Manager role focused on financial planning and client experience. She went on to lead onboarding efforts at United Capital, streamlining advisor ramp-up and increasing adoption of tools and processes.

Prior to joining Rise, Natalie served as Vice President at Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management, where she led the FinLife Service team and drove initiatives around operational efficiency and change management.

She is known for her adaptability, collaborative leadership style, and ability to turn strategy into execution to help firms achieve and exceed their goals. Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from The University of Arizona, along with FINRA Series 63 & 65 licenses.

She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband, Tyler, their energetic baby boy, and their two corgis. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and trying new recipes.

Exceptional client service starts with empowered advisor teams — when advisors are supported by efficient processes and streamlined operations, clients feel that they’re your #1 priority.

Jennifer Geoghegan

Chief Marketing Officer


Branding

Digital Marketing

Inorganic Growth

Talent Development & Coaching

Strategic Planning

Jennifer Geoghegan is a recognized leader in the independent wealth management industry, known for helping growth-minded RIAs scale with intention, clarity, and impact. As Chief Marketing Officer at Rise Growth Partners, she leads marketing while partnering with exceptional firms to accelerate enterprise value and build lighthouse brands that attract the right clients and talent.

Over her career, Jennifer has held senior leadership roles at American Express, Focus Financial Partners, and, most recently, The Colony Group, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief of Staff. Her expertise spans branding, client acquisition, digital strategy, and team development—making her a trusted advisor to leadership teams across the industry. She is also the co-host of RiseUp with Rise Growth Partners alongside Joe Duran, an author, and a frequent speaker on the future of marketing, growth, strategy and leadership in wealth management.

Jennifer holds an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business, a BA from the University of Virginia, and an Executive Coaching Certification from Columbia University. She has served on several philanthropic and nonprofit boards, bringing her strategic and leadership acumen to mission-driven organizations.

A former college athlete, Jennifer brings the same drive, discipline, and teamwork to her professional life. She has always enjoyed watching her son and daughter (both Boston College Eagles) and her favorite teams play ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey. Jennifer lives in Summit, NJ with her husband and children who visit during breaks.

Growth isn’t just about getting bigger—it’s about getting clearer. The firms that win are the ones who know who they are, where they’re going, and how to bring top talent along with them.

Phil
Jacobson

Mogul Skiing Pickle Baller

Phil is a 35 year veteran in the financial services industry and has played many roles over that time.  Starting with developing the first PC Advisor workstation rolled out across a BD system of 72 offices.  Phil then transitioned to an advisory role 1994, and then Head of Office for United Capital  for 11 years.  In 2016 Phil took over the practice management group at United Capital called the GO Team for Growth Optimization.  The GO Team partnered with advisors to help them dramatically accelerate their growth trajectories by optimizing their advisory practices, developing high performing teams, and implementing sustainable growth strategies.  Phil then played a key role with the integration of United Capital into Goldman Sachs, with their 2019 purchase of the firm.  Phil is excited to be back in the role of helping independent advisors make the necessary paradigm shifts to accelerate their growth trajectories and build national platform advisory business that will impact families for generations.

Phil is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Carlson School of management with a Bachelor of Science degree, along with an additional 35 years of boots on the ground experience.

Phil and his wife moved to Colorado in 2020 to be closer to the mountain life that they both love in any season, but ski season is the tops! Or, is it mountain biking season or fly fishing season, or hiking season…. heck you pick! 

Phil and Cindy are relatively new empty nesters (for now…), with a daughter working in New York, and a son finishing his master’s and working in Des Moines.

Tony Ling

Volleyball + Wine Enthusiast

Tony has been an investor and leader in the financial services and wealth management space for nearly 20 years.

Most recently, Tony was a Managing Director at Corsair Capital, a financial and business services focused private equity firm. While there, Tony led, executed and managed investments representing several billion dollars of equity capital. Tony has evaluated and worked on over 50 transactions across the wealth management ecosystem, and has served on a variety of boards. Prior to that, he worked at Lightyear Capital and JPMorgan. 

Tony has an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Yale University.

He lives in New York City with his wife and son, who loves playgrounds and transformers.

Darius Mirshahzadeh

Executive Director
and Co-Founder

Serial Entrepreneur

Best-selling Author

Podcast Host

PE Investor

Darius is an award-winning high-growth CEO, entrepreneur, author, advisor, and podcaster with over 23 years of experience growing companies from startup to scale. Darius is the former CEO of TMS where he grew the company.

Darius is an award-winning high-growth CEO, entrepreneur, author, advisor, and podcaster with over 23 years of experience growing companies from startup to scale. Darius is the former CEO of TMS where he grew the company from 30 to over 1,000 employees in just 3 years and was named the #9 highest rated CEO in America on Glassdoor.com. Under his leadership, Darius has raised over $400M in institutional capital, generated $1.2B in top line revenue and created pretax EBITDA in excess of $250M.

Darius is the author of the Best Selling business book, The Core Value Equation, is a 2020 graduate of the renowned Integral Leadership Program from the Stagen Institute, is a 2008 graduate of MIT’s Birthing of Giants Entrepreneurial Master’s Program, and holds a BA from UC Santa Barbara in Business and Economics.

Darius is a lover of all things pizza, practices transcendental meditation daily, plays the ukulele, loves books, lifting heavy things, and meeting amazing people on his iTunes top rated entrepreneurial podcast, The Greatness Machine.

Darius lives in Austin, Texas with his amazing wife Maria, sons Rumi and Pablo, and dog Desi.

Working with entrepreneurs to transform potential into lasting impact is a constant source of joy.

Mike Mirshahzadeh

Managing Partner,
M&A

RIA Relationship Builder

Tech-Powered Prospecting

Consultative Storytelling

Cross-Functional Fluency

Relentless Execution & Reinvention

Mike Mirshahzadeh is a natural connector with three decades of experience in sales, talent acquisition, and M&A across financial services. As a founding partner at Rise Growth Partners, he leads the firm’s relationship development and origination efforts—spearheading outreach and building trust with exceptional advisors and firms.

Prior to Rise, Mike served as Chief Revenue Officer at TMS, where he led the development of the firm’s institutional lending platform and scaled it from inception to more than $11 billion in annual mortgage-backed securities issuances. Between 2013 and 2020, he secured 67 strategic institutional relationships, laying the foundation for a third-party servicing business that now oversees more than $100 billion in mortgage servicing assets.

Mike brings a collaborative approach to every partnership at Rise, working directly with firm leaders to identify the right inorganic opportunities aligned with their strategic objectives. He is the host of The What Matters Podcast, spotlighting thought leaders across wealth management.

Outside of work, he’s an avid car enthusiast, accomplished painter, and longtime devotee of fashion and design. A disciplined martial artist, Mike has trained in Muay Thai for over 20 years and competed professionally in both Thailand and the United States. He also champions animal welfare and lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his two rescue companions: Larry the pig and Shamus the French bulldog.

Strategic inorganic growth opportunities are not found by chance—they're the result of consistent focus, deep networks and clarity on what a firm truly needs to accelerate.

Jack Morgan

Vice President,
Advisor Technology and Platform Solutions

Data & Analytics Strategy

Operational Excellence

Insights & Decision Enablement

Human-Centered Systems

Platform Development

A strategic technology and data leader, Jack Morgan helps firms unlock value through innovation, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making. As Vice President of Advisor Technology and Platform Solutions at Rise Growth Partners, he accelerates growth through analytics and a purpose-driven enterprise platform that supports the development of the brightest lighthouse brands in the RIA industry.

Jack began his career at Charles Schwab, where he supported advisors in their transition to independence before going on to build and lead the Advisor Services data and analytics practice. Over his tenure, he ran enterprise operations for multiple senior leaders across two major technology divisions and ultimately led the execution of Schwab’s enterprise-wide data and analytics operating strategy. With a deep understanding of the operational backbone of advisory firms, he applies human-centered design to create more effective systems and streamlined processes.

A sought-after speaker, Jack has presented at events such as the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit, delivering sessions on topics including “Unlocking Enterprise Value through Democratizing Your Data.”

Jack holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology with a concentration in Anatomy and Physiology from East Carolina University. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Megan, sons Cooper and Carson, and their golden retriever, Paisley. Outside of work, Jack is a hobbyist and tinkerer who enjoys cycling, scouting, coaching youth sports, exploring local coffee shops, and spending weekends at the lake.

The most effective platforms are nearly invisible—they illuminate what matters, remove friction from what works, and are built on a foundation of empathy.

Jacob Sadeh

Senior Associate, Investments

Deal Structuring

Valuation

Restructuring

M&A Advisory

Financial Modeling

Jacob Sadeh brings sharp analytical instincts and a people-first mindset to his role as Senior Associate of Investments at Rise Growth Partners. He advises on transaction-related opportunities across Rise and its partner firms, supporting the development of strategic investments and helping leadership teams navigate the next phase of growth.

Before joining Rise, Jacob worked in sell-side M&A advisory at two investment banks specializing in the financial services sector, where he led deal processes from start to finish—including several high-profile transactions in the wealth management space. He began his career in restructuring at a global consulting firm, gaining technical depth and a firsthand view into how businesses evolve during periods of transition. Self-made and driven, Jacob shares a natural connection with the founders and partners he supports—many of whom have built their businesses from the ground up.

Jacob graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, where he studied finance, accounting, and real estate. He lives in New York City and spends his free time snowboarding out West, training for marathons, learning to play tennis, and staying active outdoors.

It is incredibly rewarding to help our partner firms accelerate the right kind of growth by bringing in advisors who truly fit—both culturally and strategically.

Christy Schrader

Vice President,
Chief of Staff

Project & Program Management

Cross-Functional Leadership

Strategic Planning & Execution

Process Development

Operational Excellence

Christy Schrader is a seasoned operations and project management leader with a background spanning marketing, IT, and risk management. As Vice President, Chief of Staff at Rise Growth Partners, she helps drive strategic alignment across the firm—translating ideas into action and scaling the systems, processes, and people behind Rise’s growth.

She honed her skills at Charles Schwab, where she refined her approach to systems thinking and project management in a highly regulated, client-first environment. Christy later served as Chief of Staff at a growing engineering firm, where she led the establishment of core business functions—including Human Resources, Marketing, and Operations—to support the company’s national expansion. 

Christy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pepperdine University, where she participated in an international study program in London and completed a congressional internship in Washington, D.C. She also earned a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas at Austin, focusing on innovation-driven business strategy.

A lifelong learner and committed community member, Christy is active in the Junior League of Austin, a women’s volunteer and training organization. Outside of work, she enjoys tennis, pickleball, golf, and yoga.

Successful teams share vision, accountability, and the belief that better is always possible.

Brian Shenson

Managing Partner,
Chief Operating Officer

RIA Operations

Digital Client Experience

Product Management

Strategic Partnerships

AI + FinTech

Brian Shenson is a wealth tech strategist and operations leader who combines client-first thinking with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach. As Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Rise Growth Partners, he leads platform strategy, client experience, and firm-wide execution across technology, operations, reporting, and analytics. He equips partner firms with expert guidance in business intelligence and financial reporting—unlocking insights that drive smarter decisions, enabling them to scale with intention and deliver at the highest level.

Brian’s work with financial advisors began at Charles Schwab, where he developed and oversaw a range of technology solutions for independent advisors. While there, he pioneered platform integration capabilities for Schwab’s wealthtech ecosystem and led the evolution of its market-leading portfolio management system. He went on to co-found Springboard Advisory Group, a boutique tech consultancy advising RIAs on growth, operations, and digital strategy, and later joined Boston Consulting Group (BCG), delivering specialized expertise to top-tier financial services and wealth management firms.

He combines deep knowledge of the business fundamentals and operational underpinnings of delivering wealth management with practical experience helping firms navigate tech stack strategy, optimize client and advisor experiences, and redesign business processes—leading RIA firms to realize their potential and compete at scale.

Brian holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. He lives in Lafayette, California, with his wife Emily, their two children, and their dog Mojo. Outside of work, Brian enjoys trail hiking, catching live music, and cheering on the San Francisco Giants.

Applying practical solutions to business problems can turn complexity into opportunity— enabling firms to achieve consistent, intentional growth.

Ashley Ward

Vice President, M&A

Strategic Partnership Development

Relationship Building

Podcaster

Growth Mindset

Operational Excellence

Ashley Ward is a dynamic financial services professional with a proven track record of driving growth through strategic partnerships, relationship development, and operational excellence. As Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Rise Growth Partners, Ashley plays a key role in sourcing and structuring transformative partnerships that help accelerate growth and unlock value for partner RIA firms.

Throughout her career, Ashley has successfully managed and transitioned over $70 billion in institutional mortgage servicing assets, bringing deep operational insight to every relationship she cultivates. She has a sharp eye for identifying opportunities and is passionate about aligning Rise’s strategic expertise with the objectives of partner firms to co-create lasting success. Ashley also hosts The What Matters Podcast, where she interviews industry innovators and emerging voices shaping the future of wealth management.

She holds a Bachelor of Letters, Arts, & Sciences from The University of Arizona, with an emphasis on Economy and Industry and a minor in Business Administration. Outside of work, Ashley is passionate about cooking, wellness, and fashion—and is always planning her next travel adventure. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her exuberant pug, Tito.

Meaningful growth is never achieved alone—it thrives within relationships built on mutual ambition, genuine connection, and a shared vision. Cultivating these partnerships is the ultimate reward, unlocking opportunities for transformative success.

Joe Duran

Beach Lover + Girl Dad

Joe is a serial entrepreneur and an industry visionary in wealth management and wealthtech. 

Most recently Joe was a Partner at Goldman Sachs as Co-Head of the Workplace and Personal Wealth business. Joe founded and was CEO of United Capital, one of the nation’s largest independent wealth management firms, which was acquired by Goldman Sachs in July, 2019. Prior to that he built and sold Centurion Capital, one of the first Turnkey Asset Management Platforms to General Electric where he served as President of GE Private Asset Management (now NYSE listed AssetMark.) 

He has written three books on investing and entrepreneurship and has been on the New York Times and USA bestseller lists. Joe is a sought after conference speaker and appears frequently on a broad spectrum of media from CNBC to Goop.

Joe has MBAs from Columbia University and UC Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University. He is a CFA Charterholder and a member of YPO. He has been a Yogi for decades, meditates daily and is an avid beach volleyball player. 

Joe is married to Jennifer and they have three daughters that they cherish.  They live in Laguna Beach, California and Tribeca, New York. They travel frequently, love dining, dancing and live concerts.