Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Senior Vice President, Business Development & Acquisitions - Retail RIA
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85003
Senior Vice President, Business Development & Acquisitions - RIA
Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
About the Role We are seeking a strategic, relationship‑driven leader to oversee and accelerate our inorganic growth strategy within the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) ecosystem. As SVP, Business Development & Acquisitions - RIA, you will identify, evaluate, and execute acquisition and partnership opportunities that expand our national presence and strengthen our long‑term enterprise value. This senior executive will lead the full M&A lifecycle—from sourcing and financial modeling through due diligence, negotiation, and integration—while collaborating closely with the executive team to shape corporate strategy and ensure seamless advisor onboarding.
In this role you will build and manage a robust pipeline of RIA opportunities, leverage market intelligence to uncover strategic growth avenues, and cultivate influential relationships across the RIA, custody, aggregator, and banking communities. The ideal candidate brings deep RIA industry expertise, exceptional strategic judgment, and a proven track record of driving high‑impact M&A initiatives that enhance advisor experience, operational scale, and organizational performance.
Responsibilities M&A Strategy & Execution
Lead the full lifecycle of RIA‑focused M&A, including sourcing, evaluating, structuring, and executing acquisitions and strategic partnerships.
Build and maintain a robust RIA acquisition pipeline aligned with long‑term inorganic growth objectives.
Manage all aspects of negotiations, coordinating internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely, compliant deal execution.
Financial & Market Analysis
Oversee financial modeling, valuation analysis, and performance assessments to support executive‑level decision making.
Conduct market research and competitive intelligence to identify advisor trends, platform dynamics, and high‑potential RIA opportunities.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Lead cross‑functional due diligence across finance, legal, compliance, operations, IT, and HR to evaluate fit, risks, and integration requirements.
Present strategic recommendations and transaction updates to senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
Partner with internal leaders to design integration strategies that ensure advisor onboarding success and drive long‑term value realization.
Relationship Development
Cultivate strong relationships with RIA aggregators, custodians, intermediaries, investment bankers, and other key industry partners.
Represent the firm externally and leverage industry insights to reinforce our position as an industry leader.
Education & Experience The ideal candidate will have advanced experience in business development, M&A, and corporate development—preferably within the RIA or wealth management ecosystem.
Certifications & Licenses FINRA Series 65 or 66 license is preferred.
Preferred Skills
Experience working with advisor groups, aggregators, custodians, or RIA platforms.
Proven ability to guide teams and influence cross‑functional stakeholders.
Demonstrated success in developing long‑range strategic plans and driving enterprise‑level initiatives.
Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret complex data and produce high‑quality analyses.
Compensation $150,000 - $200,000 base pay plus incentive compensation based on successful completion of acquisitions. This is a good‑faith estimate of the compensation to be offered for this position based on the ideal candidate’s qualifications, the company’s operational needs, and other considerations permitted by law. The actual pay offered to a specific candidate may vary above or below the stated salary.
Benefits
Premium benefit package including medical, vision, dental, life and long‑term disability insurance
Vacation/sick time
401(k) retirement plan with company matching program
Profit Sharing Plan
Eleven paid holidays
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About the Role We are seeking a strategic, relationship‑driven leader to oversee and accelerate our inorganic growth strategy within the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) ecosystem. As SVP, Business Development & Acquisitions - RIA, you will identify, evaluate, and execute acquisition and partnership opportunities that expand our national presence and strengthen our long‑term enterprise value. This senior executive will lead the full M&A lifecycle—from sourcing and financial modeling through due diligence, negotiation, and integration—while collaborating closely with the executive team to shape corporate strategy and ensure seamless advisor onboarding.
In this role you will build and manage a robust pipeline of RIA opportunities, leverage market intelligence to uncover strategic growth avenues, and cultivate influential relationships across the RIA, custody, aggregator, and banking communities. The ideal candidate brings deep RIA industry expertise, exceptional strategic judgment, and a proven track record of driving high‑impact M&A initiatives that enhance advisor experience, operational scale, and organizational performance.
Responsibilities M&A Strategy & Execution
Lead the full lifecycle of RIA‑focused M&A, including sourcing, evaluating, structuring, and executing acquisitions and strategic partnerships.
Build and maintain a robust RIA acquisition pipeline aligned with long‑term inorganic growth objectives.
Manage all aspects of negotiations, coordinating internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely, compliant deal execution.
Financial & Market Analysis
Oversee financial modeling, valuation analysis, and performance assessments to support executive‑level decision making.
Conduct market research and competitive intelligence to identify advisor trends, platform dynamics, and high‑potential RIA opportunities.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Lead cross‑functional due diligence across finance, legal, compliance, operations, IT, and HR to evaluate fit, risks, and integration requirements.
Present strategic recommendations and transaction updates to senior leadership and the Board of Directors.
Partner with internal leaders to design integration strategies that ensure advisor onboarding success and drive long‑term value realization.
Relationship Development
Cultivate strong relationships with RIA aggregators, custodians, intermediaries, investment bankers, and other key industry partners.
Represent the firm externally and leverage industry insights to reinforce our position as an industry leader.
Education & Experience The ideal candidate will have advanced experience in business development, M&A, and corporate development—preferably within the RIA or wealth management ecosystem.
Certifications & Licenses FINRA Series 65 or 66 license is preferred.
Preferred Skills
Experience working with advisor groups, aggregators, custodians, or RIA platforms.
Proven ability to guide teams and influence cross‑functional stakeholders.
Demonstrated success in developing long‑range strategic plans and driving enterprise‑level initiatives.
Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret complex data and produce high‑quality analyses.
Compensation $150,000 - $200,000 base pay plus incentive compensation based on successful completion of acquisitions. This is a good‑faith estimate of the compensation to be offered for this position based on the ideal candidate’s qualifications, the company’s operational needs, and other considerations permitted by law. The actual pay offered to a specific candidate may vary above or below the stated salary.
Benefits
Premium benefit package including medical, vision, dental, life and long‑term disability insurance
Vacation/sick time
401(k) retirement plan with company matching program
Profit Sharing Plan
Eleven paid holidays
#J-18808-Ljbffr