Beacon Pointe Advisors, an acquisitive registered investment advisor based in Newport Beach, California, has expanded its executive leadership team. The firm, which manages approximately $63 billion in client assets, appointed Katie Cullen as chief growth and integration officer and Sarah Green as chief risk and compliance officer. These hires represent a shift in the company’s internal structure to accommodate ongoing scale.
Katie Cullen joins the firm from BlackRock. She will lead the Practice Management, M&A, and Strategic Integration teams. Her background includes a tenure at Schwab Advisor Services and 11 years as a U.S. Army Reserve Logistics Officer. According to CEO Matthew Cooper, Cullen is responsible for the integration of newly acquired firms and the acceleration of organic growth. This is a newly created role within the organization.
Sarah Green transitions to Beacon Pointe from Vanguard. She previously served as global head of financial crimes and code of conduct at the investment giant. Her experience includes managing anti-money laundering programs and trade surveillance. She also held roles at the Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA. Her appointment reflects a focus on tightening risk management protocols.
Growth and Regional Expansion Across the RIA Space
Beyond Beacon Pointe, other firms are aggressively recruiting to bolster their regional presence. Glenmede, a Philadelphia-based firm with $53 billion in assets, recently announced a wave of hires across four markets. The firm added senior advisors in New York, Northern New Jersey, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. These moves serve to expand their reach in private wealth management.
Louis Porta joins the New York office as a managing director after a career at Wilmington Trust. In Northern New Jersey, Christina Duffy joins as a fiduciary advisor from Beacon Trust. Michael Novak and Jack Glending join the Cleveland office. Steven Kaczynski Jr. enters the Pittsburgh office from PNC. Regional director Adam Douberly stated these additions highlight the firm’s ability to attract seasoned talent in specific geographic hubs.
Niche Expertise and Specialized Roles
Novare Capital Management is also targeting specific skill sets. The Charlotte-based firm, which oversees $2 billion in assets, hired Jessica Rickert as senior vice president and legacy planning specialist. Rickert arrives from Vanguard, where she spent 13 years managing client relationships and estate transitions. Her focus is on assisting ultra-high-net-worth families with wealth and business successions.
Novare has been active in capital markets recently. The firm sold a minority stake to Emigrant Partners in January 2025. This deal likely provided the financial foundation for this executive expansion. Rickert’s role indicates a move toward providing more specialized advisory services to maintain continuity within client families.
Leadership Shifts in Major Private Banks
Large institutions are similarly shifting personnel to manage regional performance. Citi Private Bank named Michelle Pryor as investment counselor team lead for the central region. Based in Dallas, Pryor joins the bank in November. She transitions from Bank of America Private Bank, where she functioned as a market leader.
Her history includes previous roles at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and a Dallas-based family office. The hiring of leadership with deep regional roots in cities like Dallas suggests a strategy to retain local client trust. These collective moves across the industry signal a high demand for experienced executives capable of navigating complex compliance landscapes and competitive growth environments.
As these firms integrate new talent, the focus will remain on asset retention and the effective transition of acquired practices. The success of these hires will be measured by their ability to maintain service standards while firms increase in size. Market observers should track how these new leaders influence internal operations throughout the final quarter of 2026.