People Moves: Dynasty Hires Employer Compensation Expert

Dynasty Hires Employer Compensation Expert, Invests in His Startup

Dynasty Financial Partners has hired former Morgan Stanley executive and equity compensation plan expert Brian McDonald and made a minority investment in his startup, Grantd, an AI-driven compensation advice platform. 

McDonald will be a senior advisor for Dynasty, the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based support platform for registered investment advisors. He joins after over two decades of experience as a managing director with Morgan Stanley and a senior vice president at Charles Schwab. 

The move is an attempt by Dynasty to bring further capabilities to independent financial advisors on its platform, with the firm seeing more demand for benefits guidance in the RIA space.

“Brian is one of the most respected names in the stock plan space, and we are extremely proud to welcome him to our team and introduce him to our Network,” Dynasty founder and CEO Shirl Penney said in a statement.

McDonald launched Grantd in July, gearing it toward advisors but also open to individuals. The firm seeks to provide personalized and tax-aware equity compensation guidance.

“I am excited for the opportunity to partner with the Dynasty team and appreciate their investment in Grantd,” McDonald said in a statement. “Several new models are taking shape in the independent arena for technology and stock plan services, and I look forward to helping Dynasty take the industry to new levels.”

Related:FPA Names Dennis Moore as CEO

$30B Sequioa Promotes Annie McCauley to President

Sequoia Financial Group, a $30-billion RIA based in Akron, Ohio, has promoted Annie McCauley from chief client experience officer to president, among other leadership changes that it positioned as part of a long-term strategic plan.

McCauley takes over as president from Tom Haught, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the firm he started in 1991.

McCauley, who joined Sequoia Financial as an intern in 1999, will be responsible for the firm’s strategy, organic growth plans and team development. She will also continue to lead its national network of advisors.

Haught’s role will shift from day-to-day execution to long-term enterprise strategy, growth partnerships and capital formation. He will also continue to focus on mentoring and leading the executive team.

In addition to McCauley’s elevation, Joe Glick, chief operating and financial officer, has been given an expanded role to include investment research. Glick, who joined the firm in 2023, will continue to lead investment operations, client services, technology, organizational development, compliance and finance. 

Related:Edelman Financial Engines Elevates New President to CEO While Considering Long-Term Plans

Chris Thom, currently chief strategy and partnerships officer, is now chief growth officer. Thom, who came on board in 2024, will assume responsibilities for wealth planning, estate planning, tax planning, and retirement plan services, in addition to overseeing strategic partnerships, marketing, and communications.

The moves “mark a significant milestone for Sequoia Financial as we continue to build a durable firm that will serve families and businesses for generations,” Haught said in a statement. “We have a history of thinking ahead and reinvesting in our business, both for today and for the firm we want to be in the future.”

Advisor.com Hires a Chief Operating Officer

Advisor.com, a Charleston, S.C.-based client referral company that connects individuals with financial advisors, has appointed Justin White as its new chief operating officer. 

White, who joined the company on Oct. 1, brings digital marketing experience from previous roles at North One, ConsumerAffairs, Beyond Finance, LendingTree and Expedia. He is expected to leverage that background to drive business growth for Advisor.com, which announced a $9 million seed funding round in September led by Walkabout Ventures and with participation from Jim Brown, founder and managing partner of Long Ridge Private Equity Partners. 

Related:Creative Planning Names SageView President As Retirement Solutions Head

“Justin is a digital marketing operator who thrives on building scalable systems and repeatable growth engines,” Hunter Stunzi, CEO of Advisor.com, said in a statement.

Advisor.com’s platform uses AI to match investors with vetted fiduciary advisors from firms including large RIAs such as Creative Planning and 401(k) recordkeepers like Empower. The company also operates its own RIA, Advisor Wealth Management.

“Advisor.com is defining the future of intelligent, efficient client acquisition for registered investment advisors, and I’m excited to work with Hunter and our partners to help investors reach their goals,” White said in a statement.

Kestra’s Bluespring Wealth Expands Leadership Team

Bluespring Wealth Partners, the Kestra Holdings-owned hybrid RIA acquisition platform, has expanded its leadership team with five new hires, including a new head to lead integration of its acquired RIAs. 

Adam Sokolic, Rochelle Levy and William Salmen joined as executives, while Jonathan Ballenger and Tyler Schlater were tapped to join the business development team. 

Sokolic has been hired as head of business operations and integrations. He previously served as chief operating officer for retirement and private wealth at HUB International, where he led an acquisition strategy that led to more than 600% inorganic growth.

Levy joins as chief compliance officer, bringing over 15 years of experience in banking, investment management and capital markets. She was most recently chief compliance officer for capital markets, private bank and wealth management at City National Bank.

Salmen was named head of mergers and acquisitions. He brings over a decade of experience in the space, most recently from Galway Insurance Holdings, where he was vice president of acquisitions and business development. 

Ballenger and Schlater join the business development team as regional business development directors, working with Josh Bartholomew, head of business development. Ballenger most recently worked with Morningstar, and Schlater worked with Pacer ETFs.

“This group of new team members brings the kind of expertise that will take Bluespring to the next level,” Pradeep Jayaraman, president of Bluespring, said in a statement. “Their leadership—along with the teams they are building—will drive growth, elevate advisor support, and accelerate our vision for the future of wealth management.”