The registered investment advisor channel continued to draw senior talent from across the financial services industry this week, with three firms announcing appointments that span investment banking, alternative investment distribution, and sports-and-entertainment wealth management.
Guggenheim Securities said it hired Blake Jones as a senior managing director in its Global Services Investment Banking practice, where he will focus on mergers and acquisitions involving independent broker-dealers, RIAs, and asset and wealth management firms. Jones joins from William Blair, where he was a partner and managing director in the firm's tech-enabled services investment banking practice. He brings roughly 25 years of experience in the sector and will be based in Nashville. Mark Van Lith, chief executive of Guggenheim Securities, said Jones "is a leading advisor to the wealth and asset management sectors" and that his addition "significantly strengthens our franchise in this important segment."
Meanwhile, Catalyst Capital Advisors added two senior RIA sales directors: Tim Brand, CFA, CAIA, who joins from Meeder Investments, where he served as senior vice president and head of advisor consulting distribution, and Don Gentile, who most recently was director of national RIA sales at Vontobel Asset Management. Both hires are aimed squarely at deepening Catalyst's relationships with registered investment advisors, family offices, and wealth management firms. Jerry Szilagyi, chief executive of Catalyst, said their "knowledge of the alternative space will help us continue delivering exceptional service while broadening awareness of our investment capabilities." Brand's background includes prior roles at Calamos Investments; Gentile previously held positions at Putnam Investments. Together, they bring combined decades of advisor-facing distribution experience in alternatives, a segment that has seen growing demand as RIAs seek differentiated portfolio solutions for clients.
The week's third notable hire came from Dynasty Financial Partners, which named Greg Resh as executive-in-residence. Resh is a veteran of the sports and entertainment finance world, having served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the NFL's Washington Commanders, CFO at Roc Nation, CFO at NBCUniversal Telemundo, and, most recently, co-founder of SIGR, a sports and entertainment investment bank. Dynasty, which serves as the official wealth management partner of the United Football League and supports a network of RIA firms with advisory clients in the sports and entertainment sector, said the hire reflects its intention to expand into what it described as a "growing sector." Resh is the second sports-focused executive-in-residence appointed by the firm in 2026, following the earlier addition of Matt LaPorta.
These moves come as the RIA channel continues to attract talent from traditional brokerage and banking environments, a trend that has been accelerating as advisors seek more independence and firms look to capture a larger share of the wealth management market. The hires also underscore the growing importance of specialized niches, such as alternatives and sports-and-entertainment wealth, which are becoming key differentiators for firms serving high-net-worth clients.
For advisors and firms watching the competitive landscape, these appointments signal a continued focus on building out capabilities in M&A advisory, alternative investments, and niche client segments. As the RIA channel matures, expect more senior talent to make similar moves, further blurring the lines between traditional and independent wealth management.
