Episode summary
RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling an RIA Through Talent and Ownership with Tom Orecchio
Summary
Modera Wealth Management has shifted from a founder-led advisory practice into a professionally managed, employee-owned RIA with roughly 18 billion in assets, 250 employees, 20 locations and about 100 individual owners. Tom Orecchio said the turning point came around the 2007 crisis, when running the business became as important as serving clients, and the firm began hiring dedicated management so advisers could stay focused on planning and relationships.
Orecchio argued that growth matters because it creates career paths, supports specialization, adds service depth and gives owners liquidity. Modera has used both opportunistic and planned M&A, including a 2010 merger that helped push the firm past 1 billion. He said the firm still looks for strong talent and culture fit more than geography, and now sees many firms coming to market because they want infrastructure and management, not just succession solutions.
The firm’s latest expansion themes are vertical integration and technology. Modera bought a tax practice because clients increasingly wanted tax compliance, but Orecchio said the firm will not become a catch-all “Swiss Army knife.” It is also rebuilding its tech stack around Salesforce and testing AI through a specialist consultant, with a focus on workflows, onboarding and CRM data, while keeping compliance controls tight.
Key takeaways
- Tom Orecchio said Modera became serious about professional management after crossing about 1 billion in 2010 and seeing the strain of the financial crisis.
- Modera is majority owned and controlled by employees, and Orecchio said outside acquisitions are structured to spread ownership and preserve culture.
- Orecchio said the firm’s M&A focus has shifted from pure succession deals to firms that want infrastructure, management and scale.
- He said capital and high purchase multiples are the biggest constraints on growth in today’s RIA M&A market.
- Modera is rebuilding its tech stack around Salesforce and expects the overhaul to improve workflow consistency as it scales beyond 10 billion.
- Orecchio said AI will be used carefully, with a specialist RIA-focused consultant, for both internal workflows and client-facing support.
Notable quotes
“oneplus 1 was not two. It was more like four or five. The company grew very quickly”
“We are majority owned and controlled by the folks who work here”
“what got us to 10 billion was nice. We didn't think it could get us to 50 billion or 100 billion”
“if I left it up to my adviserss to figure it out, my CCO would shoot me”
How the episode opens
If you're an RAA or looking to become one, Schwab Advisor Services is the Watson to your homes. Smart, dependable, always has your back. It's no mystery why they're the number one choice for RAAS who want to be the ultimate solution for their clients. With all the well services, technology, and support your firm needs, the difference is so obvious. It's Schwabius. Follow the clues at schwabvious.com.
Hi everyone, welcome to the RA Edge podcast. I'm David Armstrong, the executive director of wealth management. Uh this is as you know the podcast where I get a chance to speak to RA executives on their growth plans, their growth strategies, how they approach uh running an RAA and uh how they're making this entire transition between uh being a REA as a practice to an REA as a ongoing sustainable professionally managed business.
And today I'm thrilled to be joined by Tomio who is the founder and CEO of the $16 billion Madera wealth management. Tom, thanks very much for joining us on the RA podcast.
Well, thank you for having me. — I appreciate uh thanks for being here. You know, uh before we jump into it and I got a lot of questions for you here, but uh for the folks who aren't as familiar with Madera, can you just sort of give the 101 on uh your firm uh where you're located, uh size, number of clients, etc.
Sure. So, Modera is up and down the east coast. We have 20 locations and I think about 10 states. Uh the firm is managing close to 18 billion now and um we have about 250 employees and 100 uh individual owners that work at Modera.
That's fantastic. When did you begin Madera? You you you're the founder of the firm.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- ria growth
- employee ownership
- leadership transition
- technology revamp
- disciplined m&a
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Modera Wealth Management
- Heritage Financial
- Greenbaum and Associates
Watch the episode
Watch “RIA Edge Podcast: Scaling an RIA Through Talent and Ownership with Tom Orecchio” on YouTube
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
More from WealthManagement.com
-
The WealthStack Podcast: AI, Video and the New Rules of Client Engagement with David Moricca -
401(k) Real Talk Episode 216: November 11, 2026 -
The Planning Opportunities Hidden in High-Net-Worth Conversations -
Wealth Management Invest: Expanding Access to Private Markets with Blackstone’s Farhad Karim -
401(k) Real Talk Episode 215: November 4, 2026 -
How Advisors Can Use AI Without Losing the Human Relationship with Rron Rexha
WealthManagement.com, this episode and its artwork belong to their owners. Octagon is not affiliated with the show; this page is an independent summary.
