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The Platform Built by Industry Insiders, For RIAs

When you've spent 25 years growing and optimizing RIA businesses from within, you see what others miss.

Insights from working with over 300 firms
Over 25 years industry experience

Why RIA Ascent Exists

After working with over 300 RIA firms to optimize their entire operations, from growth strategies to client experience, I kept encountering the same fundamental challenge: the most valuable insights about running a successful RIA were locked away in private spreadsheets and closed-door conversations.

Through my work at wealth management firms and as a strategic advisor, I've helped RIAs transform not just their technology, but their entire business ecosystems. This holistic approach revealed how interconnected every aspect of an RIA truly is:

Growth strategies shape technology needs
Team culture impacts client experience
Operational efficiency drives profitability
Fee structures influence investment approaches

Yet firms were making these critical decisions in isolation, without the benefit of peer insights or industry benchmarks. The solution became clear: unlock the collective intelligence of the RIA industry by creating a trusted platform where firms could share data confidentially and receive transformative insights in return.

"After 25 years helping RIAs optimize every aspect of their businesses, I've learned that true success comes from understanding how all the pieces work together. RIA Ascent is my commitment to giving every firm the comprehensive insights they need to achieve their full potential."
— James Cantwell
Founder

A Holistic View from Inside the Industry

My 25-year journey through the wealth management ecosystem provided a unique vantage point—not just as a technology consultant, but as someone who has analyzed every facet of RIA operations and what drives growth.

What I've Evaluated Across 300+ Firms:

Growth Plans & Market Positioning

Strategic planning, market analysis, and competitive positioning for sustainable growth

Organizational Culture & Team Dynamics

Team structure, cultural alignment, and human capital optimization

Client Experience & Service Delivery

Service models, client communication, and experience design

Technology Ecosystems & Integration

Technology stack optimization, integration strategies, and digital transformation

Operational Workflows & Efficiency

Process optimization, workflow design, and operational excellence

Cost Structures & Profitability

Financial analysis, cost optimization, and profitability enhancement

The Breakthrough Insight

Every successful RIA is a carefully orchestrated system where each component must align with the firm's goals and client needs. Yet firms had no way to benchmark this holistic performance against their peers.

Your Data, Your Advantage

RIA Ascent represents a fundamental shift in how the industry approaches performance measurement

Traditional Model:

  • Fragmented view of firm performance
  • Generic benchmarks from limited samples
  • Technology-focused solutions that miss the bigger picture

The RIA Ascent Model:

  • Holistic performance measurement across all business dimensions
  • Real data from thousands of firms
  • Comprehensive insights that connect strategy, operations, and growth

We've created a value exchange where:

You Share:

Performance metrics across your entire business (with complete privacy control)

You Receive:

Multi-dimensional insights, peer benchmarking, and strategic guidance

Get Clarity:

Clarity on how every aspect of your firm contributes to success

Get Matched:

With the partners who can help you execute on your vision

What Sets Us Apart

Built on Comprehensive Experience, Not Narrow Expertise

Privacy First

Your data sovereignty is non-negotiable. Complete control over what you share, when you share it, and with whom.

Holistic Performance Measurement

Unlike technology-focused solutions, we measure success across every dimension of your business.

Collective Intelligence

Unlock the power of peer insights while maintaining complete privacy and control over your data.

Comprehensive Experience

Built from 25 years of analyzing every aspect of RIA operations, not just technology or investments.

Platform Foundation

Built on decades of real-world RIA experience

300+
RIA Firms Analyzed
Complete operations evaluation and optimization
25 Years
Industry Experience
Deep wealth management ecosystem knowledge
8
Strategic Pathways
Comprehensive lifecycle guidance system
100%
Privacy Control
You decide what to share and with whom

James Cantwell, Founder

James Cantwell, Founder & CEO

James Cantwell

Founder & CEO

25+ Years Industry Experience

Over 25 years, I've had the privilege of analyzing and optimizing every aspect of RIA operations—from growth strategies and team culture to technology implementation and client experience design.

This holistic perspective, gained through hands-on work with hundreds of firms, revealed what the industry was missing: a way to measure and improve performance across all dimensions of the business, not just technology or investments.

RIA Ascent is the culmination of thousands of hours spent understanding what makes RIAs truly successful—and how to help every firm achieve that success.

Ready to See Your RIA's Full Potential?

RIA Ascent exists because running a successful RIA requires excellence across every dimension of your business—and you deserve insights that reflect that complexity.

The future of RIA management is holistic, data-driven, and collaborative. Join us in building it.