RISR is a business owner engagement platform for financial advisors that captures client financial data to provide automated business valuations, risk assessments, and actionable insights for growth and succession planning. Pulse 2.0 interviewed RISR CEO Jason Early to learn more.
Jason Early’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background?
Early said:
“I’ve spent my entire career in and around financial services—and looking back, the through-line becomes clear. I started in retail financial services at a major Philadelphia firm right out of school, spending eight years there and eventually serving as a managing director. That role gave me a front-row seat to how elite advisors serve business-owner clients.”
“From there, I moved into the startup technology world, where I learned the software business firsthand. I spent years as the chief revenue officer and ultimately president of a fintech that pioneered private-company valuations. When that company was acquired, the idea for RISR took shape.”
“As financial services increasingly focused on the business-owner client, it became obvious that advisors lacked the tools and technology needed to deliver that kind of specialized advice. Because of my experience on both sides—advice and fintech—we were uniquely positioned to build the solution.”
Evolution Of The Firm’s Thesis
How has your firm’s thesis evolved over time?
Early noted:
“It really hasn’t changed—and that consistency is intentional. From day one, we’ve believed two things: business owners deserve better advice, and their advisors deserve better tools to give it. Our team shows up every day energized by that mission, and it continues to guide every product, hire and decision we make.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for your firm so far?
Early reflected:
“Our biannual in-person fly-ins are always highlights, since we’re a hybrid team split between Columbus and Philadelphia. One memory that stands out is a dinner at Sailfish Marina in Singer Island, Florida. It involved multiple rounds of bread pudding, photos that still live on our office fridge and canceling the next night’s reservation just to go back again. It captures the energy and camaraderie of our team perfectly.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of your firm’s most significant milestones?
Early cited:
“Over the past several years, we’ve reached a number of important milestones that have shaped our trajectory. In March 2024, RISR was officially launched, and we acquired our first customers that same month. By July 2024, we strengthened our leadership team with the addition of Brandon Tolle as chief technology officer, Megan Cochran as lead engineer and Alex Michaels as head of product—all of whom joined us full-time after collaborating through our product development partner. In 2025, we introduced Version 2 of the platform, which included the first-of-its-kind Succession & Exit Planning Tool, delivering significant advancements in functionality, data capture and overall user experience. Along the way, we also earned industry recognition, including being named one of the best new fintechs by InvestmentNews and taking the stage at FutureProof’s Fintech Demo Drop.”
Customer Success Stories
Would you like to share any specific success stories?
Early highlighted:
“Our favorite success stories are the ones in which both the advisor and the business owner win. RISR helps advisors deepen relationships, identify risks earlier and create more structured, repeatable value for business owner clients.”
“At NewEdge Wealth, our insights helped them secure more than $4 million in new AUM, establish a buy–sell agreement and position the team as the client’s go-to advisor ahead of a future exit. Evolution Financial used RISR to support a multi-generational family business, uncovering a $50 million insurance gap and creating a new semi-annual review framework that elevated their strategic role. And with BLBB Advisors, RISR helped clarify valuation, retirement and succession goals for a construction business with multiple owners—aligning the leadership team, strengthening continuity planning and expanding BLBB’s relationship to include managing the company’s retirement plans. Together, these stories show how advisors are using RISR to uncover blind spots, deepen relationships and create more data-driven planning outcomes for business owners.”
Industry Focus
What are some of the industries that your firm is focused on?
Early pointed out:
“Our platform covers 850 industries, enabling advisors to support business owners across virtually any sector. While the data and modeling support all industries, our own focus is squarely on financial advisors. We build tools for advisors who serve business-owner clients, and that clarity drives every product decision we make.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates your firm from other firms?
Early emphasized:
“Our firm stands apart through a combination of mission-driven focus, clarity and trust. Every team member is deeply aligned with the mission—not just the job—which creates a ‘mission over mercenary’ mindset across the company. We maintain a sharp focus on solving one problem exceptionally well rather than chasing adjacent markets or distractions, and our small, agile structure enables deep trust, shared values and remarkably fast decision-making.”
“On the product side, we differentiate through frictionless data capture, making it easy for advisors and clients to get information into the platform without burdensome manual input. Because we serve only advisors, our UI, UX and deliverables are purpose-built for financial-advice workflows rather than diluted to serve multiple audiences. And unlike competitors that focus on a single niche, our platform spans the full business owner financial ecosystem—valuation, wealth, risk and succession and exit planning—ensuring advisors can address all critical areas in one place.”
Challenges Faced
What are some of the challenges you faced while working at the firm?
Early acknowledged:
“Like any startup, we’ve faced plenty of challenges, but one in particular became a turning point. Our early product was built with a product development agency. Six months after launch, they told us they were shutting down—meaning we would abruptly lose our engineering team and roadmap support.”
“What could have been a major setback became a major advantage. Because we had already built deep trust with the engineers who worked on our product, we were able to hire several of them full-time. Not only did the product continue uninterrupted, but those hires became foundational to the culture and momentum of the company.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of your firm’s future goals?
Early affirmed:
“We believe financial services is still in the early innings of truly serving business owners. Our goal is to build the platform that powers that shift. We have an ambitious roadmap and clear user and revenue goals, but the milestone that matters most is becoming the trusted platform financial services turns to when thinking about business-owner advice.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss?
Early concluded:
“One of the biggest opportunities advisors often overlook is the business itself. Helping clients think strategically about their business, not just their personal finances, can unlock significant value. Whether through succession planning, risk management or aligning business growth with personal goals, tools and structured workflows can make these conversations more efficient. At the core of it all, building trust and understanding the client’s vision remains the number one key.”
