RWA Wealth Partners, a leading independent fiduciary responsible for $15 billion in client assets, announced the promotion of Michelle Knight as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. Most recently, Knight served as RWA Wealth’s President following the merger of Adviser Investments and Ropes Wealth Advisors.
Before the merger, Knight served as CEO and Chief Economist at Ropes Wealth Advisors, helping to grow the firm to more than $7 billion in assets. The combined firm has rebranded as RWA Wealth Partners, and under Knight’s leadership, it has become one of the largest female-led registered investment advisors in the U.S.
In connection with Knight becoming CEO, RWA Wealth Partners has also elevated several senior leaders to executive roles, completing the leadership integration of the firms: Kristin Fazio, Chief Compliance Officer; Joseph “JP” Powers, Chief Investment Officer; Steve Reder, Managing Director of Wealth Management; Carlos Sotero, Chief Technology Officer; and Venkat Patla, Chief Marketing Officer.
Knight succeeds Mario Ramos, who served as CEO through the merger of Adviser Investments with Ropes Wealth Advisors and the firm’s rebranding. And Ramos has resigned to pursue opportunities outside the firm.
KEY QUOTES:
“Michelle has demonstrated strong leadership through the integration process over the past year, and we are excited to name her as the CEO of the combined organization. RWA Wealth exists to serve clients with the highest standard of fiduciary care, and during her distinguished career in wealth management, Michelle has done just that. We believe Michelle embodies the RWA Wealth mission, working tirelessly to support both clients and colleagues. She is the natural choice to lead the combined firm.”
- Matt Hamilton, a Managing Director at Summit Partners and member of the RWA Wealth Partners Board of Directors
“Our business serves individuals and multigenerational families with a single goal, to deliver comprehensive, unbiased fiduciary advice in a personalized fashion through a team of caring experts. I am proud to lead the RWA Wealth Partners team as we continue to pursue this mission.”
“We have assembled a group of exceptional professionals who carry forward the founding spirit of pure commonsense advice from leaders like Dan Wiener and Jim Lowell. I look forward to working with all of our team members as we pursue our goal to be the nation’s foremost boutique provider of wealth management solutions, tackling complex financial challenges for individuals and families. As a client advisor in my own right, I know that is the most critical differentiator for our families and is at the heart of our client partnerships.”
- Michelle Knight
