Sierra Ridge Advisor Group has selected Cetera as its new broker-dealer partner, moving approximately 40 affiliated advisors and roughly $2.1 billion in assets under administration from LPL after only 13 months. The California-based advisor group is led by co-founders James Slaughter and Giancarlo Foti and will join the Cetera Networks community within Cetera’s Large Enterprise channel.
Sierra Ridge currently operates six offices across California, Missouri, Oregon and Wisconsin and is planning a broader national expansion.
Its model is designed around independent advisors who want centralized support across compliance, staffing, technology, marketing and client service while maintaining significant autonomy over their practices.
The firm’s existing infrastructure includes a dedicated transition team, an internally managed investment program and client-service support that handles administrative tasks ranging from account paperwork to personalized client gifting.
As part of the new affiliation, Sierra Ridge will gain access to Cetera’s Growth360 business planning program, GrowthLine advisor growth engine and Regional Growth Team model.
Slaughter and Foti said the decision to leave LPL reflected the need for a platform and leadership team more closely aligned with Sierra Ridge’s growth plans.
Those plans include opening offices in the Midwest and on the East Coast, recruiting additional advisor teams and launching an independent RIA through Cetera’s Blueprint platform.
Sierra Ridge expects to maintain a hybrid brokerage and advisory model.
Cetera supports approximately 12,000 financial professionals and institutions.
As of June 30, 2026, Cetera firms had approximately $688 billion in assets under administration and $330 billion in assets under management.
KEY QUOTES:
“Partnering with Cetera gives us the resources and the runway to bring the Sierra Ridge approach to advisors nationally, and we’re just getting started.”
James Slaughter, Co-Founder Of Sierra Ridge Advisor Group
“They made clear they intend to be a genuine partner to us as a large enterprise focused on building a national footprint.”
Giancarlo Foti, Co-Founder Of Sierra Ridge Advisor Group
