In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Randy Morris, founder and CEO of Summit Wealth Group, about the firm’s transition from a long-standing broker/dealer affiliate to launch its own independent RIA platform.

He explains how the decision was shaped by a desire for greater autonomy, improved client experience and long-term growth potential. Randy also shares how leadership structure, internal ownership and a minority capital partnership are helping guide the firm forward, along with how digital marketing, acquisitions, expanded services and technology are each playing a role in building the next phase of the business.

Key takeaways:

• What drove the firm’s leaders to leave a 20-year tenure as a hybrid affiliate of an independent broker/dealer to launch “Summit 2.0” as a fully independent RIA
• The succession calculations that fueled many of the structural changes Summit made in recent years
• The importance of organic growth and how Summit has landed some of its largest clients via SEO and Google
• What drives the firm’s M&A strategy, and the types of firms it is looking to add to the mix in the future
• How Summit executives decided on an executive organizational structure to formalize and streamline decision-making processes, and how they deliberately created internal career pathways for employees
• The reasons the firm accepted an investment from Constellation Wealth, beyond simply access to operating capital
• How the firm feels about balancing unified branding with localized identities for its geographically diverse advisors

Resources:

• Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth Management
• Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify

Connect With David Armstrong:

• Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: David Armstrong
• Twitter: David Armstrong
• LinkedIn: Informa

Connect With Randy Morris:

• LinkedIn: Randy Morris
• LinkedIn: Summit Wealth Group
• Website: Summit Wealth Group

About Our Guest:

Randy Morris’ early career helped prepare him as a financial planning pioneer. After graduating from the University of Colorado in 1982 with a degree in business and organizational management, he worked for two years as Vice President of Executive Economic Services, Inc., in Denver, Colorado.

In 1985, Randy founded Executive Financial Planning, Inc. (EFP), one of Mississippi’s first financial planning firms. In 2002, he created Summit Wealth Group (SWG) out of a desire to provide additional wealth management services for clients. Randy serves as the firm’s CEO. In March 2025, Summit Wealth Group, LLC, registered with the SEC as a registered Investment Advisor and filed notice with six states.

Peers in the financial industry have recognized Randy’s skills and accomplishments by electing him as a past President of the Mississippi Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Randy is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC-1985), and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Practitioner (1987). He is also a Registered Representative, an Investment Adviser Representative, and a Registered Securities Principal. Additionally, he has assisted the CFP® Board of Examiners as an exam reviewer.

Randy has served on numerous boards, including Barge Timberlands International, Camp Lake Forest Ranch, Southeast Regional Committee for Young Life, Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM), and the World Vision Leadership Council. Randy lives with his wife, Nancy, in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they attend Scottsdale Bible Church. They have six children: Joy, Jesse, Hannah, Scott, Randy, and Ryan, as well as 12 grandchildren.

Randy’s accolades include being recognized by Forbes Magazine in each of the past 8 years, making its “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” list for the state of Arizona.

In this episode of the RIA Edge podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Phil Fiore, co-founder and CEO of Procyon, about how he and his team transitioned from a wirehouse environment to build a fast-growing independent firm.

He shares how that growth has been driven by a commitment to delivering fully integrated client services, a disciplined approach to scaling resources to enhance the client experience and a focus on combining organic growth with selective acquisitions that align culturally and strategically.

Key takeaways:

• How breaking from wirehouses opened the door to fully customized, client-first service models
• Why scale allows firms to expand services and improve the overall client experience meaningfully
• How integrating services like tax, insurance and M&A builds a true family office approach
• The importance of a unified brand and culture when pursuing growth through acquisitions
• How AI is being used to increase advisor efficiency while keeping client relationships central

Resources:

• Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth Management
• Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify

Connect With David Armstrong:

• Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: David Armstrong
• Twitter: David Armstrong
• LinkedIn: Informa

Connect With Phil Fiore:

• LinkedIn: Phil Fiore
• LinkedIn: Procyon
• Website: Procyon

About Our Guest:

Phil is a highly experienced individual with over 30 years of expertise in providing investment consulting services to institutions and high-net-worth families. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Procyon, he brings his extensive financial knowledge to the firm, focusing on firm-wide management, leadership & Nationwide expansion.

Before co-founding Procyon, Phil held the position of Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at UBS. During his time there, he led the FDG Group, which was a prominent Institutional Consulting and Private Wealth Team. He also served as a member of the Institutional Consulting Group, Advisory Council, Senior Institutional Consultant, and a Senior Retirement Plan Consultant at UBS. In addition, Phil held the role of Co-Chair of the UBS Corporate Development Advisory Board and its Retirement Advisory Council.

Phil has received several accolades for his accomplishments in the financial industry. While at UBS, the Financial Times named him one of their Top 400 US Advisors in 2014, and he was also listed as one of Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in 2015. Due to his success and expertise, Phil is often invited to speak at national retirement conferences and media interviews, where he shares his knowledge on RIA M&A (Registered Investment Advisor mergers and acquisitions).

Phil has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science from the University of Hartford. He has also earned the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) and Certified Retirement Plans Counselor (CRPC®) certifications from the College for Financial Planning. These certifications were obtained through the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Outside of work, Phil resides in Westport, CT, with his wife and their two sons. He enjoys golfing, working out, and participating in exotic car rallies and shows.

In this episode of the RIA Edge Podcast, host David Armstrong speaks with Oliver Cross, founding partner, senior advisor and head of growth at Verum Partners, about the firm’s path from a breakaway team to a rapidly growing independent RIA managing over $1 billion.

He shares how early growth was driven by focusing on a core group of founding clients, building a strong internal structure through systems like EOS and creating a team-based client service model. Oliver also explains how hiring, technology decisions and a long-term ownership mindset continue to shape the firm’s direction as it scales.

Key takeaways:

• How a failed succession plan became the catalyst for launching a new independent RIA firm
• Why focusing deeply on founding clients created strong referrals and early growth momentum
• How implementing EOS improved structure, accountability, and long-term planning alignment
• The importance of hiring for values and building a long-term talent pipeline from scratch
• How AI, data control, and workflow systems are shaping the future client experience

Resources:

• Listen to the RIA Edge Podcast on Wealth Management
• Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Listen and Subscribe to the RIA Edge Podcast on Spotify

Connect With David Armstrong:

• Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: Wealth Management
• LinkedIn: David Armstrong
• Twitter: David Armstrong
• LinkedIn: Informa

Connect With Oliver Cross:

• LinkedIn: Oliver Cross
• LinkedIn: Verum Partners
• Website: Verum Partners

About Our Guest:

Oliver is a Founding Partner of Verum where he currently serves as a Senior Adviser and Head of Growth while also playing an active role in both the investment and financial planning committees. His penchant for prudent financial decision-making dates back to his early childhood lessons from his grandfather who often reminded him “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Oliver took this to heart and it became hardwired into his DNA, ultimately leading to career in wealth management.

As an adviser, Oliver caters to families who understand the importance of patience and discipline in building wealth and value the benefits of an independent firm structure that centers around problem-solving, thoughtful financial planning, tax-efficient and sophisticated investment solutions, and team-based client service. He and Verum promote the importance of alignment of interests which continue to plague the industry.

Prior to Verum, Oliver was an Investment Consultant and Director of Research at Carolinas Investment Consulting where he worked for nine years. Before pursuing his MBA in investment management at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Oliver was a Vice President at Trusco Capital Management in Atlanta for six years, where he served as an Investment Manager for endowments, foundations, and retirement plans across the Southeast.

Oliver is a native of Winston-Salem where he attended R.J. Reynolds high school before heading to Davidson College where he was a member of the golf team. While still an avid golfer, Oliver spends most of his free time with his wife and two children finding any way to keep active outdoors. With a passion for mentoring youth, Oliver coaches basketball through the YMCA and soccer through Charlotte Junior soccer and taught Sunday School with his wife at Myers Park United Methodist Church.