RIA Business Management Consultant

Cetera Financial Group•Dallas, TX

8d•$131,000 - $170,000

About The Position

The RIA Business Management Consultant is a senior-level, hybrid practice management and recruiting strategist responsible for driving efficiency, growth, and enterprise value across affiliated RIA firms. This role combines advisory focused business consulting with recruiting strategy leadership to deliver holistic growth support for RIA firms. The consultant will act both as a strategic business advisor — guiding firm executives on operational excellence, growth, and enterprise value, and a recruiting subject matter expert — helping firms attract, evaluate, and onboard advisory talent to scale their businesses. This unified role plays a critical part in strengthening the RIA network, enhancing firm performance, and positioning Cetera as the partner of choice for growth‑oriented firms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum 7 years of experience in financial services, including:
5+ years in consulting, practice management, recruiting, or business development within the RIA or independent advisor space.
Experience supporting RIAs, independent advisors, or wealth management firms.
FINRA licenses (e.g. Series 7, 66, SIE 24) preferred

Nice To Haves

Deep understanding of the RIA business model, fee structures, competitive landscape, and operational best practices.
Strong consultative ability including diagnostic questioning, active listening, and solution-oriented thinking.
Demonstrated knowledge of advisor recruiting strategies, talent acquisition processes, and growth models.
Strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to interpret complex data and translate insights into actionable plans.
Executive-level communication skills, including the ability to deliver compelling presentations.
Relationship‑driven approach with the ability to influence firm leadership and key decision-makers.
Experience working with CRM systems and business tracking tools.

Responsibilities

Guide RIA firms through strategic planning, goal setting, business expansion, and succession planning.
Provide consultation on industry best practices, growth strategies, and mergers & acquisitions to maximize enterprise value.
Advise on business valuation, long‑term incentive plans, and cash‑flow projections for RIA enterprises.
Use Cetera’s Growth360 data and RIA industry benchmarks to identify performance gaps, quantify opportunities, and shape strategic action plans.
Help firms define their Ideal Client Persona (ICP), Client Value Proposition (CVP), and overall Ideal Client Journey to improve retention and service delivery.
Lead engagements focused on operational efficiency, human‑capital strategies, compensation structures, leadership development, and talent succession.
Serve as the primary consultant to RIA firms on recruiting strategy, talent acquisition models, and practice expansion tactics.
Coach firm principals on articulating their value proposition to attract high-quality advisor talent.
Support RIA recruiting initiatives, including business development conversations, prospect evaluations, and positioning the RIA model to growth‑oriented advisors.
Educate firms on recruiting best practices and effective use of Cetera’s recruiting resources, Business Development Officers, and internal support teams.
Promote and articulate the Cetera RIA Network value proposition to both prospects and existing firms.
Manage and execute recruiting strategy for the RIA segment to sustain scalable growth and competitive advantage.
Build and maintain strong relationships with both prospective and existing RIA firms.
Serve as a subject matter expert on Cetera’s RIA platform, solutions, and support models.
Partner with internal stakeholders across channel leadership, sales, business development, and product teams.
Support high‑impact presentations, executive-level discussions, and strategic initiatives across the organization.