The competition for exceptional financial advisors has never been greater.

Advisor movement across the US wealth management industry is now at its highest level in four years, with recruiting activity increasing by 16% during 2025 as advisors continue to seek firms that offer greater independence, stronger cultures, better technology and clearer long-term opportunities. Meanwhile, the RIA channel continues to attract the strongest net inflows of advisors, while switching between firms has now overtaken new advisor formation as the primary source of industry movement.

Against that backdrop, Modern American Advisor today announces the launch of MAA Talent — a specialist recruitment and talent advisory business built specifically for the modern wealth management industry.

But MAA Talent has a different philosophy.

Rather than simply filling vacancies, the business is designed to help advisory firms become organisations that the very best people actively want to join.

Built on the combined strengths of Modern American Advisor’s media platform, industry reach and market intelligence, alongside specialist executive recruitment expertise, MAA Talent combines employer branding, thought leadership, audience building and targeted recruitment into a single growth solution.

The result is a fundamentally different approach to attracting exceptional people.

Recruitment Has Changed

The best advisors rarely apply for jobs.

Many are thriving where they are. Others are quietly considering their next move but will only engage with firms that genuinely stand out.

That means recruitment is no longer simply about searching databases or posting vacancies. Firms must communicate who they are, what they stand for and why ambitious advisors should build their future there.

As advisor movement accelerates across the industry, standing out has become just as important as searching harder.

MAA Talent helps firms do both.

Through founder interviews, leadership profiles, employee success stories, market research, podcasts, webinars, editorial features, targeted email campaigns and highly focused recruitment activity, firms can build genuine visibility and credibility with the people they most want to attract.

More Than Recruitment

The philosophy behind MAA Talent is simple.

We believe exceptional financial services talent deserves exceptional opportunities.

Our vision is to empower recruitment professionals and financial advisors to reach their full potential by connecting them with firms where they can truly grow, develop and make a meaningful impact.

Every placement, every consultation and every relationship we build is focused on creating real, lasting value.

Finding the right talent—or the right opportunity—is about far more than matching job descriptions. It is about understanding ambitions, personalities, cultures and long-term goals, then creating partnerships that benefit everyone involved.

Building Businesses Worth Joining

Unlike traditional recruiters, MAA Talent starts much earlier in the process.

Before approaching candidates, we help firms answer a simple but powerful question:

Why would someone choose to join you?

Using the media capabilities of Modern American Advisor, firms can showcase their leadership, culture, client proposition, career opportunities, technology, growth plans and employee stories through professionally produced editorial content and targeted industry marketing.

The objective is simple:

To help firms become recognised employers of choice.

That not only improves recruitment outcomes but also strengthens brand awareness, increases enterprise value and enhances long-term growth.

Florida Launch

MAA Talent will initially focus on Florida before expanding nationally, supporting RIAs, independent wealth managers, consolidators, broker-dealers and financial technology businesses looking to recruit exceptional advisors, executives and specialist professionals.

Alongside executive search, clients will benefit from exclusive access to one of the industry’s most engaged media audiences, targeted advisor intelligence, recruitment marketing campaigns and strategic employer branding support.

A Different Kind of Talent Partner

James Ackland, Founding Partner & Managing Director of MAA Talent, believes the market has reached a tipping point.

“The firms winning today’s recruitment battles aren’t necessarily paying the biggest packages—they’re building the strongest cultures and telling their stories better. Advisors have more choice than ever before, and they’re looking for purpose, opportunity, leadership and a place where they can genuinely thrive. Our role is to help firms communicate that story while connecting them with exceptional people.”

He continued:

“Recruitment shouldn’t begin when a vacancy appears. It should begin months beforehand by building reputation, visibility and trust. That’s where MAA Talent is different. We combine strategic recruitment expertise with one of the industry’s fastest-growing media platforms to help firms become far more attractive destinations for talent.”

Steve Auburn, Executive Director, Talent Strategy, says firms must rethink recruitment for a new generation of advisors.

“The market has changed dramatically. Outstanding advisors are being approached constantly. If firms rely solely on recruiters or job adverts, they’re already behind. Today’s candidates research leadership, culture, growth opportunities and market reputation long before they ever have a conversation.”

He added:

“Our aim is to help businesses and people grow and thrive together. Every successful placement should strengthen the individual, the firm and ultimately the profession as a whole. That’s the standard we’re setting with MAA Talent.”

Helping Firms Recruit Better

MAA Talent offers a fully integrated recruitment and employer branding solution that includes:

• Executive search for advisors and leadership positions.
• Employer brand development and recruitment marketing.
• Leadership interviews and thought leadership campaigns.
• Employee success stories and culture profiling.
• Market research and advisor sentiment surveys.
• Podcast, editorial and webinar exposure.
• Targeted outreach using one of the largest specialist wealth management audiences in North America.
• Strategic recruitment consultancy focused on long-term growth rather than transactional hiring.

In an increasingly competitive market, firms need more than recruiters.

They need a talent partner that helps them become more visible, more credible and ultimately more attractive places to build a career.

That’s exactly what MAA Talent has been built to deliver.

Because exceptional businesses deserve exceptional people—and exceptional people deserve exceptional opportunities.

Contact James Ackland on James.Ackland@ModernAmericanAdvisor.com for more information