Unlock New Possibilities as a Breakaway Advisor
Breakaway Advisors, discover new opportunities and strategies to maximize your practice's growth and success. Partner with us to realize your full potential.
Why Advisors Choose Cresset
The future of wealth management is with independent firms. Cresset empowers advisors with the freedom to deliver the best solutions, free from big-firm bureaucracy.
Paul Tramontano
Executive Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
New York
Co-Founder and Co-Chairman
Minnetonka
My team and I chose Cresset for the culture, the people, and the freedom to serve clients on our terms.
San Francisco
After interviewing 28 firms, it came down to what was best for our clients. We knew after choosing Cresset we could look them in the eye and say, ‘This is different, this is new, this is in your best interest.’
Erik Ralston
San Francisco
I joined Cresset to deliver truly personalized solutions. It’s exciting to be entrepreneurial and grow with a firm that offers a powerful platform to serve clients at the highest level.
Sarah Burney
Denver
I built a successful wealth management business but felt trapped in the grind of operations and compliance. Partnering with Cresset allowed me to return to my passion for serving clients, and four years later, I have zero regrets.
David W. Karp
Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director
Washington D.C.
Leaving a large bank for Cresset was a no-brainer for our team. The standout ownership structure aligns our interests and drives us all to succeed together.
Chris Chase
Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
San Francisco
Joining Cresset empowered me to serve larger, more complex families with tailored solutions like estate planning and governance, while also helping me grow as an advisor and deliver even more value to clients.
Wen Nottebohm, CFP®
Managing Director, Wealth Advisor
Atlanta
I joined Cresset to help build a 100-year firm—because long-term commitment matters, not just for our team, but most importantly for our clients.
Justin Berman
Co-Founder and Co-Chairman
Atlanta
Why Cresset?
Discover why advisors and clients are choosing Cresset. Breaking from the status quo of larger firms, Cresset offers personalized guidance for real-life challenges, ensuring stability, trust, and enduring partnerships. This is the future of the industry—innovative, committed, and built to last.
~80% Employee
& Client Owned
At Cresset, broad ownership is a fundamental principle. Every employee is held to the fiduciary standard, reflecting our unwavering commitment to align with our clients’ best interests.
130+ Person
Family Office Team
Cresset offers a comprehensive suite of family office services, providing Advisors and clients with access to a vast team of dedicated professionals from banking and lending to bill pay services and more.
Rooted in
Private Investing
Avy Stein and Eric Becker founded Cresset after longstanding careers as private equity executives. Today, we offer our clients direct access to curated, institutional-quality private investments.
Cresset hosts exclusive events to connect our clients with other like-minded clients and individuals. Past guest speakers include Lindsey Vonn, Ray Dalio, and Eric Schmidt, among others.
Request an Introduction
Contact our Advisor Lift-Out Team to discuss next steps.
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Hear From Our Advisors
Next Gen Success: Building Trust & Credibility
The Little Engine That Did: RIAs vs. Big Banks and Financial Services Giants
Why a $2 Billion AUM Advisor Made the Move to an Independent RIA
14 Questions Advisors Should Ask When Exploring Their Next Firm
$260B+ Family Office
Assets Under Management and Advisement (AUM/AUA) as of 7/1/26
*Disclosures related to awards, recognitions, and rankings available here.
Barron’s #2 Top 100 RIA Firms
Rankings developed by Barron’s using proprietary algorithms. Awarded 9/12/25 for data as of 6/30/25. Cresset paid a licensing fee to use the Barron’s award logo for marketing purposes.
Our Leadership Team
Cresset was built by clients, for clients. Our leadership team combines deep experience with creative strategies to serve in the best interests of our advisors and clients. Together, they lead Cresset’s efforts to redefine wealth management and set new industry standards. With over $260 billion in assets under management and advisement¹, Cresset is frequently recognized as a top advisory firm by Barron’s and Forbes.
Eric Becker
Founder and Co-Chairman
Avy Stein
Founder and Co-Chairman
Susie Cranston
Chief Executive Officer
Our Vision
We exist to optimize wealth and elevate life—giving clients the time, clarity, and trusted partnership to pursue what matters most.
Our Values
Relentlessly Client First
Exceptional People
Solutions Mindset
Act Like an Owner
Generosity of Spirit
Act Like an Owner
Generosity of Spirit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a breakaway advisor?
A breakaway advisor, also known as an advisor lift-out, refers to a financial advisor or group of advisors leaving a larger firm, like a wirehouse or bank, to join or establish an independent practice. This move is often driven by the desire for greater control, flexibility, and the ability to offer more personalized services.
What is an RIA?
Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are independent advisors focused on personalized, fiduciary-based financial advice. Big banks offer a wide range of financial services, including wealth management, but may prioritize selling other products. Wirehouses are large firms that provide advisory services but often have potential conflicts between client needs and company goals.
Why are breakaway advisors leaving wirehouses for RIAs?
Breakaway advisors are leaving wirehouses for RIAs to gain more autonomy and flexibility in serving their clients without the constraints of a large corporate structure. They are also drawn to the fiduciary model, which allows them to prioritize clients’ best interests over selling proprietary products.
