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Ivy Way Placements
  • Stefanie Isaksen
    Stefanie Isaksen

    Tame, lame, vague goals are the best way to live a tame, lame, vague life.  I've made it my business to help others succeed. I believe if you can help, you should help. Every time, everywhere, for anyone, whenever possible, no questions asked. Pay it forward and karma will pay you back.

    Meet Stef, Your Wealth Management Consultant & Founder 


    I started Ivy Way Placements because not only am I emphatically driven by challenges—I thrive on them. I’m also fiercely competitive with myself. Giving myself impossible goals and deadlines. It's the Viking in me. The thrill of the hunt and the glory of the win! But I also genuinely enjoy helping people. Nothing in this world that makes my heart swell more than solving problems, giving back, and lending a hand. Perhaps it's my ikigai? Either way, I decided to combine my two favorite things in life. Helping people while kicking ass and taking names. What's not to love?!


    I'm a licensed Investment Advisor who also has the pleasure of recruiting for over 80 different private and public RIAs, BDs, Family Offices, and Investment firms. I specialize in Wealth Management because I love the legal landmines and regulations that keep people honest. The wealth management industry is experiencing such significant transformations right now. All driven by technological advancements and shifting client demographics. Firms are increasingly seeking professionals proficient in digital tools and capable of catering to a tech-savvy clientele. This evolution necessitates a reevaluation of traditional recruitment strategies to align with the industry's dynamic nature. Check, check, and check!

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Lending a hand

The Struggle is Real

At its core, wealth management recruitment involves identifying, attracting, and retaining professionals who can offer personalized financial services. Albeit most companies are looking for a candidate with a book of $50m in portable AUM and a non-solicit. Now, I am not saying that is what everyone is looking for but that is the standard. Our space demands a unique blend of skills, including financial acumen, interpersonal prowess, and a deep understanding of market dynamics. Quite honestly, if you have been advising for at least 10 years, then you should hold yourself to that standard too. The goal is to build a team that can navigate the complexities of wealth preservation, maintain deep personal relationships, and growth (or preservation of capital) for your clients.


The Importance of Specialized Recruitment Strategies

Why can't wealth management firms rely on generic recruitment methods? The answer lies within the specialized nature of the services we provide, in addition to finance being a heavily regulated industry. Clients entrust advisors with their financial futures, seeking personalized strategies tailored to their unique circumstances. Therefore, recruiting professionals in wealth management not only need to possess the technical expertise, but the ability to build trust and rapport is essential. One misstep in hiring can lead to thousands of dollars (if not hundreds of thousands) lost, client dissatisfaction, potential financial mismanagement, a disclosure against the firm, or a lawsuit. A wrong hire could ruin a small firm's reputation and its future. Imagine if that wrong hire were, let's say, someone at the managing director level? You could have potentially morally compromised your entire operation with one person's character influence and oversight. Now you tell me. Who better to have in your corner than a fiduciary with an entrepreneurial drive, a wanderlust spirit, spitfire personality, who also just happens to love poaching the best candidates? This girl.

Understanding the Client's Needs

A successful placement begins with an in-depth consultation to learn about the firm’s culture, objectives, and the specific skills needed. We consider both technical and interpersonal qualities to identify ideal candidates. Allowing us to maintain a cohesive team environment and ensuring new hires align with company values.

Screening and Evaluating Candidates

Gaining access to hidden talent pools. Screening in wealth management goes beyond resumes. Specialized recruiters often know candidates who aren’t actively seeking new roles but would consider the right opportunity. This access can be a game-changer, enabling firms to find top talent that would otherwise be unavailable.

Conducting Interviews

We conduct interviews that dive deep into a candidate’s professional background, examining their problem-solving skills, client-management capabilities, and ethical outlook. Recruiters conduct rigorous assessments to gauge candidates' technical knowledge, past performance, and potential cultural fit. 

I don't deserve to get paid if I didn't do a good job. Bottom Line.  

Finalizing the hire. Once interviews are complete, our recruiter narrows the selection to a few top candidates and presents them to the firm. The recruiter then facilitates the hiring process, including salary negotiations and onboarding. A recruiter's track record often speaks volumes. In a world where top financial talent is in demand, wealth management recruiters are invaluable partners. Our expertise, network, and ability to understand both client and candidate needs make us critical to building high-performing teams. By partnering with a skilled recruiter, wealth management, accounting, investment, and institutional firms can attract professionals who will help them grow, adapt, and succeed in a competitive market.

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