Mariner is seeking to bolster its independent registered investment advisor channel by hiring Rob Sandrew to oversee the division, which includes more than 1,100 advisors and about $40 billion in client assets.
Sandrew joins from a prior position as chief growth officer at Integrated Partners, a Boston-based RIA and office of supervisory jurisdiction of LPL Financial. Sandrew joined the RIA in 2016 and helped it grow from about $3 billion in client assets to more than $21 billion.
Now, he will seek to bring advisors onto Mariner’s 1099 affiliation platform for growth opportunities and succession planning. Sandrew will be charged with “the next phase of platform evolution” for the channel, which Mariner calls a major growth driver, including partnership models.
At Integrated Partners, Sandrew and the leadership team leaned into a CPA Alliance model, which connected advisors to CPAs for referrals, and vice versa.
“This is a pivotal time for independent advisors, and I’m proud to be stepping into a leadership role at Mariner Independent as it enters its next stage of growth,” Sandrew said in a statement. “We have a real opportunity and the capabilities to deepen the support and flexibility advisors are looking for, and I’m eager to help shape a platform that truly aligns with where both the industry and advisor expectations are heading.”
In addition to Sandrew, Mariner also named Verne Marble to the role of managing director of Mariner Independent.
Marble joins from Private Advisor Group, where he was head of business development and advisor growth and engagement. He has also held senior roles at LPL Financial and Edelman Financial Engines.
Mariner launched its independent channel in 2020, offering back-office support, practice management, marketing, investment and compliance to affiliated advisors.
The Overland Park, Kan.-based RIA has also recently started touting its buyout options for affiliated 1099 advisors, which include upfront cash and equity and a three-year earnout based on operating margins. Earlier this year, Mariner CEO and president Marty Bicknell announced the first such move by an RIA from its independent model to its W-2 business.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth from our independent advisors, and it’s a clear signal that the model is working,” Bicknell said in a statement with the Sandrew hire. “With Rob and Verne stepping in, we’re expanding that vision and setting the pace for what’s next in the independent space.”
As a whole, Mariner has $555 in client assets under management and advisement.
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