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Episode 83 · Mar 4, 2025 · 49 min

Building a Championship RIA with Nate Lenz

About this episode

This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Nate Lenz, Co-Founder and CEO of Concurrent. Nate has more than a decade of experience in the financial industry. His career has focused on supporting financial advisors, empowering them to succeed without the backing of big financial services companies. Nate is a leader for advisors looking to realize their potential as entrepreneurs.

Nate shares Concurrent's key initiatives on building a robust investment team, enhancing technology integrations to make data actionable, and addressing the talent gap in the RIA industry through a centralized wealth advisory services team. Nate also explores the trend of RIAs seeking strategic partnerships while maintaining independence and brand autonomy. 

In this episode:

  • (00:00) - Intro
  • (02:28) - Nate's money moment
  • (07:05) - How playing football influenced Nate's leadership abilities
  • (13:08) - Rebuilding a successful RIA platform
  • (18:54) - What winning a championship means in the RIA space
  • (21:51) - The talent gap in the RIA industry
  • (27:41) - The best use of Nate's time and effort as CEO
  • (34:41) - Concurrent's goals for the future
  • (40:29) - The evolving dynamics of RIA partnerships
  • (43:44) - Nate’s Milemarker Minute


Key Takeaways

  • Teamwork and accountability are essential in business. The overall success of an organization depends on the role each member plays. 
  • Nate's journey from playing football to leading Concurrent illustrates the value of resilience, discipline, and commitment to team dynamics.
  • Building a lifestyle business requires focusing on high-quality client relationships and maintaining exceptional service levels for growth and retention.
  • RIAs increasingly seek strategic partnerships offering support and resources while preserving independence and brand autonomy.


Quotes

"Our best opportunity is to serve the end client and to serve the advisor, so we carry that duty and accountability all the way through." ~ Nate Lenz

"If you're building a lifestyle business, that's great. But recognize that in doing so, your highest and best use is going to be serving your top clients, getting referrals out of those relationships because of what you're delivering, and making sure that you're upholding those service levels, retaining that business, and growing that business." ~ Nate Lenz

"Not all RIAs are created equal. The ones that are investing in people and technology and supporting the advisors affiliated with them are going to continue to grow and scale because they're going to be best equipped to ultimately serve the end client." ~ Nate Lenz


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The write-up

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Listen to this week’s episode.

Episode 083

On this week’s episode of The Connected Advisor, I speak with Nate Lenz, Co-Founder and CEO of Concurrent, about building a championship RIA.

Nate has over a decade of experience in the financial industry. He shares Concurrent’s key initiatives on building a robust investment team, enhancing technology integrations to make data actionable, and addressing the talent gap in the RIA industry through a centralized wealth advisory services team. Nate also explores the trend of RIAs seeking strategic partnerships while maintaining independence and brand autonomy. 

Key Takeaways

Teamwork and accountability are essential in business. The overall success of an organization depends on the role each member plays. 

Nate’s journey from playing football to leading Concurrent illustrates the value of resilience, discipline, and commitment to team dynamics.

Building a lifestyle business requires focusing on high-quality client relationships and maintaining exceptional service levels for growth and retention.

RIAs increasingly seek strategic partnerships offering support and resources while preserving independence and brand autonomy.

Quotes

“Our best opportunity is to serve the end client and to serve the advisor, so we carry that duty and accountability all the way through.” ~ Nate Lenz

“If you’re building a lifestyle business, that’s great. But recognize that in doing so, your highest and best use is going to be serving your top clients, getting referrals out of those relationships because of what you’re delivering, and making sure that you’re upholding those service levels, retaining that business, and growing that business.” ~ Nate Lenz

“Not all RIAs are created equal. The ones that are investing in people and technology and supporting the advisors affiliated with them are going to continue to grow and scale because they’re going to be best equipped to ultimately serve the end client.” ~ Nate Lenz

Nate Lenz of LinkedIn

Concurrent

Raymond James

Credit Suisse

Patrick Jinks

Columbia University

Scott Steele

No Rules Rules

Decentralized Leadership

Connect with our hosts

Milemarker.co

Kyle on LinkedIn

Jud on LinkedIn

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Kyle Van Pelt

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