About Us
Anyone can sell the dream of independence, but RIA Independence helps advisors turn that dream into a reality.
Our Philosophy
At RIA Independence, we understand that financial advisors are drawn to the independent model because they want freedom — the freedom to have more control, be a better fiduciary, choose who they partner with and what platform they use. Ultimately, this will lead to providing better service to our clients.
But while most advisors know how to attract clients, build relationships and manage wealth, they don’t always know what’s best when it comes to starting a business or taking their existing independent advisory practice to the next level. This is why RIA Independence was formed — to help independent advisors succeed on terms that make sense for them without having to sacrifice their freedom or recreate the structure and tools.
We understand that independent advisors need strategic partners that can help them grow and execute on their vision for success. Our enhanced RIA platform provides advisors with access to resources designed specifically to help them increase operational efficiencies, strengthen their business models, and effectively scale their independent practices.
Our knowledge and expertise are based on experience
We were trailblazers in the independent advisory movement and the depth of our industry knowledge is unsurpassed. Our team has worked extensively with and at advisory firms — having served in every capacity from entry-level operations to sales, business development and executive leadership roles. As a result, we have cultivated insight that no other firm has. We know what makes an independent investment advisory firm successful and what it takes to get an independent practice ready to launch and positioned for growth.
About Our Founder
Becca Knauss
Founder and Principal
Specializing in breakaway advisors, existing RIAs and M&A deals, Becca Knauss has worked from the beginning of the RIA movement. Having supported a variety of RIA models, RIA Independence was created to offer what advisors need, an enhance RIA platform focusing on accelerating growth.
Throughout her career, Becca has assisted and guided thousands of financial advisors representing over $100 billion in assets under management. She has successfully launched over 500 RIA firms and is experienced in every aspect of transitioning and forming new RIAs.
She founded The RIA Works in 2017 to focus on financial advisors looking to launch and grow their new RIAs. Operating in the independent wealth management industry, she provides transition services, M&A and supports transition departments within aggregators to build out their businesses. She also works with established RIAs to enhance growth with hands-on consulting services.
Before establishing The RIA Works, Becca worked at Dynasty Financial Partners, where she spent four years helping launch more than 35 teams become independent RIAs. She was responsible for planning and executing each transition and provided guidance on meeting growth objectives. In that time, she became expert at a variety of the latest technology platforms recommended by Dynasty.
Prior to Dynasty, she worked at Bank of Montreal, BMO Harris my CFO, a multi-custodian, investment RIA, family office specializing in clientele $25M and higher.
Becca began her career as one of the original employees at High Tower Advisors. She spent five years at High Tower transitioning more than 32 teams representing more than $20 billion to their platform. She supported the operational function for both RIA teams and the broker-dealer platforms at High Tower.
Advisory Committee
Chris Winn
Advisor
Chris founded AdvisorAssist in 2006 to provide comprehensive support to elite advisory firms seeking independence and risk-managed growth. Chris has nearly 30 years of investment management industry experience, with a focus on regulatory compliance, business transitions, and operations/technology matters.
Prior to founding AdvisorAssist, Chris was a Co-founder and Managing Principal of MainStay Consulting Group, LLC, a strategy and compliance consulting firm serving the needs of investment advisors, fund complexes and private investment firms. Winn sold MainStay in 2009 to focus his time solely on the needs of registered investment advisors.
Before founding MainStay, Chris was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for Open Investing, Inc., a registered investment advisor and its affiliated RIA, AdvisorNow, Inc. Prior to serving as COO/CCO, Chris was an Associate Director in the Investment Management Consulting Practice of Navigant Consulting, an international compliance, forensic and litigation support consulting firm. At Navigant, Chris led regulatory compliance teams in assessing the effectiveness of the design and implementation of compliance programs pursuant to Rule 206(4)-7 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Rule 38a-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and other federal securities laws.
Chris has served in several leadership roles within investment advisory firms, including Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Assistant Treasurer (Mutual Funds), Vice President of Product Distribution, Vice President/Head of Business Operations, and Vice President Operations and Compliance. Chris started his career focusing on operational and regulatory challenges for investment advisors, investment companies and their service providers.
John Wheeler
Advisor
Industry expert; CEO, Bank of America Finance and Mobile Division
