October 10, 2025

Inside the Independence Movement: Ed Swenson on Culture, Capital, and Growth for the Independent Advisor

Share

“There’s no better time than now to be an independent Advisor.”

In this special episode of the Disruption Blueprint Podcast, host Shannon Spotswood sits down with Ed Swenson, newly named President of RFG Advisory, to explore the future of independence, technology, and Advisor empowerment. With more than 25 years in wealth management, most notably as co-founder of Dynasty Financial Partners and former President of RIA Solutions at Osaic, Ed brings a bold, forward-thinking perspective on where the industry is headed.

Together, Shannon and Ed unpack the “bull market for advice,” the seismic shift toward independence, and why RFG is uniquely positioned to support Advisors looking to grow, scale, and thrive. From succession planning and M&A to cutting-edge tech adoption and capital strategy, this episode is packed with valuable insight for any Advisor considering the next chapter in their journey.

What You’ll Learn

  • Why independence is surging, and what Advisors gain when they make the leap
  • Ed’s journey from wirehouse to broker-dealer to RFG President
  • How RFG’s tech-forward, Advisor-centric platform drives organic growth
  • The silver tsunami: how succession, M&A, and capital strategy are converging
  • Why culture, community, and execution matter more than ever in a fragmented industry

About Our Guest

Ed Swenson is the newly appointed President of RFG Advisory, an award-winning Independent RIA platform. With a career spanning leadership roles across wealth management, from Smith Barney to co-founding Dynasty Financial Partners and most recently leading RA Solutions at Osaic, Ed has been at the forefront of the independent Advisor movement. He brings a deep passion for technology, growth strategy, and building intentional culture to RFG’s mission of empowering Advisors to maximize their time, build enterprise value, and truly thrive.

Connect & Explore More

Learn more about the RFG Advisory transition experience and how RFG helps Advisors go independent in as little as 39 days.


Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice, nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security or engage in any specific trading strategy.

Information may be provided, in part, by third-party sources deemed to be reliable, though accuracy is not guaranteed. The views expressed are those of the guest and do not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, its employees, or its clients.

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services. Member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC (“RFG”), a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities.

Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security, or engage in any specific trading strategy.

Information here may be provided, in part, by third-party sources. These sources are generally deemed to be reliable; however, neither our guest nor RFG Advisory guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources.

The views expressed here are those of our guest. They do not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, its employees, or its clients. This commentary should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by RFG Advisory, or performance returns of any client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice.

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services. Member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC (“RFG Advisory or “RFG”), a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.

RFG Advisory is an SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of RFG by the Commission, nor does it indicate that RFG or any associated investment advisory representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

Get Notified On Upcoming Podcast Episodes

Subscribe to our Disruption Blueprint newsletter to receive monthly content on a variety of practice management insights, growth ideas, and valuable information on upcoming events, articles, webinars, podcasts, and more.

Schedule a call