Ryan O. Smith
Co-Founder & CEO | Diversify
What has been a significant challenge you’ve faced? How did you overcome it?
The financial technology (FinTech) industry is evolving faster than ever. Increasing automation demands and the rapid adoption of AI are forcing wealth management firms to either innovate internally or partner with the right technology providers from an increasingly crowded marketplace. Diversify has invested millions in technology research and innovation, partnering with leading fintech firms — including several based in Utah — to stay ahead of this shift. We are excited about how these advances will reshape the industry, even as many firms will struggle to keep pace.
How do you define success for yourself and your company?
We define our success through a framework we call “The Diversify Edge.” It is a clear articulation of our culture, priorities and expectations. We operate in an industry where individuals, families and businesses entrust us with two of the most important things they have: their trust and their money. We take that responsibility very seriously. Growth, valuations, constant innovation and every other KPI are critical to our success, but they are the byproduct of our team fully embracing and executing The Diversify Edge while relentlessly serving the advisors and clients who place that trust in us every day. We have found that success comes naturally when that objective is being met.
Describe the growth of your company in recent years. What other major achievements did the company accomplish under your leadership?
Over the past two years, the Diversify group of companies has grown its total assets from $7 billion to over $11 billion, becoming one of the largest wealth management firms in Utah. The national network of investment advisors and professionals has grown to nearly 200 advisors and serves investors nationwide. Diversify is one of the few wealth management platforms in the country to reach this scale and size without any institutional or private equity capital.
