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RIA Edge Los Angeles
October 6-8, 2025
Ritz-Carlton | Marina del Rey, CA

Derek Bruton
Senior Managing Director at Gladstone Associates LLC
Speaker

Profile

Derek Bruton is Senior Managing Director of the Gladstone Group, based in our San Diego, CA office. He provides M&A advice and investment banking support, while also leading the Strategic Growth Consulting division of Gladstone Associates. Derek brings a unique combination of M&A, RIA, RIA custodian, and Broker/Dealer experience to the institutions and advisors he counsels.

A proven strategic and sales leader in the financial services industry for 30 years, Bruton has served in executive positions with leading RIA custodians such as Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, and LPL Financial. He has led the recruiting of over 10,000 financial advisors in his career, and has assisted with the strategy and growth of over 20,000 advisor businesses and institutions serving the wealth management industry. With a strong understanding of business models ranging from 1099 independent to captive W2, and compensation structures from commission to fee-based to hybrid, Bruton has deep strategic and operational experience which distinguishes the guidance he provides to clients.

Bruton graduated from Stanford University, and has completed executive business management course work at Harvard University. Bruton played collegiate basketball for Stanford, and professional basketball in Japan.

Agenda Sessions

  • Hitting the Bullseye: The Forces Bringing Buyers and Sellers Together

    10:00am