RIA Platform VestGen CEO Departs, Succeeded by CFO

VestGen Wealth Partners CEO Josh Gerry is stepping down and will be replaced by the company’s president and CFO, Jason Hanavan, after less than two years in operation.

A spokesperson for VestGen said via email that the move is part of a “next-gen executive succession plan.”

The Chicago-based registered investment advisor platform was founded by Gerry in December 2024 and has grown to $8.4 billion in assets under management. Gerry is the majority owner of VestGen through a holding company, according to SEC filings.

“Since VestGen’s launch, we have significantly exceeded our growth goals well in advance of our original timeframes,” the spokesperson wrote via email. “Josh was instrumental in building a robust foundation for our firm, and we look forward to building further on our success under Jason’s leadership.” 

Gerry started the firm after leading a former LPL Financial affiliate Impetus Wealth Strategies, where Hanavan was the CFO. That firm is no longer registered with the SEC.

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Emigrant Bank Hires Tyler Kelley to Support Family Office Growth

Emigrant Bank named Tyler Kelley as managing director to support strategic initiatives, including the expansion of the bank’s newly launched family office capabilities serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.

Kelley will report to Liz Nesvold, vice chair of Emigrant Bank, chair of Emigrant Partners and executive chair of Emigrant Family Office. He brings more than 20 years of experience across wealth management, strategic advisory, operations and enterprise development.

Prior to joining Emigrant, Kelley served as chief operating officer and partner at Evoke Advisors, which was acquired by MAI Capital last year. He previously spent more than 15 years at Bel Air Investment Advisors, where he was chief operating officer and senior managing director.

“Tyler and I have known each other for nearly 20 years, and I’ve had the opportunity to watch him operate across nearly every aspect of a wealth management business,” Nesvold said in a statement.

Orion Appoints Yi-Ching Wu to Lead Wealth Management Product and Platform Strategy

Wealth technology firm Orion has hired Yi-Ching Wu as executive vice president of wealth management product and platform, a role in which she will lead initiatives related to the firm’s continued growth and advisor adoption.

Wu brings more than 20 years of experience leading investment product and platform strategy across wealth and asset management organizations.

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Prior to joining Orion, Wu served in a senior leadership role at AssetMark, overseeing proprietary and third-party investment platforms. She previously held product development and management roles at Schwab, where she managed large-scale proprietary investment lineups and helped launch Schwab’s entry into exchange-traded funds.

Balefire Adds Corporate Solutions Advisor 

Balefire Wealth, a Dallas-based RIA formed in 2025, has hired Sarah Schmitz as senior corporate solutions advisor, bringing more than 25 years of retirement plan consulting and employee benefits experience.

Schmitz joins from senior roles at Principal Financial Group, True North and Encana Corporation, where she worked in plan design, fiduciary responsibility and employee financial wellness. 

In her new role, Schmitz will work with employers, nonprofit organizations and business owners.

“The firm’s integration across disciplines and genuine focus on long-term impact rather than transactional relationships aligns perfectly with the way I want to work,” Schmitz said in a statement.