Our Ownership Philosophy
Firm-Ownership Explained
Great governance begins with honest conversation.
Board Member Jim Teegarden, CEO of Impact Wealth, leads a discussion with fellow Member Firm owners.
Ridgeback was intentionally designed so that most member Firms can improve their economics today, through better compensation structures, lower operating costs, institutional resources, and shared infrastructure.
Simultaneously, our Firms are building ownership in an enterprise that becomes more valuable as every great Firm joins and succeeds.
Owned and Governed by Firms
Ridgeback was built on the belief that the Firms creating value should share in the value they create. In an industry increasingly shaped by private equity, outside investors, and changing ownership structures, Ridgeback is Firm-Owned, Firm-Led, and governed by the people we exist to serve.
It’s more than a philosophy. It’s how Ridgeback is governed. As a Firm-owned organization, our fiduciary responsibility is to act in the best interests of our Firms because they are our owners. In private equity-backed, venture-backed, and publicly traded organizations, that responsibility belongs to investors and shareholders.
At Ridgeback, it belongs to the Firms we exist to serve.
Real alignment requires more than participation. It requires ownership, decision rights, and a shared stake in the future. That’s why our organizational incentive is the same as our Firms’ incentive: long-term growth, enterprise value creation, and enduring success. We often say that at Ridgeback, you eat what you grow. Ownership isn’t a perk or a marketing feature. It’s the foundation of our model. When our Firms grow, Ridgeback grows. And when Ridgeback grows, our Firms share in that success.
Member Firm Voices
“Ridgeback allows my Firm to participate in all links of the value chain without sacrificing economics at any level.”
Ownership at Ridgeback
“Bar none, the best in the industry.” Leo Irizarri of Wealth Transfer Consultants in Miami talks about what Ridgeback Firm ownership means to him.
Brian and Dan Murphy discuss the origins of Ridgeback’s ownership structure and Firm-First mindset.
Member Firm Voices
“Any time you’re in a room with industry leaders, people who have decades and decades and decades of experience, who are client-centered and looking to improve client outcomes—that’s just something that I love being a part of. Everyone is willing to lend a thought or an idea on a client case.
They want you to succeed, and they want your clients to succeed.”
“If you’re thinking about joining Ridgeback, I would encourage you to consider the ownership offering. Combine that with the fact that it’s private, and the network of Firms you’re joining—it’s bar none the best in the industry.”
