Why We Exist
What It Means To Be “Firm-First”
A ridgeback is the backbone of a mountain range, the elevated line that provides direction and guidance. That idea is central to The Ridgeback Group; we provide steady, elevated support to help Firms grow.
Being Firm-First
“In the Ridgeback solar system, our Firms are the sun.”
The Ridgeback Group was created for Firms by industry insiders with decades of experience who have built, grown, and led successful Firms themselves.
We exist for one reason: to help Firms grow. 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.
That commitment extends beyond ownership. It shapes the way Ridgeback makes decisions. Significant organizational matters require broad participation and supermajority approval, ensuring that Ridgeback’s future is guided by the collective interests of the community rather than by private equity, venture capital, or corporate management.
The people creating the value determine where Ridgeback goes next.
Member Firm Voices
“Whenever I want, I can reach out to Brendan, or Eric, or Dan, whoever, and just say hey, I need help with this, can you do this? And they’ll give me more than I needed, and really make sure they explain things to me. The entire team consistently goes above and beyond what you would reasonably expect. They have a way of making you feel like you are their only Firm.”
What Firm-First Looks Like
On a -12° day in February at Loon Mountain, Dan and Ridgeback Board Member Aviva Sapers discuss what it means to be Firm-First.
Nancy Schiff of Schiff Executive Benefits accepts Ridgeback’s Firm of the Year Award at the Everest 2026 Gala Night in Whitefish, Montana.
Ridgeback CFO, Brendan Costello, explains why our Firm-First mindset is good for the industry at large.
When a Firm joins Ridgeback, we don’t send them a mug. We frame a real photo, an actual moment from our time together. One goes to the Firm, and the other hangs in our office, a reminder of a relationship and a promise.
Member Firm Voices
“If you’ve been a financial advisor or an insurance producer for any period of time, you know that this can be a lonely business. And it means a lot to me that I can pick up the phone and talk to any of our Firms across the country, and they are willing to help me out. That means a lot.”
