AUDIO: Balancing Scale and Service: CEO Mike Durbin on Growth and Cetera’s Future

With Mike Durbin, CEO of Cetera Financial Group

Overview

The CEO of Cetera Financial Group shares insights on independence, private equity, and balancing scale with service, plus what the future holds for advisors and firms.

Listen in…
＞ Download a transcript of this episode… (https://hubs.ly/Q03J9rqv0)
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

About this episode…
The wealth management industry is at an inflection point—where scale, service, and strategy all collide.

Drawing on 35 years of industry experience and leadership roles at Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, and now Cetera, Mike Durbin offers a unique perspective on the forces shaping the world as we know it.

Since joining Cetera in 2023, Mike’s led the firm through rapid expansion—balancing the resources of a $600B+ national platform with a boutique-level advisor experience. From multi-channel affiliation models to tech and AI integration, his strategy centers on one thing: helping advisors grow faster, smarter, and more sustainably.

In this episode, Jason Diamond and Mike discuss:
• The future of independent wealth management—and how it stacks up against the wirehouse model.
• Cetera’s differentiators in today’s competitive recruiting environment—and why its “big feel, small approach” matters.
• The role of technology and AI—and how they’re driving efficiency, personalization, and advisor capacity.
• Private equity’s influence on the industry landscape—and what it means for long-term strategy.
• Lessons from leadership roles at Morgan Stanley and Fidelity—and how those experiences shape his vision at Cetera.
• Where the biggest opportunities lie ahead for advisors—and what excites him most about the next decade.

Whether you’re an advisor evaluating your options or a leader navigating change, Mike’s candid perspective provides clarity on what it takes to thrive in today’s environment.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact (https://www.diamond-consultants.com/c...)  us or call 908-879-1002.