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A conversation with Ross Gerber, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management Overview The co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki weighs in on everything from what it takes to build a $2.2B mega-RIA and the power of freedom in the independent space, on to crypto, digitization, and ETFs, plus Elon Musk and Tesla. Listen in... > Download a transcript of this episode… 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 name Ross Gerber has become a familiar one in the wealth management industry. No doubt, his popularity was fueled by his direct and outspoken nature once he began to publicly challenge the thoughts around everything from crypto to digitization to Elon Musk and Tesla. Yet Ross first established his place in the industry as the co-founder of the $2.2B RIA Gerber Kawasaki—a firm that he and partner Danilo Kawasaki started with $50mm in client assets just over a dozen years ago. Ross got his start in wealth management at Sun America, which was acquired by AIG. Then the 2008 financial crisis hit—and he and Danilo said, “We have to start our own firm.” In a conversation with Mark Casady, the CEO of LPL Financial at the time, they shared their vision of a firm that would leverage marketing, media, and technology in a way that no one else was currently doing. It was 2010, and as Casady saw it, they were the future. They “negotiated their freedom,” as Ross put it, and spun out of AIG (which later became SagePoint) to LPL’s broker dealer model. Things really took off when independence bestowed Ross with the freedom to share his thoughts in the major media, including CNN, CNBC, Fox, Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Wall Street Journal. Yet it’s his deep-rooted investment knowledge and business strategy that helped propel the growth of Gerber Kawasaki—innovative thinking that continues to drive the success of the firm. In this special episode, Ross discusses his extraordinary journey with Louis Diamond, including: Making their way through the 2008 crisis—and how he and Danilo ultimately built a $2.2B mega-firm. The freedom to innovate—and why building their own RIA was the best option to achieve their goals. Thinking differently—and how creating a truly unique value proposition was a game-changer for Gerber Kawasaki. Collaboration and idea creation—and why Ross feels getting people together in the office is critical. Ross’s thoughts on crypto—and why working in “both financial systems” is smart for the firm. Starting an ETF—and what they learned in the process. Building a media presence—and what it really takes to become a public figure. The cost of advertising—and why social media and video proved more effective for their firm. Plus, what drove his public discourse with Elon Musk—and why he recommends buying Tesla stock today. Through independence, Gerber Kawasaki found the freedom to market and innovate their way to better serve their clients and become a $2.2B enterprise. In this episode, Ross outlines their process and offers sound ideas to help advisors re-think their business processes and goals. Related Resources Industry Update: The 10 Characteristics of the Most Successful Teams Mindy Diamond and Louis Diamond explore 10 of the most common behaviors of elite wealth management teams based on their experiences in guiding many of the industry’s top players. These are practices that any team at any level can adopt, whether they work as employees at a big brokerage firm, are independent business owners, sole practitioners, or part of an ensemble group. Listen-> How to Optimize Your Business for Growth and Success: 8 Questions Advisors Need to Ask Themselves