M. Scott Rister
CEO & Co-founder
M. Scott Rister
CEO & Co-founder
There’s a stencil above Scott Rister’s entryway that reads “Carpe Diem.”

It’s one of his favorite messages and a reminder to take advantage of what every day offers. In Scott’s case, that means using his more than 30 years of experience to help professionals in the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) space seize the day when it comes to making strategic decisions about their future, especially when it’s time to transition or take the firm to the next level. As CEO of Transcend Partner Group, he not only partners with RIAs to manage the transition process, he also helps them balance their concerns around doing the best for their families, caring for their team members, and delivering on commitments to their clients.

Prior to co-founding Transcend Partner Group, Scott held a number of executive leadership positions in the finance industry, including President of Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, Inc., where he led the creation and implementation of the firm’s new strategy, and launched an organization-changing organic growth strategy. He spent 20 years at Charles Schwab, where he held numerous positions including General Manager of Compliance Solutions, Senior Managing Director of Sales & Relationship Management, Regional Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, and Director of Finance. He successfully launched Schwab Compliance Solutions and built a business with more than $120B in AUM and $400M in annual revenue.

Scott is deeply respected for his ability to build teams grounded in diversity of thought and lead organizations through periods of high growth and transition, while realizing exponential short- and long-term results. Clients value his strong EQ, exceptional communication skills and adaptive thinking, while co-workers prize his ability to acquire, develop and retain top-level talent; empower teams; and provide outstanding coaching and mentoring. Scott holds a B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Accounting from the University of Akron and is a graduate of the Accelerated Advanced Management Program at Northwestern’s Kellogg School, as well as the SIFMA Security Industry 3-year Program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as a member of the Capital Group RIA Advisory Board.

Family figures largely in Scott’s personal life, and he loves spending quality time with his wife and four adult daughters, son-in-law and two granddaughters: especially if they’re vacationing or cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes. A lifelong learner, Scott is a huge history buff who has been deeply inspired by Abraham Lincoln and his willingness to surround himself with people who thought differently in order to have all views represented. He tries to emulate that kind of humility in his work and family life, focusing less on his personal success and more on helping others succeed.

Paul Stetz
President & Co-founder
Paul Stetz
President & Co-founder
Paul Stetz sees himself as a servant leader in the RIA marketplace, always putting clients and people first while effectively establishing unshakable trust and credibility.

He has an extensive track record of consistently driving outpaced growth and profitability, and an intrinsic ability to identify and develop talent that can execute on innovative business and growth strategies. As President of Transcend Partner Group, Paul is focused on continuing to deliver incremental value and build on the trust he has established with existing relationships in the RIA industry, as well as earning the trust of potential future partners of the firm.

Paul co-founded Transcend Partner Group after more than 15 years in the Registered Investment Advisor industry. He served as Chief Operating Officer of Fairport Wealth, where he led the advisory team responsible for delivering a holistic wealth management experience to high-net worth clients and executed an omni-channel organic growth strategy and the evolution of the firm’s engagement strategy with clients, prospects and COIs. As Managing Director of Mergers & Acquisitions for Mercer Advisors, he directly sourced more than $1B in qualified, growth-minded RIA acquisition targets and was actively involved in all material facets of the deal process. Paul has also held sales and relationship management leadership positions, including Regional Vice President-Relationship Management for Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions as well as Managing Director and Senior Relationship Manager for Schwab Advisor Services.

Paul is a recognized advocate and trusted steward of relationships, the RIA industry and the fiduciary standard. He is widely respected for his consultative, value-added approach and his unique ability to listen to, connect with, and earn the trust of individuals, executive leadership teams of RIA firms and other partners across the RIA industry. He holds a BA in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College. He was a participant in the Fidelity G2 Leadership Institute led by Phillip Palaveev of the Ensemble Practice; has engaged Executive Coach & Leadership Development Consultant, The Mark David Corporation; and successfully completed Miller Heiman Strategic Selling & Flawless Consulting training.

Paul resides in Cleveland and enjoys spending time with his wife and three adult children. He has a passion for leadership and culture, particularly creating a culture of humility, the greater good, and putting others first. He tries to embody and live out those values in both his work and his family life, finding the most fulfillment in the success of his family and others. Paul is also passionate about health and fitness and enjoys the outdoors. He is also an avid fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC Announces Agreement with Transcend Partner Group

Transaction Supports a Commitment to Deliver an Industry-Leading RIA Platform

Fort Washington, PA - Lincoln Investment Planning, LLC (Lincoln Investment), a leading full-service broker-dealer and registered investment adviser (RIA) founded in 1968, today announced it is joining forces with Transcend Partner Group (Transcend), a national consolidator of registered investment advisers. Transcend will be a subsidiary of Lincoln Investment Capital Holdings, LLC, the parent company of Lincoln Investment.

Transcend's partnership with Lincoln provides a unique, long-term/private capital structure that supports a commitment to delivering an industry-leading RIA platform and creates an enduring enterprise for generations to come. Transcend provides a differentiated solution for founders and owners and next generation talent, serving the expanding needs of investors.

"Lincoln Investment is focused on serving investors and enhancing our capabilities as their needs grow. We have been interested in opportunities to work with advisors to deepen relationships with existing clients and continue to attract new ones," said CEO and President Ed Forst, Lincoln Investment.

Transcend is led by co-founder and CEO Scott Rister, who brings a 20-plus-year track record of leadership and relationship management within the RIA industry. Prior to starting Transcend, Scott served as president, Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, a $3.5 billion RIA. He previously held multiple senior roles at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. including vice president and general manager, Schwab Compliance Solutions, and several senior roles within the advisor services division of Charles Schwab.

Rister is joined by co-founder and President Paul Stetz, who brings the experience of having served in many sectors of the RIA industry. Among his roles, Stetz was chief operating officer of Fairport Wealth ($3.3B in AUM), a managing director in the M&A group of Mercer Advisors, one of the leading acquirers within the space, and held regional sales and relationship leadership roles at both Fidelity Institutional and Schwab Advisor Services.

"We were looking for an RIA solution and found it in Transcend," added Forst. "We are excited to welcome Scott and Paul to our leadership team. They bring deep relationships across the RIA ecosystem and proven executive leadership to oversee the success of the new business."

Rister and Stetz started Transcend in early 2022 with a focus on bringing a differentiated solution to the M&A space and partnering with like-minded growth-focused firms that share their values and passion for culture and talent.

"Joining forces with Lincoln provides us with a trusted partner, that shares our vision for the RIA business rooted in talent, relationships and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit,"said Rister. "With immediate access to private long-term capital and an operating infrastructure, this partnership accelerates our strategy for building a business that offers RIAs a holistic wealth management platform. Advisors under Transcend maintain a high level of autonomy to manage their business and serve clients in the way they do best."

DeVoe & Company introduced Transcend to Lincoln Investment.

About Lincoln Investment

With over 50 years of proven industry leadership and experience in delivering investment strategies, Lincoln Investment is a leading broker-dealer. Its network includes over 1,000 financial professionals nationwide. The company serves the diverse financial needs of over 355,000 clients representing $49 billion in assets. Lincoln has been voted one of the Top Workplaces in the Delaware Valley for the 13th consecutive year.

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