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Wealth Management & Financial Planning Division

About The Wealth Management Division

The Pontem Group’s Wealth Management and Financial Planning Division provides expert guidance to wealth management professionals and firm leaders as they look to build their businesses or find the next career move. The division is guided by two Certified Financial Planners ® who both have been building firms and practices for over a decade.
We are CFPs ® helping CFPs ® and the Planning Industry

Eddy Ricci, CFP ®

Co-Founder/Founding Partner

Eddy is the author of The Growth Game: A Millennial’s Guide to Professional Development and the founder of a company that was named after the book. Leadership Authority and #1 Best Selling Author, Erik Qualman has shared, “Ricci understands what motivates Gen Y teams. He is on my radar and should be on yours.” Eddy helps professionals think and act creatively about revenue generation and career development and has been building talent acquisition systems, business development training and leadership development programs for over a decade. He has been published or quoted in Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes and Fox Business News and has given keynotes at various organizations. He founded The Pontem Group to help leaders and advisors in the wealth management & financial planning space gain leverage when attracting and developing talent and helping candidates upgrade their careers and lifestyles. He is a graduate of New York University and is lives in Lower Manhattan with his wife and two daughters.

Michael Connaughton, CFP ®

WM- Division Director​

For over a decade, Michael has held various leadership positions at Fortune 500 financial firms.  He has a proven track record in acquiring and expanding a wealth management client base, hiring and developing a productive sales force, promoting financial and economic education, managing professional relationships, and creating a lasting organizational impact.  Michael is passionate around identifying and aligning talent in the asset management and financial planning space to propel career growth.   He has specialized in constructing and leading professional development programs that have driven industry professionals to build more robust businesses and ascend to new heights.  He is a graduate of Providence College and resides in the Greater Boston area with his wife, son and daughter.

Zachary Chofay

Intern Associate

As an intern, Zach helps The Pontem Group- Wealth Management Division’s back office run smoothly while he learns about the world of finance and leadership development.  He currently attends The University of Rhode Island where he is the treasurer of the Club Soccer team.  He was the recipient of his high school’s Student Athlete award, showing balance and top performance in academics and athletics as a three sport athlete and captain.  He also received the principal’s award for the student who has left a lasting impression on the school.

For Advisors, Firm Leaders and Wealth Management/Financial Planning Executives

The Pontem Group-  Wealth Management Division works with firm managers and advisors who run their own practice to clarify the path to growth through talent acquisition and team building.   We know that after identifying top clients to work with, building the team to support you is your second biggest obstacle to growth.

We first help employers understand what the right fit is and then go to market to find qualified team members.  We offer both insights and time leverage to reduce the time suck in hiring and team-building so you can focus on your highest best use.

We have worked with companies to find the fit for:

  • Financial Advisors/ Wealth Managers/ Financial Planners(entrepreneurial/experienced/trainees)
  • Lead/Teamed/Junior/ Service/Financial Advisors
  • Firm Leaders/Directors/Managers
  • Directors of Investments and Investment Support (trading associates/investment operations)
  • Wealth Management Client Service Associates
  • Talent Acquisition/Recruiting professionals
  • Compliance Officers/Supervision
  • Chief Marketing Officers
  • Executive Assistants
  • Operations/Finance
  • Office Managers/Practice Management Associates
  • Paraplanner/Associate Advisors
  • Trainers
  • Coaches and Customer Service Support

For Financial Professionals

The Pontem Group – Wealth Management Division will work with professionals, across the experience spectrum to assist them in upgrading their career.   Whether you are an experienced advisor looking for a new platform, a professional passionate about supporting practices or someone who is looking to break into the financial advice industry, we may be able to help.

If there is no active current fit, we can learn more about you and what you are looking for in a career to help best prepare you for when the right opportunity may become available.

Client Testimonials

Want to Upgrade Your Wealth Management Practice, Firm or Career?

Get in touch with us for a free advisory call!