Key Takeaways
- • AlphaCore Wealth Advisory, a La Jolla, California-based independent wealth advisory firm, has appointed Craig Cardwell as Chief Financial Officer, according to a Business Wire release.
- • Cardwell joins from Corient Private Wealth, where he served as Regional CFO and Partner overseeing financial operations and CFO services for 36 partner firms.
- • The appointment supports AlphaCore's acquisition program, capital structure work, and financial reporting build-out following four 2026 acquisitions.
- • Founder and CEO Dick Pfister said the hire reflects the need for dedicated financial leadership as the firm pursues its goal of becoming a premier next-gen wealth management platform.
Summary
AlphaCore Wealth Advisory has named Craig Cardwell as Chief Financial Officer, expanding its executive leadership team, according to a Business Wire announcement. The release describes AlphaCore as a leading independent wealth advisory firm headquartered in La Jolla, California, with offices nationwide.
Cardwell previously served as Regional CFO and Partner at Corient Private Wealth, where he oversaw financial operations and CFO services for 36 partner firms. The release states he played a key role in integrating independent advisory firms into Corient's broader platform and led due diligence and integration planning for regional acquisitions. Before Corient, he held leadership roles at RGT Wealth Advisors, where he led strategic transactions and financial initiatives tied to the firm's expansion, partner succession planning, and ownership transition.
In the CFO role, Cardwell will work with AlphaCore's leadership team to execute its acquisition program, strengthen its capital structure, and build financial reporting infrastructure suited to significantly greater scale. He will also work closely with AlphaCore's credit and equity partners and establish the finance function as a strategic resource across the business.
The appointment follows a period of expansion for AlphaCore, which completed the 2026 acquisitions of Elk River Wealth Management, Brave Family Advisors, Streamline Family Office, and Blue Rock Financial Group. Founder and CEO Dick Pfister said the firm has grown both organically and inorganically and needed dedicated financial leadership to support its goal of becoming a premier next-gen wealth management platform.
Cardwell holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business, a bachelor's degree in finance from Baylor University, and completed the Succeeding as a Strategic CFO program at Harvard Business School.
Cardwell previously served as Regional CFO and Partner at Corient Private Wealth, where he oversaw financial operations and CFO services for 36 partner firms. The release states he played a key role in integrating independent advisory firms into Corient's broader platform and led due diligence and integration planning for regional acquisitions. Before Corient, he held leadership roles at RGT Wealth Advisors, where he led strategic transactions and financial initiatives tied to the firm's expansion, partner succession planning, and ownership transition.
In the CFO role, Cardwell will work with AlphaCore's leadership team to execute its acquisition program, strengthen its capital structure, and build financial reporting infrastructure suited to significantly greater scale. He will also work closely with AlphaCore's credit and equity partners and establish the finance function as a strategic resource across the business.
The appointment follows a period of expansion for AlphaCore, which completed the 2026 acquisitions of Elk River Wealth Management, Brave Family Advisors, Streamline Family Office, and Blue Rock Financial Group. Founder and CEO Dick Pfister said the firm has grown both organically and inorganically and needed dedicated financial leadership to support its goal of becoming a premier next-gen wealth management platform.
Cardwell holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business, a bachelor's degree in finance from Baylor University, and completed the Succeeding as a Strategic CFO program at Harvard Business School.
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