Carson Group, the $35.5 billion RIA created by Ron Carson, has named a new chief financial officer and controller in the latest changes to its executive suite.
Daniel Applegarth has joined Carson from Orion Advisor Solutions, where he spent the last 18 years overseeing finances for the technology and wealth management businesses. He steps into the role of chief financial officer vacated by Nick Englebart in 2023. Englebart now oversees M&A strategy for Carson Group.
Eric Vrba joins Carson from City+Ventures where he also served as controller. Prior to that, he was at Orion for more than five years, where he worked with Applegarth and oversaw accounting and finances for the wealth management business as assistant controller.
"Daniel joins us from one of our longtime strategic partners, which means he brings extensive knowledge not only of our industry and the RIA space, but also of Carson," Carson’s new CEO Burt White said in a statement. "As we lay the groundwork for a more adaptable and growth-focused organization, we need leaders who can bring financial discipline and support our commitment to advisor growth while ensuring our financial stability.”
White was named CEO earlier this month when Ron Carson moved into the role of chairman. Shortly after, Dani Fava was brought in to take over for White as chief of strategy and Heather Randolph Carter became head of marketing. Last year, Carson replaced its chief technology officer with an internal council and brought in a chief of legal.
Carter replaces Mary Kate Gulick, who left Carson last summer and subsequently filed a lawsuit againt the company, accusing the firm of not properly responding to an alleged sexual assault perpetrated by a Carson employee at an industry conference. In the complaint, she alleges the way the incident was handled caused a decline in her mental health and eventually led to her being fired in retaliation for speaking up.
Gulick now serves as head of marketing and public relations for FiComm Partners.
Based in Omaha, Neb., Carson Group was founded in 1983 and encompasses two RIAs and a coaching business managing around $35.5 billion for more than 50,000 families across 100 affiliated firms and 50 Carson Wealth locations. It is backed by a minority investment from private equity firm Bain Capital.