The Carson Group, the $35.5 billion RIA founded by Ron Carson, has named a new chief financial officer and controller in the latest shakeup of its executive suite.
Daniel Applegarth joins Carson from Orion Advisor Solutions, where he spent the past 18 years overseeing finance for 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 the 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 finance for the wealth management business as assistant controller.
“Daniel joins us from one of our long-standing strategic partners, which means he brings extensive knowledge not only of our industry and the RIA space, but also of Carson,” new Carson 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.”
It was white appointed CEO earlier this month when Ron Carson moved into the role of chairman. Immediately after, Dani Fava was brought in to take over for White as chief strategy officer, and Heather Randolph Carter became head of marketing. Last year, Carson replaced its chief technology officer with an internal council and brought in a legal chief.
Carter replaces Mary Kate Gulick, who left Carson last summer and after filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing the firm of failing to respond appropriately to an alleged sexual assault by a Carson employee at an industry conference. In the complaint, she alleges that Carson executives' poor response to the incident disturbed her, causing a decline in her mental health and ultimately leading to her firing.
Gulick now serves as head of marketing and public relations for FiComm Partners.
Based in Omaha, Neb., Carson Group was founded in 1983 and includes two RIAs and a coaching business that manages approximately $35.5 billion for more than 50,000 households at 100 affiliated firms and 50 Carson Wealth locations. It is backed by a small investment from private equity firm Bain Capital.