Michael Papedis

Mike Papedis is the CEO and Co-Founder of Fusion Financial Partners, the nationally recognized consultancy that designs, builds, and accelerates RIAs. Since launching Fusion in 2017, Mike has helped breakaway advisors, family offices, broker-dealers, national enterprises, insurance organizations, and trust companies with a combined AUM of over $50 billion move to independence. With nearly three decades of leadership in the RIA industry, Mike has facilitated more than $300 billion in client assets transition firms, transform firm direction, or enter independence. His firm, Fusion, is widely known for its sophisticated “master builder” model—combining transition project management, growth strategy, recruiting, M&A/capital solutions, and fintech architecture into one seamless platform for elite advisors and firms.

Under Mike’s leadership, Fusion has built a reputation as the go-to strategic partner for breakaway teams, family offices, and established RIAs seeking transformational growth. Signature innovations include the Fusion Advisor AcademyTM, a curriculum that educates advisors on independence, custodian/broker-dealer selection, financial projections, and technology design, and Fusion BlackOpsTM, a confidential program that has guided over $40 billion in assets into independence. Fusion also played a pivotal role in building the Thrivent Advisor Network, which grew to $12 billion in AUM and was named Innovator of the Year by WealthManagement.com in 2022.

Beyond Fusion, Mike co-founded Wingman Strategic Partners, an insurance platform designed for RIAs to diversify revenue and expand enterprise value. He also co-founded FusionNetix, a cybersecurity and IT management firm for wealth managers, sold in 2022.

Mike’s career spans nearly three decades in wealth management. Prior to founding Fusion, he was Managing Director and Head of Business Development at HighTower Advisors, where he launched and led multiple new business lines, including RIA acquisitions, platform affiliation, and the W-2 partnership channel—overseeing over 70 acquisitions totaling $80 billion in AUM. Earlier, he held senior roles at Fidelity Clearing & Custody and TD Ameritrade Institutional, consistently ranking as a top performer in custody and recruiting for RIAs.

A frequent industry speaker and media contributor, Mike has appeared in publications such as Barron’s, WealthManagement.com, Citywire, InvestmentNews, and ThinkAdvisor, where he provides commentary on advisor independence, M&A, and the evolving RIA ecosystem.

Mike grew up in Des Moines and then Minneapolis. He earned his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Iowa and relocated to Chicago. Today, he spends time between his Southern California and Southeast Florida home and is passionate about building businesses that redefine the future of wealth management.