Rudy Adolf

Adolf was born in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria. Adolf's interest in financial services began at an early age, thanks to exposure to his father's work as the owner of a local accounting firm. In 2007, Adolf told InvestmentNews that whenever he meets with a potential partner firm for the first time he "feels as if he's walking into his father's accounting office back in his hometown of Innsbruck."[6] Adolf graduated from the University of Innsbruck, Austria with a Doctor and Magister of Jurisprudence degree.[7]

Adolf began his career at his family's CPA firm. In 1987, he relocated to Munich, Germany to work for the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company. In 1990, he moved to the United States, where he was named partner at McKinsey. As partner, Adolf oversaw strategy, organization, corporate finance, acquisitions and marketing engagements primarily in financial services.[8]

In 1998, Adolf joined American Express as the SVP Strategy and Business Development, reporting to CEO Harvey Golub.[9] Adolf was then appointed SVP and General Manager of the American Express Global Brokerage and Banking division.[10]

In 2004, Adolf incorporated Focus Financial Partners with his former colleagues from American Express, Rajini Kodialam and Lenny Chang. Focus Financial's stated goal was to support independent RIA firms through access to capital, expertise in M&A and a range of value-added services while protecting their entrepreneurial culture and closeness to clients.[11] In an interview with InvestmentNews in 2007, Adolf summarized the firm’s philosophy when describing the Focus operating model: “We never want to turn successful entrepreneurs into employees”.[12] He elaborated further in a 2017 interview: “What we understand is the power of the entrepreneur combined with the fiduciary model. We celebrate the uniqueness and individuality within this industry.”[13]

Following an investment in July 2017 by private equity firms Stone Point Capital and KKR, Focus was valued at over $2 billion.[14] Focus’ IPO in July 2018 valued the firm at an enterprise value of $3.5 billion. As of August 2018, Focus has partnered with approximately 60 wealth management firms in the U.S., Australia, Canada and the U.K.[2]

Adolf has been featured on several lists of influential people in the industry. In 2017, Adolf was named to the list of Icons & Innovators by InvestmentNews, honoring visionaries who have shaped and transformed the financial advice profession.[15] In 2006 during Focus’ inception, Wealth Management magazine named him one of its annual "Ten to Watch."[16] He was also named to Investment Advisor magazine's fifth annual IA 25 in 2007[17] He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal,[14] The New York Times,[18] CNBC,[19] Bloomberg Businessweek,[20] and a 2014 Harvard Business School Case Study.[21]

Under Adolf’s guidance, in June 2018, Focus invested in New York-based FinTech company SmartAsset’s series C funding totaling $28 million, along with Javelin Venture Partners, TTV Capital, IA Capital and Citi Ventures among others. Adolf stated that he sees “a scalable approach to digital client acquisition” as “an important lever for the wealth management industry.”[22]

Adolf resides in New York City with his wife and their three children,Isabel, Marcus, and Conrad [23] and is an avid skier and heli-skier.[24]

• Focus Financial Partners