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2026 Connect Money Next Generation Wealth Management Awards
Winners
- Cristina Wiebelt-Smith: Redefining Wealth Advice Through Education, Community Impact
- Jack Reifsnider: Linking Capital, Community, and Client Outcomes
- Ximena Silva-Avila: Pairing Values-Based Planning with Community Advocacy
- Scott Frazin: Blending Personal Engagement with Next Gen Advisory Approach
- Ken Vendley: Driving Growth Through Mentorship and Holistic Planning
- Michael Bueti: Scaling Growth, Innovation and Next Gen Client Engagement
- Abhishek Vakil: Aligning Personal Performance with Firmwide Growth
- John B. Petrick: Advancing Next Gen RIA Framework
- Alan Simeon: Transformation Through Growth, Innovation and Mentorship
- Julian Locke: Expanding Industry Access Through Mentorship
- Dana Hall: Redefining Wealth Creation Through Community Equity Innovation
- Alex Pape: Bringing AI, Unified Portfolios to the Advisor Desktop
- Nicholas Petrelli: Powering Growth Through Client Acquisition and Team Leadership
- Kelly Ann Winget: Challenges PE Norms With Access and Innovation
- Ashton Lawrence: Building $200M Practice Around Trust, Planning and Education
- Jacob Gurock: From Messaging to Mentorship
- Robert Howland: Modernizing a Legacy Firm While Deepening Client-Centered Advice
- Mamadou-Abou Sarr: Building $1.4B Quant Platform With High-Touch Innovation
- Collin Lyon: Rewiring Tech, Talent, and Team-Based Planning
- Lucas Mijares: Putting Values at the Center of Wealth Planning
- Danielle White: Building a One-Stop Operations Platform for Independent Advisors
- Susy Thomas: Bringing Athlete’s Discipline to Client-Centered Planning
- Rebecca Trethewey: Strengthening Platform With Retirement, Benefits Expertise
- Gautam Muthusamy: Accelerating Growth Through Personalized Advisory and Strategic Leadership
- Joseph Spina: Bridging Institutional Research and Private Wealth Advice
- Lowell Lyon: Prioritizing Simplicity in Wealth Management
- Greg Giardino: Turning Personal Experience Into Client-Focused Advisory Approach
- Hannah Forney: Guiding Families and Athletes Through Wealth Decisions
- Zach Schear: Fueling Record Growth and Transformation
- Megan Higgins: Driving Operational Innovation, Next Gen Talent Development
Megan Higgins: Driving Operational Innovation, Next Gen Talent Development
Client service leader reshapes workflows, culture and talent pipeline to support firmwide growth
Megan Higgins, Director of Private Wealth Client Services at RWA Wealth Partners, is helping redefine how operational leadership supports growth in modern wealth management, blending process innovation with talent development to elevate the client experience.
Higgins oversees the firm’s Private Wealth Client Service Team, aligning its structure around three core pillars—people, processes and operational efficiency. Under her leadership, the division was restructured to support scalability, while a revamped hiring philosophy has strengthened team development across the organization. Her team also played a key role in rebuilding RWA’s Salesforce platform, streamlining workflows and enhancing service delivery across departments.
Beyond daily operations, Higgins serves as a cross-functional partner, collaborating with accounting, IT, advisors and senior leadership to identify efficiencies and drive continuous improvement. She also contributes to RWA’s Business Operations Committee, providing strategic insights and operational leadership.
Her impact extends beyond the firm. Higgins actively supports the Angel Fund for ALS Research and contributes to initiatives aiding foster care children in the Boston area. She is also deeply committed to mentoring the next generation, serving as a hiring manager for both full-time roles and the firm’s internship program.
Higgins embodies a next-generation leadership model, fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity and upward mobility. Over the past decade, more than half of her team has advanced through internal promotions, reflecting her focus on development and retention.