In Barron’s, Institute CEO Sean Walters Outlines How Certifications Drive Scalable Growth for Advisory Firms

In a September 2025 column for Barron’s, Investments & Wealth Institute CEO Sean Walters explores a critical but often overlooked growth strategy for today’s wealth management firms: investing in professional certifications and team development. Drawing on findings from the Institute’s 2025 Team and Business Leader Research Study and corroborative research from CEG Insights, Walters makes the case that as competition for talent and clients intensifies, the firms best positioned for long-term success are those that intentionally scale their talent — not just their AUM.

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Walters highlights how credentials such as the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) designation are more than technical certifications — they’re strategic assets that elevate leadership, deepen client trust, and create stronger team cultures. He also addresses a widening leadership gap in the profession: while 84% of team leads consider themselves strong business leaders, 93% still report persistent challenges with talent management, coaching, and operational complexity. Walters argues that certifications help close this gap by embedding consistent standards, fostering accountability, and supporting a culture of excellence.

“Certifications are more than letters after a name,” Walters writes. “They are strategic educational solutions… the human capital equivalent of generating alpha.”

Read the full Barron’s column here: https://www.barrons.com/advisor/articles/professional-certifications-growth-wealth-firms-3752c2b9?mod=advisor_center