About ECHELON

Dan Seivert is the CEO and Founder of ECHELON Partners, a leading investment bank and consulting firm dedicated to the wealth and investment management industries. Since founding the firm, Seivert has built ECHELON into one of the most respected names in financial services M&A, research, and strategic advisory.

Seivert brings over 30 years of industry experience, having worked with more than 900 executive teams and boards to develop and execute a wide range of business strategies and transactions. Under his leadership, ECHELON has advised on thousands of valuations, acquisition targets, and capital events, shaping the landscape of independent wealth management.

He is the architect behind ECHELON’s Deals & Dealmakers Summit, the industry’s premier M&A conference, and the firm’s widely followed Quarterly RIA M&A Deal Report, recognized as the authoritative source on transaction trends in the independent wealth space.

Seivert has served on the Boards of AssetMark Investment Services, BridgePortfolio, and Occidental College, and is a frequent keynote speaker at industry events including those hosted by the Money Management Institute (MMI), Financial Services Institute (FSI), American Bankers Association (ABA), and others.

He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, RIABiz, Financial Advisor, and Fortune, among other top-tier financial publications.

Seivert holds deep expertise across mergers and acquisitions, valuation, corporate strategy, capital raising, private equity, governance, and equity-sharing structures. His unique combination of industry knowledge, private equity experience, and senior operating perspective enables him to deliver visionary, execution-focused counsel to leadership teams navigating transformational growth.

Barnaby Audsley is a Senior Vice President at ECHELON Partners and focuses on a diversity of M&A, capital raising, and strategic advisory projects. During his tenure at ECHELON, Barnaby has supported a number of notable transactions such as SEIA’s strategic investment from Reverence Capital Partners, Daintree Advisors and its sale to Cerity Partners, Vestmark’s sale of Adhesion to AssetMark, and Sawtooth Solution’s sale to Simplicity Group. He has over 10 years of experience advising entrepreneurs, investors, and executive teams in the wealth and investment management industries.

Barnaby’s prior experience focused on private equity and financial sponsor coverage at a prominent multi-family office, Bel Air Investment Advisors. During his time with Bel Air, he assisted in the sourcing and underwriting of fund, co-investment opportunities, and direct transactions, culminating in over $400 million of assets deployed. He also participated on the firm’s investment committee and supported strategic planning initiatives across finance, marketing, and operations, coordinating with the board and management team.

Barnaby received his Bachelor’s in Economics from Occidental College, where he was a Director and Alumni Chair of the student-run investment portfolio. Barnaby, a native of London, England, currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Brett Mulder is a Senior Vice President at ECHELON Partners and spends time across all of the firm’s core activities including M&A advisory, strategic consulting, and thought leadership. He has supported a number of notable transactions in his career thus far, including Heber Fuger Wendin's sale to Mariner Wealth Advisors, GTCR & Reverence's purchase of Wells Fargo Asset Management, and Integrated Wealth Advisory's sale to the Carson Group.

Prior to joining ECHELON, Brett was a Senior Associate with Deutsche Bank Securities, working in their US investment bank and within the Financial Institutions Group. With Deutsche, Brett advised wealth managers, asset managers, FinTech companies, and financial sponsors on a variety of strategic endeavors including M&A, IPOs, SPACs, and leveraged finance. Through that experience, Brett spent significant time cultivating relationships with private equity firms and platform buyers involved and interested in the wealth management ecosystem.

Brett has B.S. in Finance from San Diego State University where he also served as VP of the student investment council. Brett currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Sam Sphire is a Vice President at ECHELON Partners and focuses on a diversity of M&A advisory, investment banking, and strategic advisory assignments. Before joining ECHELON, Sam worked as an Analyst at Brookside Mezzanine Partners where he underwrote and analyzed investments for the firm’s investment funds.

Sam has a B.S. in Management with concentrations in Finance and Information Systems from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College where he was a member of the Honors Program Alumni Relations Committee and Outdoor Adventures Club. Sam grew up in Encinitas, CA and now resides in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Katie McLellan is the Vice President of Marketing at ECHELON Partners, where she brings over fifteen years of expertise in marketing strategy, digital innovation, and brand building. With a track record of driving business growth and enhancing client engagement within the financial services industry, Katie plays a pivotal role in shaping ECHELON's marketing initiatives to align with the firm’s strategic objectives. 

Katie’s expertise spans across digital marketing, public relations, social media, and content strategy. She has led multi-channel campaigns, managed cross-functional teams, and optimized marketing efforts for major financial brands, including Northern Trust, Truist and Charles Schwab. At Charles Schwab, she was instrumental in launching high-net-worth programs, leading initiatives that increased positive sentiment and contributed to increased assets under management. 

With a keen understanding of the wealth and investment management industries, she ensures ECHELON Partners remains at the forefront of marketing innovation. 

Originally from the Chicago area, Katie received her BA in Communications from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She currently resides in San Diego County.  

Jessica Cline is the Vice President of Administration at ECHELON Partners, where she oversees office management, human resources, and accounts receivable/payable functions. She also serves as the Executive Assistant to CEO Daniel Seivert. Before joining ECHELON, Jessica built a strong foundation as an Executive Assistant in prominent roles, beginning at Oaktree Capital, where she supported a founding member, then at Capital Group, assisting two senior economists, and later at Abbott Laboratories, supporting the President of the Neuromodulation Division.

With over 15 years of experience in the financial and medical device sectors, Jessica is highly skilled in organization, planning, and time management. Originally from Irvine and Solana Beach, CA, she now lives in Carlsbad, CA, with her family.

Andrea Polizzi is an Event Coordinator at ECHELON Partners who is responsible for event planning, communications, administration, and partial office management. Ms. Polizzi coordinates the marketing strategy, branding, and messaging for the Deals & Deal Makers Summit. In association with this event, she manages the marketing budget and calendar and maintains all collateral, communications, and distribution lists.

Ms. Polizzi possesses 15+ years of senior level marketing, communications, and event management experience, with focus on the financial services industry. She is a marketing leader with extensive experience in managing teams across a full range of hands on strategy, marketing, and communications projects and possesses a depth of experience in creating and managing conferences and events. Ms. Polizzi grew up in Coral Gables, FL and now resides in Manhattan Beach, CA with her family.

Parker McFadden is a Senior Analyst at ECHELON Partners, where he specializes in investment banking, M&A advisory, consulting, and thought leadership. Prior to joining ECHELON, Parker worked as an Analyst at DelMorgan & Co., focusing on M&A advisory in the business services, consumer, industrial, and real estate sectors. 

He holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was actively involved in the Investments and Trading Club and the Snowboarding Club. Originally from Orange County, CA, Parker currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

James “Jim” Dilworth is an experienced entrepreneur and investor with a deep background in wealth and asset management. He began his career on the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and later held senior leadership roles at Thomson Reuters in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Jim went on to found a prominent alternatives investment platform and currently invests in wealth management businesses through Entwood Holdings. His expertise spans alternative investments, financial technology, and strategic partnership development. He holds a B.A. from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Megan Carpenter is the CEO and Co-Founder of FiComm Partners, an award-winning marketing and communications agency serving registered investment advisors and financial professionals. With two decades of experience in the wealth management industry, Megan has built a reputation for helping firms accelerate growth through strategic marketing, branding, and public relations. She serves on the boards of the Foundation for Financial Planning and the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning. Megan earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California.

Jeffrey Bischoff is the President and Founder of Old Greenwich Consultants, an executive search firm dedicated to the wealth management industry. With more than 30 years of experience in executive recruitment, Jeff has built deep relationships with top advisors and industry leaders. He previously held senior recruiting roles at Smith Barney, UBS, and Oppenheimer & Co., where he led regional recruitment efforts following the sale of his prior firm. Jeff holds a B.A. from Villanova University.

Kathy Freeman Godfrey has more than 30 years of experience attracting, assessing, and recruiting top financial services talent. Since founding her firm in 1992, she has executed hundreds of assignments for C-Suite executives, executive leadership, and high-impact individual contributors. Kathy is recognized for her thought leadership across the industry and serves as a frequent conference speaker and panelist. She has also contributed to numerous industry publications. Kathy graduated from California State University, Chico. She lives on California's Central Coast with her husband and has two children. In her spare time, you can find her golfing, hiking, or cycling.

Julian Seivert is an Analyst at ECHELON Partners specializing in investment banking, valuation, consulting, and industry research. He began at ECHELON as a Summer Analyst, supporting M&A advisory within the financial services sector, before joining the firm full-time.

Julian earned his B.S. in Business Economics with an emphasis in Finance from the University of California, San Diego. While there, he served as a Senior Equity Research Analyst on the Investment Committee for the university’s endowment fund. Julian is originally from Los Angeles, where he currently resides.

Matthew Hopkins is an Analyst at ECHELON Partners focusing in investment banking, M&A advisory, consulting, and thought leadership. Before joining ECHELON, Matthew spent two summers at J.P. Morgan working in their Corporate and Investment Bank as a Market Risk specialist. 

Matthew holds a B.S. in Business Economics from the University of California - San Diego, where he was an active member of the Triton Consulting Group. He is also an avid lover of endurance sports and the outdoors, with his most notable feat being his summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Matthew grew up in San Diego, CA and now resides in Los Angeles, CA.