# AlphaCore names former Corient executive Craig Cardwell as chief financial officer

URL: https://www.financialadvsr.com/article/alphacore-names-former-corient-executive-craig-cardwell-as-chief-financial-436c39
Published: October 31, 2026
By: Vivian Cole, Deals Correspondent
Section: Deals
Publisher: Financial ADVSR (https://www.financialadvsr.com)

AlphaCore Wealth Advisory has hired Craig Cardwell, previously a regional CFO and partner at Corient Private Wealth, as its chief financial officer, a role linked to the firm's acquisition program.

InvestmentNews reported on October 29 that AlphaCore Wealth Advisory has appointed Craig Cardwell as chief financial officer. The La Jolla, California firm's own announcement, dated the same day, also confirmed the hire. The InvestmentNews item was a roundup that included leadership moves at Dynasty and Mercer Advisors. Those are unrelated to AlphaCore and are not covered here.

According to InvestmentNews, Cardwell most recently held the regional chief financial officer role and a partner title at Corient Private Wealth, where he was responsible for finance functions and CFO support across 36 partner firms. Alpha Maven, which also reported the appointment, said Cardwell will support AlphaCore's acquisition program and build financial reporting to support greater scale.

AlphaCore is an SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in La Jolla. According to SDBJ, founder and CEO Dick Pfister has led the firm since its founding. In the InvestmentNews piece, Pfister said AlphaCore has grown both organically and through acquisitions.

The firm's acquisition record is substantial. Wealth Management reported that AlphaCore acquired SPC Financial, a Rockville, Maryland practice with eight advisors and $1.5 billion in AUM. AlphaCore announced its acquisition of Callan Capital in March 2025; Callan oversees $2.4 billion in assets under advisement. In July 2026 AlphaCore added Brave Family Advisors, a practice overseeing $700 million in client assets. The firm has also announced the addition of Elk River Wealth Management, a seven-person team advising nearly $1 billion in assets in Colorado.

Published size figures for AlphaCore do not agree. A 2025 trade report put the firm at $6 billion in AUM. Form ADV data for fiscal 2025, filed April 14, 2026, shows $9.0 billion in regulatory AUM, along with 111 employees and 69 advisory staff. The same database also carries a $13 billion regulatory AUM headline figure. The figures conflict, the sources do not reconcile them, and readers should treat any single figure with caution.

Cardwell's background is at Corient, a Miami-based firm owned by CI Financial and established in 2020, according to an InvestmentNews company profile. Firms that add finance leaders with platform or consolidator experience are often preparing for more transactions, since acquisitions bring reporting, integration and financial-operations work with them. The sources do not say how many deals AlphaCore plans or when Cardwell's first priorities will be set.

What comes next is the integration of Cardwell into AlphaCore's leadership team and the execution of the acquisition program he is expected to support. Any further acquisitions, or changes to the reported AUM, would be the next items to watch.

Key facts:
- Craig Cardwell was formerly regional CFO and partner at Corient Private Wealth, overseeing CFO services for 36 partner firms (InvestmentNews)
- AlphaCore acquired SPC Financial in Rockville, Maryland, which brought eight advisors and $1.5 billion in AUM (Wealth Management)
- AlphaCore added Brave Family Advisors in July 2026, a practice overseeing $700 million in client assets (AlphaCore announcement)
- Form ADV data for fiscal 2025 shows $9.0 billion in regulatory AUM, 111 employees and 69 advisory staff (dfxintel Form ADV data)

Why it matters: For advisors weighing a move to a firm that is growing by acquisition, a CFO's role in integrating acquired practices and reporting results is a practical concern. For firm leaders, bringing in finance talent with platform experience is one way to prepare for growth through deals.

Sources:
- InvestmentNews: https://www.investmentnews.com/ria-news/ria-moves-dynasty-mercer-advisors-and-alphacore-add-to-leadership/268798
- citybiz.co: https://www.citybiz.co/article/925940/dynasty-financial-partners-appoints-alex-kaminsky-chief-marketing-officer-names-gordon-abel-chief-brand-officer/
- 01net.it: https://www.01net.it/dynasty-names-alex-kaminsky-chief-marketing-officer-to-amplify-its-brand-and-its-mission-to-make-independence-last/
- thefcs.org: https://thefcs.org/event/members-only-gordon-abel-chief-marketing-officer-and-head-of-di-dynasty-financial-partners
- wealthmanagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/financial-technology/mercer-hires-its-first-cto-a-former-edelman-financial-engines-exec
- fintech.global: https://fintech.global/2026/07/31/aspen-2-0-targets-wealth-managements-data-problem/