RWS Financial Group

What RWS Financial Group does

RWS Financial Group, also operating as Retirement and Wealth Strategies, is an independent financial advisory firm founded in 1985 by Rocco J. Scarsella and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The firm delivers personalized financial planning, investment management, tax planning, estate planning, insurance, and retirement plan services through 30+ financial advisors located across 16 offices in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Hawaii. Client engagement is structured around three asset-based tiers — EmergingWealth (up to $500,000), Private Wealth Management ($500,000-$5 million), and Ultra-Affluent ($5 million and above) — and extends to institutional segments including hospitals, universities, municipalities, and business owners seeking 401(k) and other employer-sponsored retirement plan solutions.

The firm operates as an Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) under Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., with securities offered through the Cambridge broker/dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and investment advisory services provided through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. The underlying technology stack consists of a financial planning and investment management platform integrated with Cambridge's advisory infrastructure, supplemented by the RWS Access client portal (wealth.emaplan.com) and the Plan Vault portal for retirement plan sponsors. No proprietary AI/ML, APIs, or third-party technology integrations beyond standard advisory tooling are disclosed.

RWS generates revenue through a combination of recurring investment advisory fees (AUM-based, subscription-style), securities commissions on transactional product sales, and professional services revenue tied to advisor recruitment and AUM growth within its OSJ structure. Distribution is primarily sales-led through face-to-face advisor consultations, with phone/video consultations and a digital marketing layer (blog, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, webinars, community seminars) functioning as top- and mid-funnel lead sources. The firm is privately held and founder-controlled, with Rocco J. Scarsella as President & Founder and the Scarsella family (Antonio R. Scarsella, Nicholas U. Scarsella, Kathy V. Scarsella) holding key operational leadership positions.

Name

RWS Financial Group

Legal name

RWS Financial Group

Website

https://rwsgroup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

RWS Financial Group is an independent financial advisory firm founded in 1985 that provides investment management, financial planning, tax, estate, and retirement plan services through 30+ advisors across 16 offices in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Hawaii, serving individuals, families, and institutional clients as an OSJ under Cambridge Investment Research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Wealth & Multi-Generational Planning RIAs (HNW/UHNW-lite) (FSAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Banking & UHNW Wealth Advisory (FSAEABAC)

Keywords

• Financial advisory services
• Investment management
• Retirement planning
• Wealth management
• Financial planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Royal Oak

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Fees: Fee-based investment management solutions integrated into comprehensive financial plans. Services provided through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. as Registered Investment Advisor.
2. Securities Commissions: Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial professionals earn commissions on investment products sold.
3. Business Referrals for Advisors: Recruitment of independent financial advisors and RIAs to join the RWS platform, generating revenue through advisor production and AUM growth.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RWS Financial Group is an independent financial advisory firm that delivers customized investment management, comprehensive financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, and insurance services to individuals, families, and institutional clients. The firm operates through a network of 30+ financial advisors across 16 offices in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Hawaii, offering tiered wealth services (EmergingWealth, Private Wealth Management, Ultra-Affluent) along with employer-sponsored retirement plan design, fiduciary oversight, and employee financial wellness programs.

Product overview

RWS Financial Group operates as a financial advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of wealth management services through its team of financial advisors. The firm provides investment management, financial planning, tax planning, estate planning, insurance, and business solutions organized into distinct client tiers based on asset levels: EmergingWealth (up to $500K), Private Wealth Management ($500K-$5MM), and Ultra-Affluent ($5MM+). The firm also offers specialized retirement plan services for businesses and employee financial wellness programs. Services are delivered through a network of 16 offices across Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Hawaii, with the home office located in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Investment Management
• Financial Planning
• Tax Planning
• Insurance for Individuals
• Estate Planning
• Business Solutions
• Retirement Plans
• Financial Wellness

Quantifiable outcome

• Investment management tiers serve clients from EmergingWealth ($500K) to Ultra-Affluent ($5MM+)

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Association of Financial EducatorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 September 2021RWS Financial Group announced partnership with the Association of Financial Educators to offer companies free fiscal wellness workshops. The partnership aimed to provide financial education and wellness programs to employees of corporate clients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Merrill Lynch Wealth Management: One of the largest U.S. wealth management franchises, serving HNW/UHNW clients through a national network of financial advisors with comprehensive investment and retirement planning. Broad incumbent competing with RWS for HNW clients in overlapping geographies.
• Raymond James Financial: Large diversified financial services firm with a substantial Private Client Group providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement services through affiliated advisors. Comparable to RWS in advisor-led wealth model but at national scale.
• LPL Financial: Largest independent broker-dealer in the U.S., supporting a national network of financial advisors with wealth management, retirement, and planning services. Comparable in operating model (independent advisor affiliation) but at much greater scale and geographic reach than RWS.
• Charles Schwab Wealth Advisory: National wealth advisory and custody platform serving RIAs and individual investors, including HNW/UHNW segments with dedicated advisor services. Broader incumbent with comparable target customers and service lines, though delivered through a digital and central-advisor hybrid model.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Investment Research: RWS operates as an OSJ under Cambridge Investment Research, making Cambridge both its platform partner and closest comparable as an independent RIA/broker-dealer supporting affiliated financial advisors. Both serve independent advisors with wealth management infrastructure, custody, and compliance services.
• Edward Jones: Branch-based, advisor-led financial services firm serving individuals and families across the U.S. with investment management, retirement, and financial planning services. Closely comparable to RWS in its reliance on a large network of locally-based financial advisors delivering personalized planning.
• Robert W. Baird & Co. Midwest-headquartered diversified financial services firm with a significant Private Wealth Management group serving HNW individuals, families, and institutions. Comparable to RWS in regional Midwest orientation, advisor-led model, and breadth of wealth and retirement services.
• Greenleaf Trust: Michigan-headquartered, employee-owned wealth management and trust firm serving HNW and UHNW families, businesses, and institutions. Direct competitor for RWS's Ultra-Affluent and institutional retirement plan business in the Michigan market.
• Cetera Financial Group: Independent broker-dealer and RIA platform supporting affiliated financial advisors with wealth management and retirement plan services. Directly comparable to RWS's OSJ/affiliated advisor model under Cambridge.
• Plante Moran Financial Advisors: Michigan-based RIA providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals, families, and institutions. Comparable in client segments and service breadth, especially in the Michigan footprint where both firms compete for institutional retirement business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC852TbvU8yv2RlmtwNnVUaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/RWSFinancialGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/retirement-and-wealth-strategies-llc
• Instagraminstagram.com/retirement_wealth_strategies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RWS Financial Group