Spidel Burnfin

What Spidel Burnfin does

Spidel Burnfin is a privately held, retained executive search firm founded in 2007 by Tim Spidel, specializing exclusively in executive recruitment for the wealth management industry. The firm places C-level executives (CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, CCO) and senior specialists in investments, relationship management, tax, advanced estate planning, trust, and accounting/finance functions across single family offices, multi-family office groups, fee-based Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), and investment management firms nationwide.

The firm's core product is a documented 7-step retained search process that includes discovery with in-person office visits for cultural fit assessment, candidate research drawing on a nationwide network, evaluation, interview facilitation, reference checking, offer negotiation, and post-placement follow-up. A supplementary offering is a curated network of trusted service providers spanning adjacent wealth management domains such as household staffing, chief of staff placement, compensation consulting, OCIO/OCFO solutions, and philanthropic advisory. The firm operates with no proprietary technology, software products, or AI/ML capabilities; delivery is relationship-driven and human-judgment-based.

The firm's business model is retainer-based professional services revenue, with no publicly disclosed pricing. The firm is founder-owned with no external investment and operates from a single headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, serving clients nationwide through direct, consultative sales engagement. The documented team is lean—a Managing Partner (Tim Spidel, with 11 prior years at SBR and a career in wealth management recruiting since 1996) and a Research Associate (Lilly Gallagher)—while firmographic data places the company in the 11-50 employee range.

Name

Spidel Burnfin

Legal name

Spidel Burnfin

Website

https://spidelburnfin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spidel Burnfin is a privately held retained executive search firm that places C-level and senior executives exclusively for wealth management clients, including family offices, RIAs, and investment management firms across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search Services: Spidel Burnfin operates as a retained executive search firm, likely charging retainers for conducting exclusive talent searches for wealth management clients including family offices and RIAs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Spidel Burnfin is a retained executive search firm that recruits C-level executives and senior wealth management professionals for single and multi-family offices, fee-based RIAs, and investment management firms. Its service is delivered through a 7-step search process that includes in-person office visits to assess cultural fit, nationwide candidate research, structured evaluation, and post-placement follow-up.

Product overview

Spidel Burnfin is a retained executive search firm that operates as a single, unified service offering. The core product is a 7-step retained executive search process for the wealth management industry. The service is delivered through two primary talent search areas: RIA Executive Placement (for Registered Investment Advisory firms) and Family Office Executive Placement (for Single and Multi-Family Offices). Additionally, the firm offers access to a supplementary network of wealth management industry resources. The portfolio does not include any software products, platforms, or modules—the firm provides human capital recruitment services exclusively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retained Executive Search Services A 7-step retained executive search process encompassing discovery, candidate research, evaluation, interview facilitation, reference checking, offer negotiation, and post-placement follow-up for wealth management organizations including family offices and RIAs.
• Family Office Executive Placement Executive recruitment services for Single and Multi-Family Offices, including C-Level hires (CEO, CFO, COO, CIO) and specialists in Investments, Relationship Management/Client Service, Tax, Advanced Estate Planning, Trust, and Accounting/Finance.
• RIA Executive Placement Executive recruitment services for Registered Investment Advisory firms, including C-Level hires (CEO, CFO, COO, CCO, CIO), Head of Family Office Services, Director of Investment Research, Director of Financial Planning, Head of Estate Planning/Senior Wealth Strategist, and Senior Wealth Advisors.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• IRSA (International Retained Search Association)minorOthersProfessional association membership for Tim Spidel, indicating industry recognition and adherence to professional standards in retained search.
• Family Wealth AllianceminorOthersProfessional membership organization for family wealth professionals. Tim Spidel maintains active membership.
• UHNW InstituteminorOthersInstitute serving ultra-high-net-worth professionals and family offices. Tim Spidel maintains active membership.
• Heckerling Institute on Estate PlanningminorOthersPremier estate planning conference that Tim Spidel regularly attends to stay current on industry trends.
• Dayspring CenterminorOthersIndianapolis-based charity where Tim Spidel and Lilly Gallagher volunteer. The firm supports this nonprofit through fundraising and volunteering efforts.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Major organizational consulting firm with a Financial Services executive search practice that includes wealth management. Competes for senior wealth management placements while offering broader consulting services at much greater scale.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm whose Asset & Wealth Management practice places senior leaders across RIAs, family offices, and private banks. Overlaps with Spidel Burnfin on RIA/family office C-suite mandates but covers far broader industry verticals.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Financial Services practice that places leaders in wealth management, private banking, and asset management. Direct overlap with Spidel Burnfin's buyer segments, though at a larger scale and broader scope.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with practices serving financial services, including wealth and investment management. Competes for executive-level placements in the same buyer segments as Spidel Burnfin but at significantly greater breadth and headcount.
• Egon Zehnder: Global leadership advisory and executive search firm with deep Financial Services and Private Wealth practices. Targets the same senior-level wealth management executives as Spidel Burnfin while serving broader industries globally.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global retained executive search firm with a dedicated Financial Services practice that includes wealth management. Competes with Spidel Burnfin for senior RIA and family office searches but operates at significantly greater scale across all industries.

Direct peers

• Crist Kolder Associates: Chicago-based retained executive search firm that, like Spidel Burnfin, focuses exclusively on the wealth management industry, placing senior executives at RIAs, family offices, and investment firms. Closest direct competitor in size, vertical focus, and retained search model.
• Howard-Sloan-Kerr & Associates: Boutique retained search firm specializing in the investment management and wealth advisory space. Directly comparable to Spidel Burnfin in target customers (RIAs, asset managers, family offices) and senior-level placement focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spidel-burnfin-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Spidel Burnfin