How Advisors Can Get a 'Leg Up' Now: Gabe Garcia

As for the industry's intention and drive for "a more diverse workforce that resembles the population broadly," he'd like to see "an evolution that moves beyond a focus purely on diversity and talks a little more about inclusion: how we can support each other and give people a sense of belonging."

That means "not worry[ing] about the numbers or ratios, though critically important in having a diverse workforce, but thinking about how inclusion can be just as prominent in the conversation and in the effort to move forward."

Garcia started out at Shearson Lehman in 1992. Over the two succeeding decades, he has worked with RIAs as a consultant and executive leader at custodial firms that support the RIA channel.

His plans center on continuing to help RIAs "get a leg up in their careers and, hopefully, learn some of what I had the benefit of learning from my mentors," he says.

These include Mark Tibergien, the former CEO of Pershing Advisor Solutions, who "taught me about caring beyond the business metrics and how we can work in ways that go beyond just corporate business-building and brand-building to lift and elevate the profession," he says.

What motivated Garcia to participate in judging the LUMINARIES? The awards focus on earning a high level of merit in diversity and inclusion, thought leadership, executive leadership, dealmaking and growth.

"This industry has a true spirit of thinking in innovative ways about the future," he says. "It's very important to all of us to [recognize] those who are breaking new ground, doing interesting things and setting the standard so that others can follow in their footsteps." 

Garcia discusses this topic and a range of issues, including his professional journey, in this podcast.