BRIAN TOWNER
Burleson
Summary
Visionary product strategy leader with a proven track record of driving comprehensive strategic initiatives. Ambitious, dedicated, and a self-starter who excels at creating strategic alliances with organizational leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives. Committed to maintaining the development and growth of customer relationships and satisfaction. Extensive experience in evaluating, determining, creating, and implementing technology applications both commercially and internally. Driven to manage costs and establish strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with users, vendors, and service providers. Strong ability to review operational proposals while remaining compliant within regulatory guidelines and requirements. Successfully led cross-functional teams to achieve significant milestones in business growth and operational efficiency. Strategic foresight and capacity to implement innovative solutions set apart as a leader in the industry.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Strategic Planning. Advisor Experience
Orion Advisor Solutions
11.2020 - Current
- Responsible for strategic planning and outlook, business product lifecycle planning and execution; from product vision and definition, collaboration with business divisions on operational enhancements driven by stakeholders and consumer vision, prioritization of goals and outlining deliverables based on and in concert with organizational objectives
- Management of two product teams to ensure product development, enhancements and integration are executed with success
- Enhanced organizational growth by leading development of long-term strategic plans.
- Strategic planning and forecast or product opportunities and life cycles for business operations
- Directed cross-functional teams for driving key initiatives and achieving organizational goals.
- Leadership and oversight of product development executing the necessary components of product enhancement are implemented through the Product Manager, Product Owner and UX Designer
- Cultivate the product's vision, business case and organization of planning the delivery of product initiatives throughout the departments' members
- Engaging with customers and stakeholders to ensure extensive understanding of requirements and expectations
- Understand deliverables coupled with market information, research, and requirements to ensure successful integration
- Responsible for representing the business and product through promotion of values and benefits with various levels within the organization and consumer campaigns
- Ensure knowledge, training, support, and communications are provided with all products provided
Director of New Solutions and Client Experience
CLS Investment Firm LLC
06.2017 - 06.2019
- Responsible for the overall client and advisor experience invested in SMA, UMA, or Institutional solutions
- Also acted as the liaison between the sales, key accounts, portfolio management, compliance, trading, service, and the new business departments to lead and manage new initiatives to improve our business and to drive sales
- I leveraged technology to improve our current solution set and was responsible for client experiences that interfaced through technology, followup confirmations, statements, video statements, and other delivery mechanisms
- Designed, developed, tested and implemented multiple product offerings ensuring that CLS remained a leader in the industry
- Spearheaded cross-functional initiative to achieve cohesion among Northstar for work with our 529 plans
- Assisted in the development of marketing and training components as well as leading training efforts for all internal and external users
- Integrated with third party SOAP API's and developed back end administration applications
- Initiated workflow efficiencies to support demanding customer base and highly aggressive business goals
Product Manager, Separate Accounts
CLS Investment Firm LLC
12.2014 - 05.2017
- Assisted in design, creation, and implementation of Autopilot Product with Riskalyze (clsautopilot.com)
- Created and maintained all operational aspects of the Autopilot platform (Docusign, custodial relationship, Orion, Riskalyze & BD/RIA back offices)
- Created new proposal system for high net worth strategy with AdvisoryWorld & Orion
- Assisted in the development of marketing and training components as well as leading training efforts for all internal and external users
- Managed Twitter Account for Autopilot Product
- Collaboration of opportunities and implementation of solutions with current working partners (ESBA with TD)
- Exploration of Institutional Asset Gather (RFP's)
- Helped implement and maintain many integration partners
- Worked in a compliance capacity reviewing and signing off on new accounts
- Created a training series for all CLS employees to further expound on the technology that the firm utilizes
- Member of Culture Committee
IMG Associate
Southwest Securities Inc
01.2014 - 12.2014
- Implement and maintain third party vendor in charge of performance reporting (Orion)
- Main contact with third party vendor for outside Portfolio Managers (Envestnet)
- Help maintain eligible fund list for one of our Fee Based Programs
Broker Client Services ("BCS") Representative
SWS Financial Services
02.2013 - 01.2014
- Disbursement of daily requests from brokers
- Ran queries upon request
- Liaison between brokers and back office support
Operations Specialist/Operations Specialist II
Southwest Securities Inc
05.2011 - 02.2013
- Processed and maintained all direct mutual fund business
- Back up processing for Commissions Department
- Assist in transition of new brokers
- Process new accounts, account updates, address changes, checks, ACAT's, beneficiary changes and POA's
Education
EMBA -
Quantic
11-2022
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK01-2010
Skills
- Integrations
- Seminar Management & Training
- Monitoring & Compliance
- Sales
- Vendor Negotiations
- Strategic planning
- Market analysis
- Business development
- Leadership
- Decision making
- Team collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
Certification
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Certification, 2012
- Series 24 - General Securities Principal Certification, 2014
- Series 63 - Uniform Securities Agent State Law Certification, 2012
- Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law Certification, 2014
Timeline
Director of Strategic Planning. Advisor Experience
Orion Advisor Solutions
11.2020 - Current
Director of New Solutions and Client Experience
CLS Investment Firm LLC
06.2017 - 06.2019
Product Manager, Separate Accounts
CLS Investment Firm LLC
12.2014 - 05.2017
IMG Associate
Southwest Securities Inc
01.2014 - 12.2014
Broker Client Services ("BCS") Representative
SWS Financial Services
02.2013 - 01.2014
Operations Specialist/Operations Specialist II
Southwest Securities Inc
05.2011 - 02.2013
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Certification, 2012
- Series 24 - General Securities Principal Certification, 2014
- Series 63 - Uniform Securities Agent State Law Certification, 2012
- Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law Certification, 2014
EMBA -
Quantic
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Oklahoma
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