In the run-up to naming the winners of the inaugural RIA Intel Awards on September 14, 2022,  RIA Intel will publish short features highlighting the accomplishments of this year’s nominees and Rising Stars.

Before officially joining Ohio-based Matson Money in 2014, Josh Crawford worked as an intern in Matson’s co-op program. At the end of the internship, CEO Mark Matson — who founded the now $8.8 billion AUM firm in 1991 — offered him a job, and he’s never looked back. Crawford spoke to us about the reasons he “fell in love with the mission, the purpose, and the message of sharing the science and academics of investing.”

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career? 

For a long time, people were certain that the sun revolved around the earth. And then you had brilliant scientists like Copernicus and Galileo who said, ‘Hey, that’s actually not the way it works.’ I’ve learned that it’s the exact same way with investing — most people think that it’s nothing more than speculating and trying to predict the future, when it in fact there are advanced mathematical, statistical, and Nobel prize-winning strategies that show how investing works. Over a two-day course with up to 250 people in attendance, we educate families on the science and academics of investing. I’ve learned how important it is to share that message, as well as the enormous benefits that such an education can have for a family, once they understand that the money they’ve worked for their entire life is being taken care of in a way that’s proven and tested.

Is wealth management and coaching a career that you had always wanted to pursue? 

I wanted to be an entrepreneur, and even before that I was going to play professional sports. I had a full-ride scholarship to play football at the University of Charleston, but I ended up getting injured. I then decided to get into business and landed a job at Matson Money. I thought being injured was the worst thing that had ever happened to me at the time, but it actually turned out to be the best thing.

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What is one of the most important trends you’re seeing right now in wealth management?

I think one of the fastest-growing trends is that the industry is being automated. Everything is going to a cell phone app or a robo-advisor. We see the [human] advisor getting cut of the question. I think this is a horrible thing for investors, because being a successful investor takes more than just managing a portfolio; you have to manage the investors. When we meet with investors who have made terrible mistakes with the money they have for retirement, it’s because they tried to do it on their own. This brings up another dimension of what makes Matson Money unique. It’s the coaching aspect — managing the person is just as important as managing the portfolio. You have to develop them, nurture them, educate them, and give them ways to look at their money and their future that they wouldn’t have seen without the help of a coach. 

The inaugural RIA Intel Awards is a celebration of financial advisors, wealth management firms, and industry leaders. Winners will be on announced on RIAIntel.com September 14, 2022 and will be honored in-person at upcoming RIA Institute Forums.

If you have any questions, please contact your relationship manager at II or RIA Intel.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that the winners would be announced at a dinner and ceremony at the Metropolitan Club of New York on September 14, 2022.

However, due to an unanticipated scheduling conflict with the venue, we regret that Institutional Investor’s inaugural RIA Intel Awards Dinner & Gala on September 14 in New York will not take place. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

The Awards themselves remain unchanged. Winners will still be on announced on RIAIntel.com on September 14, and will be honored in-person at upcoming RIA Institute Forums. 

Each winner will also be the subject of a feature story on RIAIntel.com. 

Caitlin Keatin (@Caitkeating) is a freelancer at RIA Intel and based in New York City.

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