How Ryan Wells Built Capitalwise, and Found the Right Infrastructure to Keep Growing

Building Capitalwise

Ryan Wells had a vision for Capitalwise from the beginning. He founded the firm in 2017 with a human-centered approach to financial planning.

Over the years, the business has grown into a team built to serve business owners, physicians, high-net-worth families, and other clients with complex planning needs. The team of advisors and staff he has assembled talks openly about trust, intentional growth, and servant leadership. That mindset shows up across the firm, from how they serve clients to how they’ve developed their advisors.

Ryan’s own path shaped a lot of that. He came into the industry nearly 15 years ago and moved into leadership early in his career, giving him a clear view of how advisory businesses grow and where they tend to break down. He also credits much of his early development to the people who invested in him along the way.

“I’m very grateful for the people who helped me early on. I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Ryan shared.

Over time, his priorities became more defined. He wanted to stay close to clients, build a strong team, and create a firm with a strong fiduciary focus to optimize outcomes. Ownership also became part of that conversation, including full control over how the firm operates, how it invests on behalf of clients, how clients are served, and how the business evolves.

When Growth Demands More Infrastructure

As Capitalwise expanded, the demands behind the scenes grew with it.

More clients meant more service work. A larger team meant more coordination. A more sophisticated client base required stronger processes, better reporting, investment solutions, and technology capable of keeping up. More time started going toward managing the business than growing and enhancing it.

The question was whether the business had the right support to keep growing without adding unnecessary friction.

The Right Structure for the Next Chapter

That is what led Capitalwise to affiliate with Victory Financial Group.

The decision was rooted in how the firm wanted to operate. Capitalwise needed infrastructure that could support billing, reporting, operations, and compliance while allowing the team to maintain control over their brand, client relationships, and how they operate.

With that structure in place, the day-to-day began to shift. Systems became more consistent. Operations became more predictable. The team had more space to focus on the work that drives the business forward.

In its first year after going independent, Capitalwise grew 43 percent.

A Firm Built to Keep Growing

Capitalwise is built around a group of advisors and specialists who each play a role in the client experience. The firm focuses on comprehensive planning that brings together investment management, retirement planning, tax-aware strategies, and long-term financial decision-making. Their clients rely on them for guidance across multiple areas of their financial lives, and the firm is built to support that level of service.

Ryan has stayed focused on building the firm the right way. He continues to invest in his team, improve how the business operates, and make decisions that support long-term growth.

At Victory Financial Group, we are proud to support firms like Capitalwise as they grow and serve their clients. You can learn more about their team and approach at capitalwise.com.