Wealth Manager Bets Big on Independence and Wins

My biggest strategic gamble was leaving Morgan Stanley Smith Barney as First Vice President to co-found Sun Group Wealth Partners. I walked away from a secure corporate position to bet everything on building an independent wealth management firm, despite having zero guarantee of client retention or revenue streams.

The risk was enormous--most advisors who leave major firms lose 30-50% of their client base during transition. I had built relationships managing millions in assets, but corporate non-compete clauses and client transfer restrictions meant starting essentially from scratch. My reputation and 20+ years of industry experience were my only assets.

What transformed everything was doubling down on social media and content creation while other financial advisors stayed conservative. I launched weekly business tweet chats that now average over 150 million impressions per week on Twitter. Most wealth managers were afraid to be visible online, viewing it as unprofessional or risky for compliance.

The results completely liftd my industry influence beyond what any corporate title could achieve. CNBC added me to their Financial Advisor Council, Forbes brought me on as a contributor, and I became a national spokesperson for major brands. My client base grew exponentially because people could see my expertise and personality before ever meeting me, creating trust at scale that traditional wealth management never achieved.

Winnie Sun, Executive Producer,, ModernMom