A conversation with Ghislain Gouraige, Partner, NewEdge Wealth

Overview

Ghislain Gouraige, a 15-year UBS veteran and former esteemed leader of the firm’s Private Wealth Advisory Council, kept his head down and built an extraordinary $3B business. Then, he started to see the potential outside of UBS, sharing, “You can’t unsee what you’ve seen.” That turning point led the self-proclaimed “UBS culture carrier” down a new path—one that he says he only wishes he had found earlier. Ghislain explores what he learned along that journey and offers salient tips on building an extraordinary business—both as an employee advisor and an independent. 

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NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

Why would a 15-year UBS veteran leave after building a $3B practice? Particularly someone who was a self-proclaimed “culture carrier”—an esteemed UBS Private Wealth Advisory Council leader with a line to the top of the house and who viewed the firm as the definitively best place for his business.

At that time, Ghislain Gouraige said he was the guy who “just wasn’t listening” beyond the four walls of UBS—and he couldn’t even imagine that there might be something better. (No doubt, in building a $3B business at the firm, there didn’t seem to be much of a reason to do so.)

Then, friend and ex-UBS PWM colleague Rob Sechan left to build NewEdge Wealth in 2020, an RIA designed to allow other breakaway advisors serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients to join NewEdge’s elite platform.

Then Ghislain stopped and listened—and a new world of potential opened up around him.

And what once seemed “good enough” somehow didn’t quite feel that way anymore. That is, there might be better ways for him and his team to serve their clients and grow the business by removing limitations on marketing to business owners and expanding the universe of alternative investments (especially with smaller, top-tier, diverse managers).

So, in January of 2022, the 11-person Coral Gables, FL team left UBS for NewEdge Wealth.

Ghislain’s sentiments mimic that of many other advisors. For many years, he kept his head down and built an extraordinary business. Then, he started to see the potential outside of his firm. And as he shared, “You can’t unsee what you’ve seen.” That turning point led him down a new path—one that he says he only wishes he had found earlier.

In this episode, Ghislain speaks candidly with Mindy Diamond, including…

• His turning point—and how one’s perspective can be restricted until you open yourself up to learning about what’s happening around you.
  
• The highlights of his career—and how he built an extraordinary business at UBS.
  
• The choice to transition to NewEdge—and why that decision won over building his own RIA or even taking an outsized transition deal from another large firm.
  
• His business life nearly two years later— and how the change has impacted his clients, growth, and future.
  
• Plus, Ghislain shares actionable advice for those considering their own future and much more.
  

Listen in to learn how to allow education to open your mind, along with salient tips on building an extraordinary business—both as an employee advisor and an independent.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Email mdiamond@diamond-consultants.com or feel free to give us a call at 908-879-1002.

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Ghislain Gouraige, CEPA®
PARTNER

Host of NewEdge Wealth’s ONWARD series.

For nearly three decades, Ghislain has worked with ultra high net worth families and entrepreneurs to help them meet their investment needs, philanthropic goals and lifestyle objectives. With thorough and strategic planning, Ghislain specializes in assisting entrepreneurs and their families navigate issues they face through business transitions.

Prior to joining NewEdge Wealth, Ghislain was a Managing Director at UBS. Throughout his career, he has also held positions at Bank of America’s Private Bank, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Citibank. Ghislain began his career as an associate attorney in the corporate and securities department of the law firm Steel Hector and Davis. He received an Honors B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Ghislain has been recognized as an industry leader by several major organizations such as Forbes, Financial Times and Barron’s for the past five years. He is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA®), which provides a unique, value additive offering to our entrepreneurial client base.

Ghislain is an active member in the community and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ayiti Community Trust, the James Brister Society of the University of Pennsylvania, COOP Careers, and REX Homes. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the University of Pennsylvania Museum. He has previously been a board member of Ransom Everglades School, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the University of Pennsylvania Library Board of Overseers, among others. Ghislain lives in Coral Gables, FL with his wife and their two Great Danes. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, including his four grown children.

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